Remarks: The project for building a replica of the Wright Flyer was started in 2002 to mark the 100th anniversary of the first flight of the Wright Brothers and the 15 member team was spearheaded by T.S. Prahlad (then Director of the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) and Chairman of the Executive Committee of VITM), K.S.Raman (a senior Scientist at NAL, who passed away before the project could be completed) and Mr. R. Sunil Kumar (Curator, VITM). This project took 9 months and was built at a cost of Rs. 1.5 million. While the original Wright Flyer used ash and spruce wood, the replica used silver oak and teak. The replica was unveiled by Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar on Dec 16, 2003. The replica, with a wingspan of 40 ft. and four inches, was recreated from a set of 50 authentic drawings from the Smithsonian Institute. The replica is made out of 60 cubic feet of wood, 400 m. steel wire, and 170 m. cotton cloth. Information courtesy: Warbirds of India
Remarks: On July 2000, she belly landed because the crew FORGOT to extend the landing gear, she skidded for about 500m damaging the wing and the fuselage, but the crew managed to take off again and land safely. The plane was written off as "damage beyond economical repair" and remains since then, by the Airport Fire Department.
