# Wright Model B > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wright_Model_B > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wright_Model_B.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_Model_B > Source revision: 1339201526 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American biplane Model B Replica of Wright Model B in Dahlgren Hall, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis General information Type Sports plane Manufacturer Wright Company Primary users United States Army United States Navy Number built ca. 100 History First flight 1910 Developed into Model EX Wright Model B reproduction in [Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center](/source/Steven_F._Udvar-Hazy_Center). Wright Model B reproduction on display at the [Farnborough Airshow](/source/Farnborough_Airshow) 2008 Wright Modified “B” Flyer at the [USAF Museum](/source/National_Museum_of_the_United_States_Air_Force) The **Wright Model B** is an early [pusher](/source/Pusher_configuration) biplane designed by the [Wright brothers](/source/Wright_brothers) in the United States in 1910. It was the first, and only, of their designs to be built in two-digit quantity. Unlike the [Model A](/source/Wright_Model_A), of which 60 were licensed built in Germany, it featured a true [elevator](/source/Elevator_(aircraft)) carried at the tail rather than at the front. It was the last Wright model to have an open-frame tail. The Model B was a dedicated two-seater with the pilot and a passenger sitting side by side on the leading edge of the lower wing. Wright Model B Flyer after the first successful firing of a machine gun from an airplane in June 1912. Besides their civil market, the Wrights were able to sell aircraft to the [Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps](/source/Aeronautical_Division%2C_U.S._Signal_Corps) (S.C. 3, 4, and 5[1]) and to the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) as hydroplanes (AH-4, -5-, and -6), in which services they were used as trainers. Furthermore, the Wrights were able to sell licenses to produce the aircraft domestically (to the [Burgess Company and Curtis](/source/Burgess_Company), which designated it **Model F**; not to be confused with the [Wright Model F](/source/Wright_Model_F), an unrelated Wright design), as well as in Germany. The deal with Burgess was the first license-production of aircraft undertaken in the United States and most of the approximately one hundred Model Bs produced were actually built by Burgess. Development continued as the [Model EX](/source/Wright_Model_EX). Burgess also planned a refined version as the **Model G** (not to be confused with the [Wright Model G](/source/Wright_Model_G), an unrelated Wright flying boat), but this was never built. ## Variants **Model B** - Two-seat sports biplane, powered by a 35-hp (26-kW) Wright piston engine. **Model B-1** - Civil seaplane variant with two steel and aluminum pontoons. **Model B-2** - Civil seaplane variant with a single float. **Burgess-Wright Model F** - This version was built under license by the Burgess Company. **Burgess-Wright Model G** - Unbuilt version, it was intended to be built by Burgess Company. ## Operators **[United States](/source/United_States)** - [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army) - [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) ## Surviving aircraft and replicas At least two original Model Bs were extant in 2007. - An original Model B is on display at the [National Museum of the United States Air Force](/source/National_Museum_of_the_United_States_Air_Force) in [Dayton, Ohio](/source/Dayton%2C_Ohio). This aircraft was used for flight instruction by Mr. Howard Rinehart at [Mineola, New York](/source/Mineola%2C_New_York) in 1916. It last flew during the International Air Races at [Dayton](/source/Dayton) in October 1924. It was placed on exhibit in the Museum in October 1962 by Eugene W. Kettering, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Air Force Museum Foundation.[2] - An original Model B on display at the [Franklin Institute](/source/Franklin_Institute) in [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania](/source/Philadelphia%2C_Pennsylvania), was purchased by [Grover Cleveland Bergdoll](/source/Grover_Cleveland_Bergdoll) in 1912 from Orville Wright. - A replica of the Burgess-Wright Model F is displayed at [Hill Aerospace Museum](/source/Hill_Aerospace_Museum) in [Ogden](/source/Ogden%2C_Utah), Utah.[3] - Wright B Flyers Inc., a non-profit organization based at a museum-hangar at [Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport](/source/Dayton-Wright_Brothers_Airport) in Dayton, Ohio, owns one replica and one look-alike Wright "B" Flyer. A third look-alike was lost in a crash in 2011. - Wright "B" Flyer No. 001 ([FAA registration number](/source/Aircraft_registration) N3786B) is a flying look-alike nicknamed "Brown Bird". It was built in the late 1970s.[4] - Wright "B" Flyer A "Valentine Flyer" (also called the "Yellow Bird") is a non-flying near-replica originally constructed by Tom and Nancy Valentine as a flying model for the [TV-movie](/source/TV-movie) *[The Winds of Kitty Hawk](/source/The_Winds_of_Kitty_Hawk)* in 1978. The aircraft has not flown since being damaged during filming. The "Yellow Bird" is a more accurate replica of the Model B than either 001 or 002.[5] - Replicas on display: - [College Park Aviation Museum](/source/College_Park_Aviation_Museum), [College Park, Maryland](/source/College_Park%2C_Maryland)[6] - [United States Army Aviation Museum](/source/United_States_Army_Aviation_Museum), [Fort Novosel, Alabama](/source/Fort_Novosel) - [United States Naval Academy](/source/United_States_Naval_Academy), [Annapolis, Maryland](/source/Annapolis%2C_Maryland)[7] - [Virginia Aviation Museum](/source/Virginia_Aviation_Museum), [Richmond, Virginia](/source/Richmond%2C_Virginia) - [EAA Aviation Museum](/source/EAA_Aviation_Museum), [Oshkosh, Wisconsin](/source/Oshkosh%2C_Wisconsin)[8] - [Oakland Aviation Museum](/source/Oakland_Aviation_Museum), [Oakland, California](/source/Oakland%2C_California)[9] ## Specifications **General characteristics** - **Crew:** One pilot - **Capacity:** one passenger - **Length:** 26 ft 0 in (7.93 m) - **Wingspan:** 39 ft 0 in (11.89 m) - **Height:** 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m) - **Wing area:** 480 sq ft (44.6 m2) - **Empty weight:** 800 lb (363 kg) - **Gross weight:** 1,250 lb (567 kg) - **Powerplant:** 1 × [Wright Vertical 4](/source/Wright_Vertical_4) , 35 hp (26 kW) **Performance** - **Maximum speed:** 45 mph (72 km/h, 39 kn) - **Cruise speed:** 40 mph (64 km/h, 35 kn) - **Range:** 110 mi (177 km, 96 nmi) ## See also - [Aviation portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Aviation) **Related development** - [Wright 1902 Glider](/source/Wright_Glider#1902_glider) - *[Wright Flyer](/source/Wright_Flyer)* - [Wright Flyer II](/source/Wright_Flyer_II) - [Wright Flyer III](/source/Wright_Flyer_III) - [Wright Model A](/source/Wright_Model_A) ## References **Notes** 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** The last was a Burgess-Wright Model F. