Public invited to see re-enactment of historic flight

Published Sept. 25, 2009

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- An authentic replica of the 1905 Wright Flyer III will return to take flight at Huffman Prairie Flying Field here Monday, Oct. 5.

The flight will re-enact one that took place Oct. 5, 1905, on the same 84 acres of prairie, when Wilbur Wright flew 24 miles in 39 minutes, circling the field 29 times, at an average speed of 38 miles per hour, said Julia Frasure, a park ranger and education specialist with the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.

Vintage aircraft builder and pilot Mark Dusenberry, from Dennison, Ohio will make the flight using a hand-built aircraft and catapult system virtually identical in every respect to the one designed by Wilbur and Orville Wright 104 years ago.

The event is free and open to the public. An opening ceremony starts at 9:30 a.m. There is no seating, so visitors are invited come early, wear comfortable walking shoes, bring a lawn chair and a camera. Carpooling is encouraged.

Several schools throughout the region have pre-arranged for nearly 900 students to observe the flight and participate in educational activities related to aeronautics and astronautics. Also on hand will be an exhibit celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the first plane to fly in Canada, the Silver Dart.

Huffman Prairie Flying Field lies just south of the main runway at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and is just one of the historic sites which comprise the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. To access the event take Ohio Route 444 in Fairborn, Ohio to Gate 16A. The Huffman Prairie Flying Field entrance is located just past the Twin Base Golf Course clubhouse.

Visitors may also continue their visit at the Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center across from the Wright Memorial on Wright Brothers Hill, which overlooks Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, to learn more about the Wright brothers and where they can fly a 1911 Wright Model B simulator.

The event is hosted by the National Park Service, National Aviation Heritage Alliance and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, with the support of many partners. For more information visit www.nps.gov/daav or call (937) 425-0008 or (937) 225-7705.