Why do you build airplanes?

In 2001, one of the other semi-infamous Wright Brothers builders, Nick
Engler, asked me that question. We were on the dune at Jockey's Ridge
in Nag's Head, NC. He was struggling to bolt the top wing halves of
his 1901 together while I was carrying out his 1902 wings. Both of us
in a 20+ kt wind. (Hadn't finished my 1902 yet.)

HELL, I DUNNO... I replied. Then asked where he wanted his '02
wings.


For me, I suppose I was born with it. Even if I didn't have fond
memories of the way my father looked in his uniform as he carried his
suitcase and tools across the heliport ramp at dawn, I'd still want to
fly. Grandpa was in the AAF. My Dad was a helicopter A&P for 35 years.
One cousin was a US Marine helo mech. His younger brother is currently
truning wrenches on F-18's (VMFA141). Their father is a tech. at a
research baloon company. Another uncle was an Army ATC and still
instructs ATC at Ft. Rucker. Another uncle is building and RV-6. And
I... I spent $11,000 building an aircraft that I've owned for 5 years
now, and still havn't flown.

All of that may seem rather trivial and it was... until that one
moment, that one special moment in 2003 at Wings Over Houston when I
heard my Dad tell a spectator "Yeah, my son built it!" He sounded like
he had just won the powerball lottery. Pop was on dyalisis at the time
and only lived 2 more years before the effects of agents white, blue,
and orange caught up to him. It was his last airshow, but it made all
the difference.

"Harry" Frey
Wright Brothers Enterprises

wright1902glider wrote:

snipped

All of that may seem rather trivial and it was... until that one
moment, that one special moment in 2003 at Wings Over Houston when I
heard my Dad tell a spectator "Yeah, my son built it!" He sounded like
he had just won the powerball lottery. Pop was on dyalisis at the time
and only lived 2 more years before the effects of agents white, blue,
and orange caught up to him. It was his last airshow, but it made all
the difference.

"Harry" Frey
Wright Brothers Enterprises



That must have really been something, Harry.

Authentic Wright Flyer $11000

Trip to wings over Houston 2000

Knowing Dad is proud of you - priceless...

On Sep 5, 8:46?pm, cavelamb himself wrote:

snipped

That must have really been something, Harry.
Authentic Wright Flyer $11000
Trip to wings over Houston 2000
Knowing Dad is proud of you - priceless...


Even better, I got paid to perform there!

When I was about 2 years old, Pop started taking me to every airshow
there was in a 100 mile radius of Lafayette, LA. Usually this was 2-3
a year, and always included the CAF show. So when the guys at Wings
Over Houston called me and accepted my quote, my next phone call to
was to my Dad. "Pop... you're not gonna believe this, but I just
earned back every dime you ever spent taking me to the CAF shows!"
They also comp'd me passes for my Dad, Mom, and sister, and since
Lafayette was a good stopping point between Houston and Atlanta, I
stopped at home twice, went out for the world's best pizza just like
we did when we were kids, the works!

I'm going to bid for Houston again in 2008. Don't know if I'll impress
them enough to pay me again, but its worth a shot.

Harry