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Wright Modified "B" Flyer"](https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/195881/wright-modified-b-flyer/). *National Museum of the United States Air Force*. June 28, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Burgess-Wright Flyer"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160624045438/http://www.hill.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5641). *Hill Air Force Base*. September 27, 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.hill.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5641) on June 24, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["The Brown Bird"](http://www.wright-b-flyer.org/aircraft/brown-bird). *Wright "B" Flyer Inc*. Retrieved January 14, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Valentine Flyer"](http://www.wright-b-flyer.org/aircraft/valentine-flyer). *Wright "B" Flyer Inc*. Retrieved January 14, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["1910 Wright Model B Reproduction"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200114043609/http://www.collegeparkaviationmuseum.com/1634/1910-Wright-Model-B-Reproduction). *College Park Aviation Museum*. Archived from [the original](http://www.collegeparkaviationmuseum.com/1634/1910-Wright-Model-B-Reproduction) on January 14, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Object 38: Replica of Wright Brothers Model B Airplane"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200114045610/https://www.usna.edu/100Objects/Objects/object-38.php). *United States Naval Academy*. Archived from [the original](http://www.usna.edu/100Objects/Objects/object-38.php) on January 14, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [1911 Wright Flyer Model B Replica - N1911L](https://www.eaa.org/eaa-museum/museum-collection/aircraft-collection-folder/1911-wright-flyer-model-b-replica---n1911l) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Wright EX "Vin Fiz" Replica"](https://www.oaklandaviationmuseum.org/aircraft-on-display#:~:text=Wright%20EX%20Vin%20Fiz%20(replica)). *Oakland Aviation Museum*. **Bibliography** - Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). *Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation*. London: Studio Editions. p. 898. - *United States Air Force Museum*. Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: Air Force Museum Foundation. 1975. - *World Aircraft Information Files*. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 911 Sheet 03. - [Franklin Institute](http://www.fi.edu/wright/takedown/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070926233617/http://www.fi.edu/wright/takedown/) 2007-09-26 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) - [Home of the Wright B Flyer](https://web.archive.org/web/20081211193803/http://www.wright-b-flyer.org/index.html) - [U.S. Army Aviation Museum](http://www.armyavnmuseum.org/museum/exhibits/wright.html) - [College Park Aviation Museum](https://web.archive.org/web/20081020074440/http://pgparks.com/places/historic/cpam/inside.html) - [Wright Experience](http://www.wrightexperience.com/) - [Hill Aerospace Museum](https://web.archive.org/web/20090116110321/http://www.hill.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5641) - [*Just The Facts* 1910–1914 Wright Model B](http://www.wright-brothers.org/Information_Desk/Just_the_Facts/Airplanes/Model_B.htm) ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Wright Model B](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Wright_Model_B). - [Footage of Wright Model B in flight in 1934](http://www.fi.edu/wright/1911/flight/index.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070929095434/http://www.fi.edu/wright/1911/flight/index.html) 2007-09-29 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) - [Wright B Flyer Inc.](http://www.wright-b-flyer.org/) v t e Wright brothers / Wright Company / Wright Aeronautical Wright brothers aircraft (1899–1908) Gliders: Wright Glider Powered aircraft: 1903 Wright Flyer Flyer II Flyer III Wright Company aircraft (1908–1916) Wright Model A Model B Model C Model D Model E Model EX (Vin Fiz Flyer) Model F Model G Model H Model K Model L Model R Wright-Martin aircraft (1916–1918) Wright-Martin Model R Wright-Martin Model V Wright Aeronautical aircraft (1919–1929) Racing aircraft: Wright F2W XF3W NW-1 NW-2 Passenger aircraft: Wright-Bellanca WB-1 WB-2 Designers Orville and Wilbur Wright Giuseppe Mario Bellanca History and legacy Wright Cycle Company Wright Flying School Wright Exhibition Team Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park Huffman Prairie Wright Brothers flights of 1909 Wright Brothers National Memorial National Aviation Heritage Area National Aviation Day Pan American Aviation Day Wright Brothers Day Wright Brothers Medal Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy Wilbur Wright Field Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Wright Brothers Field (Martian airfield) Wright Mons (Plutonian mountain) Related Charles Taylor (mechanic) Wright brothers patent war (Matthew Piers Watt Boulton) Milton Wright (father) Susan Catherine Koerner Wright (mother) Katharine Wright (sister) Hawthorn Hill Wright-Martin Wilbur Wright und seine Flugmaschine (1909 film) Aviation (1934 painting) The Wright Brothers (1971 film) The Winds of Kitty Hawk (1978 film) Wright Flyer III sculpture (2001) The Wright Brothers (2015 book) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Wright Model B](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_Model_B) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_Model_B?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.