The 1905 Wright Flyer III was the world’s first practical airplane. Orville Wright considered it to be the most important aircraft that he and his brother built. With it, they taught themselves how to fly. Wilbur Wright stayed aloft for 39 minutes on October 5, 1905, longer than the combined total of all of their previous 109 flights. When Colonel Deeds, the founder of the Carillon Historical Park in Dayton, Ohio suggested displaying a replica of the 1903 Flyer, Orville Wright suggested restoring the Flyer III instead and displaying it in a special building with an interior pit design which allows visitors to view the aircraft from above. The Wright Brothers National Museum is operated by the National Park Service.
The 1905 Wright Flyer III has a wingspan of 40 feet 6 inches and a length of 28 feet. The wings are 6 feet 6 inches in width and the wing fabric is cotton muslin. The propellers are 8 feet 6 inches in length and turn at a rate oof 490 revolutions per minute.
More early airplanes
Museum of Flight: Some early Boeing airplanes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: Some early airplanes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: Building early airplanes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: World War I German airplanes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: World War I Sopwith airplanes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: World War I French, British, and American airplanes (photo diary)
Public Lands: The world's first airport (photo diary)
Evergreen Aviation: Biplanes (photo diary)