Reading level:

Wright Brothers Wright Model HS

Wright Brothers · Experimental Aircraft · USA · Pioneer Age (pre-1919)

The Wright Model HS was a Wright Company two-seat training aircraft of 1916 — one of the last Wright Brothers-era designs before the Wright Company's 1916 merger with Glenn Martin to form Wright-Martin Aircraft. About 5 Wright Model HS airframes were built in 1916. The aircraft served U.S. Army Signal Corps + civilian flying schools 1916-1918.

The Model HS used a Wright 4-cylinder inline engine (60 hp). Maximum airspeed 110 km/h. The aircraft used a tractor-engine layout (engine + propeller in front of the pilot) — abandoning the Wright pusher tradition + adopting the safer tractor configuration that contemporary Curtiss + European designs had pioneered. The change reflected the U.S. Army's 1914 grounding of Wright pushers + the Wright Company's commercial pivot toward customer-acceptable designs.

Wright Model HS service was limited. The aircraft entered service late in the Wright Company's independent existence (the company merged with Glenn Martin in August 1916 to form Wright-Martin Aircraft) + was supplanted by Curtiss + other suppliers in subsequent U.S. Army procurement. The merger marked the effective end of the Wright Brothers' independent influence on American aviation. About 0 Wright Model HS airframes survive.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Wright Model HS was a small training airplane built in 1916. It had two seats, so a teacher and a student could fly together. Only about five of these planes were ever made.

This plane was special because of where its engine sat. Older Wright planes had the engine behind the pilot, pushing the plane forward. The Model HS moved the engine to the front, pulling the plane instead. This new style was called a tractor design, and it was much safer.

The engine had four cylinders and made 60 horsepower. That gave the plane a top speed of about 68 miles per hour. It was smaller than most planes you see today, but it was a big step forward for the Wright Company.

The Model HS trained pilots for the American Army and civilian flying schools. It flew from 1916 to 1918. Sadly, the Wright Company merged with another company called Glenn Martin in August 1916. That was the end of the Wright Brothers running their own business.

Fun Facts

Only about five Wright Model HS planes were ever built!
The plane could fly as fast as 68 miles per hour — faster than a car on most city streets.
The Wright Model HS was smaller than a modern school bus.
The engine sat at the front of the plane and pulled it through the air like a fan.
The Wright Company merged with Glenn Martin in August 1916 to form Wright-Martin Aircraft.
American Army pilots used this plane to learn how to fly.
The Model HS was one of the very last designs from the Wright Brothers' own company.
Older Wright pusher planes were grounded by the American Army in 1914 because they were too dangerous.

Kids’ Questions

What made the Wright Model HS different from older Wright planes?

Older Wright planes had the engine at the back, pushing the plane forward. The Model HS moved the engine to the front to pull the plane instead. This front-engine style was safer and more modern. Other companies like Curtiss had already been doing it.

Who used the Wright Model HS?

The American Army and civilian flying schools used the Wright Model HS. Student pilots learned to fly in it with a teacher sitting beside them. It was used from 1916 to 1918.

What happened to the Wright Company after the Model HS?

The Wright Company merged with Glenn Martin's company in August 1916. Together they formed a new company called Wright-Martin Aircraft. This was the end of the Wright Brothers running their own company.

Variants

Model HS (sole production): 5 airframes built 1916.

Notable Operators

U.S. Army Signal Corps + civilian flying schools (1916-1918): Limited use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Model HS a tractor design?

Pusher-aircraft accident pattern caused the Wright Company's 1914-1915 commercial pivot toward tractor designs. The U.S. Army's February 1914 grounding of Wright pushers + multiple fatal Model C accidents demonstrated that pusher configuration was operationally unsafe. The Wright Company adopted tractor-engine layout for the Model H + HS — abandoning the Wright pusher tradition + matching contemporary Curtiss + European designs. The change came too late to restore the Wright Company's competitive position; the August 1916 merger with Glenn Martin ended Wright's independent commercial existence.

Sources

Wikipedia — Wright Model H