Wright “B” Flyer Inc. needs a few hardy helpers to unload its one-of-a-kind airplane from a trailer on Saturday, Aug. 1, following its successful exhibit at the world’s biggest gathering of aviation enthusiasts in Oshkosh, Wis.
Fourteen people turned out July 11 to help the all-volunteer organization load the 3,400-pound airplane for its trip to the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture 2015 at Wittman Airport in Oshkosh, where the airplane stood on static display from July 20-26 and flew in two of the daily air shows. AirVenture organizers estimate the week-long event drew 560,000 people.
“We were proud to represent Dayton’s, Ohio’s and America’s aviation heritage at the world’s biggest general aviation venue,” said Jay Jabour, Wright B Flyer president.
The airplane wasn’t built to fly long distances, so the organization transported it in a custom semi-trailer. But it’s difficult to load and unload, and most of Wright B Flyer’s regular volunteers are in their 60s, 70s or 80s.
Unloading is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. at Wright “B” Flyer’s hangar on Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport, 10550 Springboro Pike in Miami Twp. and should be finished by noon.
The Wright B Flyer is a lookalike of the Wright brothers’ first factory-built airplane, the Model B, which they produced in Dayton beginning in 1910. The EAA invited Wright B Flyer to display the airplane at AirVenture and tell EAA members about its project to build a new Model B lookalike in the original Wright Company factory in Dayton. Wright B Flyer is inviting EAA members worldwide to help build parts of the airplane.
Wright “B” Flyer Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a partner of the National Aviation Heritage Alliance. Its hangar-museum is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Admission is free. Anyone who purchases an Honorary Aviator ($125) or Lifetime ($200) membership is eligible for a free orientation flight on the airplane. Visit http://wright-b-flyer.org for more information.
