Minnesota 1903 Wright Flyer suffers damage due to fire

Damage Due to Fire [Updated 3/12/2003]

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Cause of Fire

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The fire was started by parts falling from an overhead radiant gas heater.

Sadly, if the aircraft had been moved about two feet to the left or three feet back, the glowing parts would have fallen harmlessly to the floor.

The firemen did an excellent job of extinguishing the fire with minimum damage to the Wright Flyer. When they first entered the hangar, smoke was so heavy they were unable to see. As a result, the fireman used infrared imaging to determine the source of the fire. The burning muslin cover was removed from the aircraft and thrown outside in the snow. Detailed photos: (Use your Browser "Back" function to return to this webpage)

Distant View	high view cover on lower wing vaporized (excepting where it lay on ribs and spar)
Close Views	Upper Wing Note burn pattern on lower leading edge Strut and spar burn pattern note: wood, fitting, cord undamaged Burn pattern on muslin wing cover You can see how a burning edge radiates outward from an initial contact from a falling ember.
Heavily burned portions	lower bow and ribs upper bow ... complete burn-through
Rest of the Wright Flyer is undamaged	undamaged portion sign unburned even though hanging between burned upper and lower wings
Physical damage: ... fireman tripped over rear rudder, banged into several ribs and perhaps broke a rib removing the smoldering wing cover (the rib pocket hadn't burned through yet?)	rear rudder and struts bent rib busted rib

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