Wright flyer conversion to a homebuilt.

[John W Reid]

opening the box.

 

[John W Reid]

I took the wings from this kit and added a Curtiss tail and a Ford engine to it to make a" Backyard Flyer."

[John W Reid]

My backyard Flyer.

[John W Reid]

My Flyer.Back in those days, the Wrights would sell you plans and even an engine.This fellow may have bought the plans and then tried to adapt the wings to his new design.How many of these backyard builds actually flew is anyone guess , probably none.Anyone handy with wood could give it a try but most ran out of interest when it came to buying the proper engine and other costly parts.

[John W Reid]

This conversion would be considered to be a hot airplane for its day with such short wings but Curtiss was very experimental for the era.

[John W Reid]

[John W Reid]

Ford model  T engine conversion for the Backyard Flyer. Most Flyers would not have even got to this point of the construction when it cost real money for engines and props etc... most of these guys were carpenters, not aircraft designers but it would have been very impressive for the neighbors to watch the build and some even made it to the newspapers which actually gave me the idea. 

[John W Reid]

[John W Reid]

[John W Reid]

[John W Reid]

These pics were taken by a Chicago newspaper in 1910. It is titled Mair's airship.In the first pic compare the two backyards, one is neat and clean while Mr. Mair's is the opposite. You can see here what his priorities are. The next pic shows a steering wheel where the pilot would be sitting. Also in the first pic, there is a square hole in the upper wing, could he be thinking Ailerons?

[John W Reid]

[John W Reid]

Here you can see Curtiss's influence in his design, with the radiator just above the pilots head and the engine and prop in the back.

 

[John W Reid]

[John W Reid]

What little I see of the airplane in this pic you can be sure it never flew.

[John W Reid]

[John W Reid]

I was using this pic of the Curtiss airplane with the clipped wings as a reference for the Backyard Flyer.

[John W Reid]

[John W Reid]

[John W Reid]

[John W Reid]

[John W Reid]

[John W Reid]

In this group of pics, you can see both the Wright and Curtiss influence.

[John W Reid]

The engine area still sitting in the building jig.

[John W Reid]