102nd Anniversary of Wright Flyer III

Photos by Timothy R. Gaffney

Huffman Prairie Anniversary

The Wright brothers' first powered flights at Kitty Hawk, N.C., in 1903 proved powered flight was possible. But it was only the beginning of their experiments with powered flight.

They continued their work closer to their home in Dayton, Ohio, with flight experiments in 1904 and 1905 on Huffman Prairie in Greene County. On Oct. 5, 1905, Wilbur flew their Wright Flyer III for more than 39 minutes. It was the last and longest flight of 1905, and it opened the age of practical flight. The Wright machine that dazzled the world in 1908, and the first military flyer, were based on the 1905 machine.

Huffman Prairie later became the site of the Wright brothers' flying school, and today it is both a part of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and an element of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.

Mark Dusenberry of Dennison, Ohio, decided to build a replica 1905 Flyer out of his interest in history, aviation and mechanical devices. He first re-enacted the 1905 flight on Huffman Prairie for the National Park's centennial celebration of the event. (A movie about the event is available on my blog.)

He returned in 2007 for another re-enactment. He had severeal successful practice flights from Oct. 2-4; on Oct. 4 he made a 540-degree turn. On Oct. 5 he was to make a flight that would include two right-angle turns, but he crashed in the first turn. He was unhurt and plans to rebuild the airplane.

Huffman Prairie 2007

Tuesday 10/02/2007: Mark Dusenberry's replica 1905 Wright Flyer III on Huffman Prairie, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

Tuesday 10/02/2007: Local Experimental Aircraft Association chapters work in the fog to prepare Mark replica Wright Flyer III.

Tuesday 10/02/2007: Mark preps the Wright Flyer III.

Tuesday 10/02/2007: Mark's replica Wright Flyer III sits on its launching track.

Tuesday 10/02/2007: Mark makes his first practice flight.

Tuesday 10/02/2007: Mark's replica Wright Flyer III on Huffman Prairie.

Wednesday 10/03/2007: Mark carved the propellers from sitka spruce.

Wednesday 10/03/2007: Mark's Wright Flyer III replica on Huffman Prairie.

Wednesday 10/03/2007: Mark also made a replica engine for his Wright Flyer III.

Wednesday 10/03/2007: Mark Dusenberry and his replica Wright Flyer III.

Wednesday 10/03/2007: Mark Dusenberry flies. A hard landing resulted in broken rear struts.

Wednesday 10/03/2007: Mark's replica Wright Flyer III in its tent on Huffman Prairie.

Thursday 10/04/2007: Volunteers pull out Mark's replica Wright Flyer III for its third practice day.

Thursday 10/04/2007: Mark Dusenberry flies on Huffman Prairie, his third day of practice.

Thursday 10/04/2007: Mark and his replica flyer are framed by the same Hawthorne trees the Wright brothers circled.

Thursday 10/04/2007: Mark makes a 540-degree turn.

Thursday 10/04/2007: Mark Dusenberry poses with his replica Wright Flyer III on Huffman Prairie.

Friday, 10/05/2007: Mark re-enacts the Wright brothers' longest flight on Huffman Prairie 102 years ago.

Friday 10/05/2007: Mark re-enacts a Wright brothers crash.

Friday 10/05/2007: Mark signals he is unhurt after crash.

Friday 10/05/2007: Mark's damaged flyer.

FAA investigates first Wright Flyer III crash in 102 years.

Wright brothers great-grandnephew Steve Wright helps out.

"There I was..." Mark tells news meida what happened.

Tuesday 10/02/2007: A red-tailed hawk adopted the catapult tower.

Wednesday 10/02/2007: The red-tailed hawk showed little fear of humans.

Thursday 10/02/2007: The hawk joined us every morning. Mark nicknamed it "Big Bird."

Thursday 10/02/2007: Big Bird, Huffman Prairie and the Moon.

Thursday 10/02/2007: Big Bird spots breakfast.

Sunday 10/02/2007: Big Bird has the prairie to itself again.

Sunday 10/02/2007: Big Bird.