1903 Wright Flyer Flight Notes


Many factors affect flight planning and aircraft operation, including aircraft weight, weather, and runway surface. The recommended flight parameters listed below are intended to give approximations for flights at maximum takeoff or landing weight on a day with International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) conditions.

 

Important: These instructions are intended for use with Flight Simulator only and are no substitute for using the actual aircraft manual for real-world flight.

Note: As with all of the Flight Simulator aircraft, the V-speeds and checklists are located on the Kneeboard. To access the Kneeboard while flying, press F10, or select the Aircraft menu, and then choose Kneeboard.

Note: All speeds given in Flight Notes are indicated airspeeds. If you're using these speeds as reference, be sure that you select "Display Indicated Airspeed" in the Realism Settings dialog box. Speeds listed in the specifications table are shown as true airspeeds.

Required runway length

The Wright Flyer had no landing gear. It had to be flown from a launch rail on takeoff and landed in an open field on its wooden skids. It landed in little more than the length of the aircraft itself.

The length required for landing is a result of a number of factors such as aircraft weight, ambient temperature, and altitude. The figures here assume:

Weight: maximum gross weight
Altitude: sea level
Wind: headwind
Temperature: 15°C
Runway: grass surface

Lower altitudes, weights, and temperatures will result in better performance, as would a headwind component.

Engine startup

The engine is running by default when you begin a flight. If you shut the engine down, it is possible to initiate an auto-startup sequence by pressing CTRL+E on your keyboard. If you want to do the startup procedures manually, follow the checklist procedures on the kneeboard.

Taxiing

There is no taxiing in the Wright Flyer. The only way to move the Flyer horizontally across the ground is to Slew. For more information, see Positioning Your Aircraft.

Flaps

The Wright Flyer does not have wing flaps.

Takeoff

The Wright Flyer has no wheels. Normal take off is from a launch rail specially designed for the Flyer. You can either use the launch rail next to First Flight airport at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina in the United States, or use the Slew feature to raise the aircraft to altitude.

 

To position the Flyer on the launch rail

  1. On the Select a Flight screen, choose First Flight.
  2. Click Ok.

 

To take off using Slew

  1. Press Y to activate Slew mode.
  2. Press F4 to gain altitude.
  3. When you reach the altitude you want, press Y to exit Slew mode. The aircraft will pitch down to gain flying speed.

Alternatively, you can set your altitude and airspeed in the Map. On the World menu, click Map View. Then enter the altitude and airspeed in the appropriate boxes.

Climb

The Wright Flyer basically doesn't climb. Once launched, it's all you can do to keep it flying.

Cruise

Flights in the Flyer will be short and there's only one "cruise" power setting.

Descent

Just make sure there's nothing in front of you except an open field.

Approach

Once you take off, your flight will generally be straight. You can turn the Flyer, but exercise caution as the airplane is inherently unstable. Make the approach to landing as straight as possible with a shallow rate of descent.

Landing

There are no wheels or brakes on the Flyer. The airplane lands on wooden skids. Look for a flat piece of ground and approach at minimal speed without allowing the aircraft to stall. Make the approach as flat as possible and don't flare the airplane. Once on the ground, friction will stop the airplane.