Wright "B" Flyers prepare for Centennial

Wright "B" Flyer "Yellow Bird" comes to life with the help of Frank Goepferich (center), crew chief, fire guard Ken Painter (left) and pilot Don Gum at the controls of the Ford Model A engine warming up next to him and propellers spinning behind Wright "B" Flyer "Yellow Bird" was ready to taxi onto the parade grounds at Fort Sam Houston. This is one of the two Flyers of Wright "B" Flyer Inc. Texas Air Museum and their crews assembled two Flyers in San Antonio, on Feb 27, 2010. The "Yellow Bird" the most authentic lookalike of the two features a wooden frame, Ford Model-A engine and hand carved propellers. It was assembled at Fort Sam Houston and is scheduled to taxi on MacArthur Parade Ground, during the Centennial of Military Aviation on March 2. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Wright "B" Flyers prepare for Centennial

Wright "B" Modified Flyer (outside) in preperation on Feb. 27, 2010 for flyovers during the Centennial of Military Aviation at Fort Sam Houston, Texas on March 2. Wright "B" Flyer Inc. and Texas Air Museum combined volunteers assembled two Wright "B" Flyers in San Antonio. This one, known as the "Brown Bird" has been modified with a metal frame essential instrumentation and communication for repeated frequent test and orientation flights. Texas Air Museum is hosting maintenance and flight operations for "Brown Bird." (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Wright "B" Flyers prepare for Centennial

Don Stroud and Frank Fager, Wright "B" Flyer Inc. volunteers, work together to connect the structural and control cables of a Wright "B" Modified Flyer in preperation on Feb. 27, 2010 for flyovers during the Centennial of Military Aviation at Fort Sam Houston, Texas on March 2. Wright "B" Flyer Inc. and Texas Air Museum combined volunteers to assemble two Wright "B" Flyers in San Antonio. This one, known as the "Brown Bird" has been modified with a metal frame essential instrumentation and communication for repeated frequent test and orientation flights. Texas Air Museum is hosting maintenance and flight operations for "Brown Bird." (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Wright "B" Flyers prepare for Centennial

When the crew wiggles one propeller, the other one wiggles on the Wright "B" Modified Flyer in preperation on Feb. 27, 2010 for flyovers during the Centennial of Military Aviation at Fort Sam Houston, Texas on March 2. Wright "B" Flyer Inc. and Texas Air Museum combined volunteers to assemble two Wright "B" Flyers in San Antonio. This one, known as the "Brown Bird" has been modified with a metal frame essential instrumentation and communication for repeated frequent test and orientation flights. Texas Air Museum is hosting maintenance and flight operations for "Brown Bird." (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Wright "B" Flyers prepare for Centennial

Texas Air Museum is hosting maintenance and flight operations for "Brown Bird" a Wright "B" Modified Flyer that is being prepared on Feb. 27, 2010 for flyovers during the Centennial of Military Aviation at Fort Sam Houston, Texas on March 2. Wright "B" Flyer Inc. and Texas Air Museum combined volunteers to assemble two Wright "B" Flyers in San Antonio. "Brown Bird" has been modified with a metal frame essential instrumentation and communication for repeated frequent test and orientation flights. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Military, civilians celebrate 100 years of military flight

Rich Stepler and Don Stroud, Wright "B" Flyer pilots, performed a demonstration flight of their "Brown Bird" March 2, 2010, over MacArthur Parade Ground at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, during the Foulois Centennial Military Flight Celebration event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)