Wright Flyer Wing Fabric Segment Flown as Part of the First Successful Powered Controlled Flight in History at Kitty Hawk in ...
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Auction Preview: Preview items may not have yet been properly described or vetted, and items are posted as soon as they have a description or a picture. We are continuing to add and correct information as we approach the auction posting date, so check back here often and Contact us with any comments or suggestions.
Consign your material with Heritage! Although the Consignment Deadline for this auction has passed, we are always accepting quality consignments.
Track Item
Share this lot
Description
Wright Flyer Wing Fabric Segment Flown as Part of the First Successful Powered Controlled Flight in History at Kitty Hawk in 1903, Certified and Encapsulated by CAG. A 0.5" square segment of unbleached muslin cloth removed from the legendary plane by Orville Wright who bequeathed it to aviation expert Lester Gardner. Renowned aviation history collector Otto Kallir acquired the fabric from Gardner and it was used to construct a 1:42 model of the Wright Flyer. When this model was sold at auction, it was severely damaged in shipping. CAG expertly removed the cloth from the wings and divided it into smaller pieces to allow more collectors to own such an important piece of human history. Very fine. CAG #2131332-011.Owning a segment of the wing material from the original Wright Flyer is profoundly significant because it provides a direct, tangible link to the dawn of powered flight and one of humanity's greatest technological achievements. The Wright Flyer, flown by Orville and Wilbur Wright on December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, was the first successful powered, heavier-than-air aircraft, marking the birth of modern aviation. The fabric, specifically "Pride of the West" muslin, formed the aerodynamic surfaces that enabled the Flyer to lift off, making it an essential part of the aircraft's historic accomplishment. Segments of this original fabric have become treasured artifacts, not only for their role in the first flight but also for their symbolic value. Possessing such a piece means holding a fragment of the very material that ushered in the aerial age and transformed the course of history.
Auction Info
2026 March 21 Space Exploration Showcase Auction #33172 (go to Auction Home page)
Bidding Begins Approx.
February
24th
Tuesday
Auction Dates
March
21st
Saturday
Proxy Bidding Begins Approx.
1 Day
Internet/Mail Bids: N/A
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 43
Auction Type
Signature®: Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session. Check the Time Remaining on individual lots for details. After Internet bidding closes, live bidding will take place through www.HA.com/Live. Your secret maximum placed prior to the live event will compete against the live bids. To maximize your chances of winning, enter realistic secret maximum bids on our site. You can also place last minute bids directly with us by e-mailing Bid@HA.com or calling 1-866-835-3243. (Important note: Due to software and Internet latency, live bids may not register in time, so enter realistic proxy bids.)
Signature®: Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session. Check the Time Remaining on individual lots for details. After Internet bidding closes, live bidding will take place through www.HA.com/Live. Your secret maximum placed prior to the live event will compete against the live bids. To maximize your chances of winning, enter realistic secret maximum bids on our site. You can also place last minute bids directly with us by e-mailing Bid@HA.com or calling 1-866-835-3243. (Important note: Due to software and Internet latency, live bids may not register in time, so enter realistic proxy bids.)
Sales Tax information
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms
Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms