Wright Flyer in NZ?

[Dave Homewood]

In the August 1982 issue of New Zealand Wings magazine it says:

"A 1909 Wright Flyer flying replica is currently at the construction stage in Christchurch at the hands of a nine man team lead by Air New Zealand Bruce Winder. The $10,000 project is scheduled to get airborne in December 1983 - some 80 years after the Wright Brothers successfully flew from Kittyhawk. It is intended to take the Flyer to the US and France before displaying it in the RNZAF Museum at Wigram."

So, what became of this? Was it ever finished? Did it fly? Did it go to the USA and France? And, did it at any time spend time in the Wigram museum?

Amazing what old magazines can divulge.

[Dave Homewood]

Bumping up an old thread because it seems by the time the above was published this project was well advanced. In the July 1979 edition of NZ Wings Bruce Winder had already constructed the 1908 Wright Flyer replica, using original material types and methods. It had taken 600 man hours to build and many months of research.

He had taken it to Teddington on Banks Peninsular for a maiden flight, but on the first attempt, one of the 'launch assistants' (four of which were used to help guide it into the air) slipped on the grass and broke a wingtip strut.

So the damaged aircraft was repaired and the next day four more attempts were made, with observers saying it was close to flight but not quite due to lack of wind. Winder was going to leave it till the spring.

I'd still like to know if it ever did get airborne, and what became of it? Is the replica in a museum somewhere? Does it still exist?

[Peter Lewis]

You've already got the other half of the story here Dave,
rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Airshows&thread=1146273666&page=1

The only thing we don't know is if the glider ever actually flew.

[Dave Homewood]

Ah, that's right, I'd long forgotten that thread. Thanks Peter.

Hmmm, I wonder if it did fly.