Evaluation of the Wright 1901 Glider Using Full-Scale Wind-Tunnel Data

a reproduction of the wright 1901 glider, built by the wright experience in warrenton, virginia, was windtunnel tested at the Langley Full Scale Tunnel through a range of conditions similar to those experienced inight 1 00 yea rs earlier. The testing included a range of dynamic pressures that encompassed the stall and maximum gliding speeds, angles of attack of up to 20 deg, and sideslip anglesof up to 15 deg. The results of the test were used to determine not only lift, drag, and moment coef cients, but also control power from the actuation of the canard and wing warping controls. A maximum lift\drag ratio of 3.9 was recorded for an untreatedcloth co ndition. W hen the cloth was “airproo fed” and ground effect considered, the optimal lift\drag increased to 5.8. This compares favorably with the measurements a nd observ ations made by the Wrights, reporting optimal lift\drag values of around 6.