This listing is for two matching framed displays, each containing a large piece of flown fabric from the two most important aircraft in human history - The Wright Flyer, and the Spirit of St Louis. Each frame measures 12" x 15". These were produced by Ron Cole, the owner of an aviation museum and art gallery in Ohio. I've included scans of my original receipts in the photos. This set originally retailed for $7,500. I was able to get one of them at a discount, so I'm selling these for the same price I paid after fees. So this is a great way to save almost $1,000 off the regular price.
Details on each item can be found below:
The backside of each display displays a copy of the original letters to the Jarrett Museum of World War History, along with Ron Cole's signature.
US Shipping is $45. International Shipping is $350 (with insurance included). The winner will receive the exact item in the photos, so please refer to those for a closer look. Thank you for viewing this listing!
Details on each item can be found below:
- The Wright Flyer. The fabric in this display is an original piece of the Wright Flyer's wing, and it accompanied the brothers as they successfully made their first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on the 17th of December 1903.
Following that historic event, the Wright brothers disassembled the aircraft and put it in storage, in order to begin work on the improved Model B Flyer. For several years, the Wright Flyer was stored in crates at their bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. In 1913, the Miami River overflowed and Dayton was flooded under 10 feet of water for several weeks. When the floodwater receded, the aircraft was recovered and later restored. During this process, the linen fabric of the wings was completely replaced, as the original fabric had been heavily stained by mud and water. The original 1903 fabric was kept in storage.
After the death of the Wright Brothers, their estate was handled by their niece, Ivonette Wright Miller. The restored Wright Flyer was gifted to the Smithsonian, and Ivonette sent several large pieces of the original 1903 fabric to various museums and insitutions. One of these pieces was sent to the Jarrett Museum of World War History. Jarrett later gifted a portion of this fabric to noted aviation collector Robert Boehme. After Boehme's death, his artifacts were sold to aviation artist Ron Cole in 2022, and Cole used part of that fabric to make this framed display. The fabric in this display measures 3.25" x 2.25". The display also includes an original flown nail that was used to attach the fabric to the wooden wing strut of the aircraft.
- The Spirit of St Louis. The fabric in this display is an original piece of the silver-doped outer skin of the Spirit of St Louis. This fabric accompanied Charles Lindbergh on his historic first transatlantic flight on May 21, 1927.
When Lindbergh landed in Paris, he was swarmed by thousands of fans, some of whom cut souvenirs from the silver-doped linen that made up the aircraft's "skin". Before its return to the US, the Spirit of St Louis was completely refurbished with a new linen skin. The remains of the old linen were kept for their historical value, and a large section of this fabric was sent to the Jarrett Museum of World War History. Jarrett later gifted a portion of this fabric to noted aviation collector Robert Boehme. After Boehme's death, his artifacts were sold to aviation artist Ron Cole in 2022, and Cole used part of that fabric to make this framed display. The fabric in this display measures 8.5" x 3.25". The frame is double-sided glass, and from the back, the original blue grease pencil from the factory and the unique rib tie strings are visible.
The backside of each display displays a copy of the original letters to the Jarrett Museum of World War History, along with Ron Cole's signature.
US Shipping is $45. International Shipping is $350 (with insurance included). The winner will receive the exact item in the photos, so please refer to those for a closer look. Thank you for viewing this listing!
