W8USR - Special Events

100th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers Flight

Event Significance

The purpose of this amateur radio operation was to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers flight on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The event was hosted by the North Carolina Special Events Group using a temporary special event callsign.

Aviation History: December 17, 1903

The world's first successful powered and controlled airplane flight happened on December 17, 1903, when the Wright brothers made four distinct flights. They braved freezing temperatures and winds of over 20 miles per hour. All four flights took place in the Outer Banks at Kill Devil Hills (four miles south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina). To guide the 625-pound Wright Flyer into the air, they used a 60-foot wooden monorail track laid on the flat sands.

The Wrights calculated they needed an engine producing at least 8 horsepower and weighing under 200 pounds. The engine was built by the brothers' bicycle shop mechanic, Charles "Charlie" Taylor, because automobile manufacturers refused to build a custom engine to their weight and power specifications. Working without formal blueprints, Taylor hand-built the world's first successful aviation engine in just six weeks using only a lathe, a drill press, and basic hand tools. The completed 4-cylinder engine weighed 178–180 pounds and exceeded all expectations, producing 16 horsepower when cold before dropping to a steady 12 horsepower as it heated up.

Chronological Flight Statistics

• First Flight (10:35 AM): Piloted by Orville. The flyer pitched up and down roughly, staying aloft for 12 seconds and traveling 120 feet at a top speed of 6.8 miles per hour.
• Second Flight (11:20 AM): Wilbur took the controls. He achieved a slightly longer distance of 175 feet in 13 seconds.
• Third Flight (11:40 AM): Orville flew a second time. He kept the plane steady for 15 seconds, covering 200 feet.
• Fourth Flight (12:00 PM): Wilbur made the final and most successful attempt. He flew 852 feet in 59 seconds, navigating roughly 10 feet off the ground before a minor crash landing cracked the front elevator support. This final flight was also the longest distance of the day.

Station Log: Contact History

Date / Year	Special Event Call	My Callsign Used	Time (UTC)	Band	Mode
December 14, 2003	W4B	W8USR	10:04 UTC	40 Meters	SSB