Reading level:

Wright Brothers Wright Model C

Wright Brothers · Military Scout · USA · Pioneer Age (pre-1919)

The Wright Model C was a Wright Brothers two-seat training + military aircraft of 1912-1913 — a refined Model B used as the U.S. Army Signal Corps' principal training aircraft. The Wrights developed the Model C in 1912; first flight occurred in mid-1912. About 7 Wright Model Cs were built between 1912 and 1913. The aircraft is historically large for poor reasons: 5 of the 7 airframes crashed fatally during U.S. Army training operations 1912-1913 — leading to the U.S. Army's grounding of all Wright pusher aircraft + procurement of safer tractor designs from Curtiss + others.

The Model C used a Wright vertical 6-cylinder inline engine (50-60 hp). Maximum airspeed 91 km/h, flight endurance 4 hours, capacity 2 (pilot + student/observer). The aircraft retained the Model B's pusher configuration but added a more-powerful engine + improved control linkages. Defensive armament: hand-held rifles or pistols (no fixed armament). The pusher engine layout (engine + propeller behind the pilot) + frame fragility under hard landings caused multiple Army training accidents — the engine could break free from its mounts + crush the pilot during hard landings.

Model C service was problematic. The U.S. Army Signal Corps lost 5 of its 7 Wright Model Cs in fatal crashes 1912-1913 — including future U.S. Army aviation leader Lieutenant Henry Post (killed in Model C crash 9 February 1914 over San Diego). The accident pattern led to the Army's grounding of all Wright pusher aircraft in February 1914 + procurement shift to safer tractor-engine designs (Curtiss JN-2/JN-4 Jenny). About 0 Wright Model C airframes survive — all were crashed or scrapped.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Wright Model C was an early American two-seat plane built by the Wright Brothers in 1912 and 1913. It was a refined version of the older Model B used by the United States Army Signal Corps as a training plane.

Only 7 Wright Model Cs were ever built. The plane had a 50 to 60 horsepower Wright vertical inline engine. Its top speed was only 57 mph — slow even for 1912. The Model C is about as long as a small minivan.

Sadly, 5 of the 7 Model Cs crashed during US Army training operations between 1912 and 1913. The crashes lost trained pilots and led the Army to ground all Wright pusher planes. The Army then bought safer tractor planes from Curtiss and other makers.

The Wright Model C taught early aviation an important lesson — pusher designs with the engine and propeller behind the cockpit were dangerous in crashes. If the plane hit the ground nose-first, the heavy engine slid forward and crushed the cockpit. Pusher trainers quickly disappeared after this lesson.

Fun Facts

The Wright Model C was a refined version of the Model B.
Only 7 Wright Model Cs were ever built.
Five of the seven Model Cs crashed during Army training.
The crashes led the US Army to ground all Wright pusher planes.
Its top speed was only 57 mph — slow even for 1912.
After the Model C, the Army switched to safer tractor planes from Curtiss.

Kids’ Questions

What is the difference between a pusher and a tractor plane?

A tractor plane has the engine and propeller in front of the pilot, pulling the plane forward. A pusher has the engine and propeller behind the pilot, pushing the plane forward. The Wright Brothers' first planes were all pushers. After the Model C disasters, tractor planes became standard because they were safer in crashes.

Why was the Model C dangerous?

The Model C had no real way to protect the pilots in a crash. If the plane hit the ground nose-first, the heavy pusher engine behind the seat would slide forward and crush the pilots. The plane was also tail-heavy and easy to stall — a deadly mix for student pilots still learning to fly.

Variants

Model C (basic): Standard production. 7 built.

Notable Operators

U.S. Army Signal Corps (1912-1914): Principal user. Training aircraft. 5 of 7 lost in fatal accidents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why were so many Model Cs lost?

Pusher-aircraft accident pattern. The Wright pusher configuration (engine + propeller behind the pilot) was structurally vulnerable to hard-landing damage — the heavy engine could break free from its mounts + crush the pilot during impact. Combined with 1912-1913 Wright Model C airframe weaknesses + poor pilot training (early Army aviation had no systematic flight-instruction programme), the result was 5 fatal crashes + the U.S. Army's February 1914 grounding of all Wright pusher aircraft. The Army shifted to Curtiss tractor designs (JN-2/JN-4 Jenny) which had the engine + propeller in front of the pilot — much safer in hard landings.

Sources

Wikipedia — Wright Model C