Wright Flyer

Wright Flyer

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Pilot Jack Lambie

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Remarks by Jim Brink: "In early March 1971, there was an article in our newspaper that said a production company was going to be at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to film the flight of a replica of Orville and Wilbur Wright's first flight for a PBS show. I got in touch with Arthur Barron, the Writer and Director. He invited me to come over, so I did and stayed for a week or so, (I had a Cessna 210 and flew down to South Carolina for some equipment they needed.) The entire crew, about 30, took me in and I became just one of the boys, helping out where I could.

Jack Lambie, then of Bellflower, California, USA, a school teacher and hang glider pilot, built the replica and flew it for the production. He invented and built the famous 'Hang Loose' Chanute Hang Glider.

Jack had used Elmers White Glue in the construction and when the plane sat in the dampness of the beach, the glue softened. He and I were the only ones who knew that was happening. It was lucky the plane held together for the flight! For that reason it was really exciting, maybe more so than the real 'first flight.' Arthur Barron exclaimed 'It flew, the ____ really flew!' He couldn't believe his own eyes. The day of the flight the wind was perfect, probably a steady 20-25 mph (32-40 kmh) so Lambie only had to get a short run to get airborne. Both Jack Lambie and Arthur Barron passed away several years ago.

From what I see and read about the recent attempts to build and fly an exact replica and make it fly (safely) for the 100th Anniversary of the Wright's flight is not very promising. The shortcomings in the aerodynamic qualities of the Wright Flyer were well-known to Jack. Lambie added a conventional elevator on the tail above the rudders. He also added more conventional controls. The most obvious (and important) change was the power plant: a Honda."


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Remarks by Jim Brink: "In early March 1971, there was an article in our newspaper that said a production company was going to be at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to film the flight of a replica of Orville and Wilbur Wright's first flight for a PBS show. I got in touch with Arthur Barron, the Writer and Director. He invited me to come over, so I did and stayed for a week or so, (I had a Cessna 210 and flew down to South Carolina for some equipment they needed.) The entire crew, about 30, took me in and I became just one of the boys, helping out where I could. Jack Lambie, then of Bellflower, California, USA, a school teacher and hang glider pilot, built the replica and flew it for the production. He invented and built the famous 'Hang Loose' Chanute Hang Glider. Jack had used Elmers White Glue in the construction and when the plane sat in the dampness of the beach, the glue softened. He and I were the only ones who knew that was happening. It was lucky the plane held together for the flight! For that reason it was really exciting, maybe more so than the real 'first flight.' Arthur Barron exclaimed 'It flew, the ____ really flew!' He couldn't believe his own eyes. The day of the flight the wind was perfect, probably a steady 20-25 mph (32-40 kmh) so Lambie only had to get a short run to get airborne. Both Jack Lambie and Arthur Barron passed away several years ago. From what I see and read about the recent attempts to build and fly an exact replica and make it fly (safely) for the 100th Anniversary of the Wright's flight is not very promising. The shortcomings in the aerodynamic qualities of the Wright Flyer were well-known to Jack. Lambie added a conventional elevator on the tail above the rudders. He also added more conventional controls. The most obvious (and important) change was the power plant: a Honda."