The Wright Flyer III - Dayton, Ohio - Realistic Object Sculptures on Waymarking.com

After their early success at Kitty Hawk, the Wright brothers came back to Dayton and continued their flying experiments at a field near Dayton in 1904 and 1905. In 1904, the brothers made 105 flights which totaled only 45 minutes. On Oct 5, 1905, their flyer flew 24.2 miles in 38 minutes, 3 seconds, lifting the Wright Brothers to the pinnacle of aeronautical fame.

This sculpture is of a 1905 model of the Wright Flyer III, considered by the Wright brothers to be their best flying machine yet. This full-scale model of the Wright Flyer III stand near the Engineers Club on Monument Avenue overlooking the Riverscape park. Wilbur pilots the plane while Orville watches from below.

A dedication tile on the ground nearby reads:

This sculpture represents the third flyer that the Wright brothers constructed to continue their flying experiments at Huffman Prairie, East of Dayton, within the boundaries of what is now Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The Flyer is piloted by Wilbur Wright while his brother Orville watches from the ground. With this Flyer, which Orville considered the most important of the Flyers that the brothers built, they learned to control their aircraft and made practical manned flight a reality. in 1947 Orville Wright assisted in the salvage and reconstruction of the original Wright Flyer III, which is on display at the Carillon Historical Park in Dayton. Dedicated May, 2001 Larry Godwin sculptor

A story about the artist, Larry Godwin, can be found online at the Troy Messenger. Here's an excerpt:

Godwin was a likely choice to fabricate the flyer because of his previous experience with the Wright Brothers and their marvelous flying machines.

In 1985, Godwin fabricated a 1910 version of the Wright Flyer for Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. From 1910 – 1911, the Wright Brothers set up and ran a flight training school in Montgomery at about the same location where the base is presently located.

He was also commission to fabricate a replica of the Wright Brothers’ First Flyer for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. This replica includes bronze figures of the brothers.

Godwin’s experience fabricating flyers and the skill and creativity displayed in his work gave him the nod for the 1905 Flyer for the Dayton project, which includes the flyer and bronze figures of the brothers.

The sculpture can be seen in Google Street View.

Title: The Wright Flyer III Artist: Larry Godwin Placement Date: May, 2001 Type of Object: original Wright Flyer Location: Near the Engineers Club Material: stainless steel and aluminum; bronze figures Website: Not listed

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