ASME Landmark Dedication of the Wright Flyer III

By John Blanton, PhD, GE Aircraft Engines, john.blanton@ae.ge.com

On Thursday February 20, 2003 the 1905 Wright Flyer III at Dayton’s Carillon Historic Park was designated an ASME Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. Built by aviation pioneers Wilber and Orville Wright, this vehicle is generally acknowledged to be the first airplane capable of sustained, maneuverable flight. The dedication ceremony was held in the John W. Berry Sr. Wright Brothers Aviation Center, where the plane is housed. Approximately 200 participants and guests were in attendance, including several from the Cincinnati Section. The Master of Ceremonies was Mahesh C. Aggarwal, Vice President of the ASME Great Lakes Region. Also participating in the ceremony were: Mary Mathews, Executive Director of the Carillon Historic Park; R. Michael Hunt, Chair of the ASME History and Heritage Committee; Lawrence Blake, Superintendent of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park; and Amanda Wright-Lane, great-grandniece of the Wright Brothers. Susan Skemp, ASME President, made the formal presentation of the commemorative plaque to W. Anthony Huffman, Governing Board Chair of the Carillon Historical Park. After the formal ceremony, a reception was held in the new Kettering Family Education Center at the Carillon Park.

The citation on the commemorative plaque reads as follows:

The Wright Flyer III, built by Wilber (1867-1912) and Orville (1871-1948) Wright, was the world’s first airplane capable of sustained, maneuverable flight. Similar in design to their celebrated first airplane, this machine featured a stronger structure, a larger engine turning new “bent-end” propellers, and greater control surface area for improved safety and maneuverability. The Wrights made several modifications to this flier and learned how to perform aerial maneuvers safely during a series of flights at the Huffman Prairie in 1905. The plane was dismantled after these flights, but rebuilt and flown in 1908 at Kitty Hawk, and ultimately restored for display in 1950.

For more information about the Wright Brothers Aviation Center at the Dayton Carillon Historic Park, see the web site http://www.carillonpark.org/wrightbrospage.htm.

The ASME History and Heritage Recognition Program began in September 1971. To

implement and achieve its goals, ASME formed a History and Heritage Committee, initially composed of mechanical engineers, historians of technology and curator (emeritus) of mechanical engineering at the Smithsonian Institution. The Committee provides a public service by examining, noting, recording, and acknowledging mechanical engineering achievements of particular significance. The History and Heritage Committee is part of the ASME Council of Public Affairs and Board of Public Information. For further information please contact Public Information, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 345 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017-2392, (212) 705-7740, or see the web page http://www.asme.org/history/.

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The 1905 Wright Flyer III is housed in the John W. Berry Sr. Wright Brothers Aviation Center at the Dayton Carillon Historic Park.

ASME Commemorative Plaque, with Amanda Wright-Lane, Susan Skemp, and R. Michael Hunt.

Marion Davis Wright, widow of Wilkinson "Wick" Wright (1922-1999), great nephew of Wilbur and Orville Wright