Wright Stuff at the AMA Museum - 2004/04

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AMA Museum
Wright Stuff
at the
by Liz Helms and Sarah Greiner
THE NATIONAL MODEL Aviation Museum’s premier exhibit
“Spinning Tops to Whirling Props” opened December 17, 2003.
The display features a 1905 Wright Flyer re-creation that
Museum Curator Michael Smith and AMA Education
Coordinator Jack Frost built.
The centerpiece of the exhibit—a section of the Flyer—which
was scaled down slightly to fit in the available space in the
museum, is hands-on. The wing is designed so that visitors can
lie on it and operate the rudder, the elevator (which the Wrights
referred to as the “front rudder”), and the hip cradle that controls
the wing warping, just as the Wright brothers did nearly 100
years ago.
Unique to the display is the Remotely-Controlled Airplane
Simulator (RCAD) that is positioned between the wing and the
canard.
“Other simulators have a computer-generated screen,” said
Michael. “We felt that limited the visitor’s experience. With this,
visitors can see how their movements affect the aircraft by
looking at the RCAD.”
Michael conceived the idea of the Wright Flyer exhibit and
U-shaped hip cradle in foreground controls wing warping. RCAD,
shown uncovered, is between wing and canard.
The Wright Flyer was initially constructed in Jack Frost’s
workshop. Jack looks on as Michael Smith adjusts fuel line.
Jack and AMA librarian Rich LaGrange move the RCAD into
place in the museum as Michael stays out of the way.
Photos by the authors
74 MODEL AVIATION
Jack provided the mechanical knowhow.
“We started it, and as we went, more
ideas came,” said Michael of the process.
“Wouldn’t it be neat if we could add an
engine beside the hip cradle? Wouldn’t it
be cool if we could add sound to the
engine?”
Initially the pair thought the project
would take a couple months to complete.
As it turned out, they were off by
roughly eight months.
“Six months of engineering and three
months of building because we were
building with trial and error—kind of
like the Wright brothers must have
done,” said Jack. “The difference was
that they were building the airplane to
fly; we were just building it strongly and
safely enough for 2,000 kids to climb
around on. Building it to fly might have
actually been easier.”
Not wanting to turn the museum into
a construction zone, the two decided to
build the Wright Flyer in Jack’s
workshop, which was nearby. They
Jack steadies support as Michael attaches canard
supports.
AMA President Dave Brown coaches as Washington Carver
Elementary (Muncie IN) teacher Sara Jarvis tries flying.
Museum volunteer O.C. Stewart critiques operation of the exhibit.
O.C. was on hand in 1953 for the 50th anniversary of flight in Kitty
Hawk NC.
Reconstruction is complete; all that remains is some cosmetic work.
Beginning of timeline is on wall in background.
Michael installs rudder-support cables
and Jack steadies rudder. A divider was
put up around the construction area.
“Maybe we should have put the guide
wires in individual plastic bags,” Michael
noted as Jack unpackaged one set.
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fabricated the exhibit in sections so that they
could disassemble it and then reassemble it
in the museum.
Michael and Jack used old pictures as
documentation. Many of the pieces,
including the struts between the wings, were
painted silver so that they would photograph
poorly and help protect the Wrights’ patent.
The building, rebuilding, designing, and
redesigning had to be fitted around an
already-busy schedule of museum programs
and education conferences. Nine long
months later, often working into the night
and on weekends, Jack and Michael
completed the Wright Flyer. All that
remained was to carefully take it apart, label
the parts as they went, drive each piece to
the museum, and reconstruct it in the same
order.
Reassembling the aircraft section went
quickly, and it was complete within two
days. Although the replica was scaled down
to fit the available space, tape marks the
actual dimensions, giving visitors a feel for
the airplane’s true size. A timeline, old
photographs, storyboards, and Wright Flyer
models complete the exhibit.
“The Wright brothers used to argue
points,” Jack explained. “One day they
actually got into a heated argument, closed
up the shop, and went home. The next day
they came in, apologized to each other, and
began arguing each other’s side of the
debate. Well, that’s not how it was with
Michael and me [he said jokingly]. Much as
I don’t want to swell his head, I can’t
imagine doing this project with anyone
easier to work with.”
The exhibit’s opening was planned in
conjunction with the Centennial of Flight,
and local educators and press were invited
to attend. In addition to many AMA staff
members, AMA President Dave Brown
and District X Vice President Rich Hanson
were present.
“Spinning Tops to Whirling Props” will
remain on display in the National Model
Aviation Museum through December
2005. MA
Liz Helms and Sarah Greiner
AMA Director of Publications Rob Kurek tries the controls.
A couple of teachers from Washington Carver
Elementary examine the timeline on the back wall of the
exhibit.
L-R: AMA President Dave Brown, Michael, and Jack at “Spinning Tops to
Whirling Props” grand opening. Rich Hanson photo.
Jenna Helms, 9, delighted in trying to level the RCAD.