For its significant place in aviation history as the world's first practical flying machine, ASME International (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) has named the Wright Flyer III a historic mechanical engineering landmark. A ceremony commemorating the designation will be held on Feb. 20, at 2 p.m., at Carillon Historical Park's John W. Berry Sr. Wright Brothers Aviation Center in Dayton, Ohio.
The Wright Flyer III, built by Wilbur (1867-1912) and Orville (1871-1948) Wright, was the first airplane capable of sustained powered, maneuverable flight. Although similar in design to their celebrated first airplane, which flew for 12 seconds on Dec. 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, N.C., the Wright Flyer III was built with improved control and safety.
On Oct. 5, 1905, equipped with a stronger structure, a larger engine turning new "bent-end" propellers and greater control surface, the Flyer III flew for 39 minutes, 24 seconds, and covered slightly over 24 miles, a distance longer than all previous flight put together.
While some fundamental changes in airplane design would come in the future, the basic concepts proved by the Wrights with the Flyer III remained the foundation for these designs.
After being rebuilt and restored with assistance from Orville Wright, the Flyer III was unveiled to the public on June 3, 1950, and remains one of the most significant artifacts in aviation's 100-year history. The exhibit is on display at Dayton's Carillon Historical Park.
To commemorate the mechanical engineering landmark designation, Susan H. Skemp, president of ASME International, will present a bronze landmark plaque to W. Anthony Huffman, chair of the governing board of Carillon Historical Park.
"With the Wright Flyer III, the Wrights delivered on the promise of flight to the world. They were systematic and methodical, and they tackled the challenges in the best spirit of engineering excellence. With this work, the Wrights provided the model for research that helped to form what we now know as aeronautical engineering," said Skemp.
In 1990, the 1905 Wright Flyer III was designated a National Historic Landmark, the first and, to this day, only airplane in the United States to received such a designation. In 1992, a unique public-private partnership park, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park with four sites joined the ranks of the National Park Service. One of the four sites includes the Wright Flyer III, owned by private nonprofit Carillon Historical Park.
Since its inception in 1971, ASME International's History and Heritage Program (http://www.asme.org/history) has designated 224 historical mechanical engineering landmarks, heritage collections or heritage sites. Each selection represents contributions made by the technological advances of mechanical engineering and their impact on the quality of life.
ASME International (http://www.asme.org/about) is a 125,000-member organization focused on technical, educational and research issues. ASME conducts one of the world's largest technical publishing operations, holds numerous technical conferences worldwide, and offers hundreds of professional development courses each year. ASME sets internationally recognized industrial and manufacturing codes and standards that enhance public welfare and safety.
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