November 2014 Auction Ends Thursday, November 20th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/20/2014
Piece of fabric from the Wright brothers' historic ''Vin Fiz'' biplane, the first airplane to cross the continental United States in 1911. The ''Vin Fiz'' is now in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, which issued this piece. Fabric measures 2'' square inches, affixed to a 14.5'' x 19.5'' poster beneath a 10'' x 8'' printed photograph of the ''Vin Fiz'' in flight. Framed to 16.5'' x 21.5''. Printed caption surrounding fabric reads: ''Wright EX 'Vin Fiz' / Pilot: Calbraith Perry Rodgers.'' ''Original Fabric / The 'Vin Fiz' made the first U.S. transcontinental flight in 1911 taking off from Sheepshead Bay, Long Island, New York on September 17 and landing in Pasadena, California on November 5. Calbraith Perry Rodgers covered the 6953 kilometers (4321 miles) in 82 hours and 2 minutes flying time at an average speed of 84 kilometers per hour (52 miles per hour) with seventy landings en route. The 'Vin Fiz' is part of the Collection of the National Air and Space Museum.'' Accompanied by a two page 8'' x 10.5'' printed essay on the flight of the ''Vin Fiz'' published by the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, concluding ''The fabric which was on the 'Vin Fiz' at the end of its historic flight was removed due to its bad condition when the aircraft was recovered in 1960 in preparation for the 50th anniversary of the flight.'' Also, a copy of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum announcement that while restoring the plane ''it was necessary to replace the deteriorated original fabric. The best portions of the fabric have been cut into squares and mounted on handsome 15'' x 20'' posters...''
Fabric From the Wright Brothers ''Vin Fiz'', the First Airplane to Cross the United States
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