1903 Wright Flyer Kitty Hawk Flown Fabric, From Wright Brothers’ Niece For Sale

Thank you for taking a look at my 1903 Wright Flyer fabric. The fabric measures 3/4 x 1/2 inch and comes from Ivonette Miller Wright, niece of Wilbur and Orville Wright. The fabric is encased in an acid free, PVC free UV protected card case. A copy of the original letter is laminated and included.

On December 17th, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright of Dayton, OH successfully flew the first powered, controllable airplane in Kitty Hawk, NC for a total of four flights.

After the flights, the airplane was damaged beyond immediate repair and thus sat in a shed in Dayton, OH for years as they would go on to build other airplanes with more power and controllability.

In 1913, a massive flood hit Dayton, OH and water ruined much of the original fabric of the stored 1903 Flyer. In order to get the first airplane ready to show in France, Orville removed and saved the original fabric and replaced it with similar Pride of the West muslin fabric.

After Orville’s death in 1948, their niece Ivonette Miller Wright unofficially became the Wright family historian. She gave pieces of the 1903 Flyer fabric to family, friends, and museums.

This piece of fabric comes from a larger piece that was given by Ivonette to George Jarrett, the owner of the Steel Pier Amusement Company and the Jarrett Museum of World History. After some years on display at the museum, George gave a section of the fabric to his friend Bob Boehme. A letter from George to Bob is provided on the back of the presentation.

Feel free to message me with any questions. This is a cool piece of history preserved for years to come.