(robert arndt) wrote:

The 21st century guys trying to fly that flimsy replica can't replicate the
Wright's experience (with their own design) nor the right conditions for
the flight(s) in 1903.

The weather conditions yesterday in the Chicago area where the replica
attempted to fly were much different than the weather conditions in
Kitty Hawk back in 1903. Not only did the 21st century guys lack the
25 mph winds that Orville & Wilbur had, but they also had to contend
with wet weather conditions.

The wings on their replica were probably waterlogged and I can tell
you from actual experience that attempting to take off in an aircraft
with uncoated fabric wings that have significant amounts of water
accumulated on (and in) the fabric is dicey.

Not unlike frost or ice accumulations on a metal wing, water
accumulations on an uncoated fabric wing seriously degrades
performance. Water tends to collect in the porous fabric and beads
up on the leading edge increasing the takeoff, landing, and stall
speeds and also increases the overall weight of the aircraft.

The bottom line is that due to the lack of wind and all the wet
weather, the tiny 12-hp engine (also an exact replica of the original)
simply didn't have enough grunt to get the replica airborne.