Dan Tate and Wilbur kiting the 1902 glider immediately after it was assembled.
Image credit:Library of Congress

Building a new machine

The Wright brothers arrived in Kitty Hawk for the 1902 gliding experiments on August 29. Construction of the gider did not begin until eleven days later, on September 8th. Orville wrote in his diary:

"...finally begin work on machine at a little after 2 p.m. Worked till 5:30. Completed frame of upper surface ready for ribs."

The Wrights worked quickly but methodically in assembling their glider. The frame for the lower wing was built first. The ribs were then lashed in place, and the cloth covering was tacked in place. Eager to fly, the Wrights took the wing out and flew it as a kite before completing the rest of the glider on September 10.

"On flat sand. Wind 6 meters. Weighted front edge until surface pulled horizontally. Pull at each end 3 lbs. Weight of surface 36 lbs. Sand 11 lbs. Depth of curvature 1/24 to 1/26. Surface more than soared on hill with incline of 7 3/4 °. Angle of incidence estimated at 4° to 5°. Wind velocity 7 meters. Surface complete except covering to rear spar."

They next built the lower wing and attached it to the upper wing with the struts from the 1901 glider, which had been stored in their shed. With the two wings complete, more kite tests were made, as recorded by Wilbur in a letter to George Spratt on September 16:

"The main thing though is the new machine. We have the two surfaces complete and the uprights in place, but the rudder is not yet quite done. It is 32' x 5' spreading an area of 305 sq. ft. altogether. The curvature is about 1 in 25. We had it out making tests of its efficiency today and are very much pleased with the results of our measurements."

The last sections to be built were the front and rear rudders. Three days later, on September 19, they took it out for tests. Orville wrote in his diary:

"Completed the rear vertical tail at 10:30. After dinner took machine to small hill, and after taking two pictures, flying it as a kite, began gliding with the assistance of Dan Tate."

Twenty-two days after their arrival, they were finally flying (McFarland, pp. 249-255).