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 Heavier than Air - Flying
 As
knowledge of aviation evolved, gliders and motors were built
and added. In 1903 the first airplane, constructed by Orville
and Wilbur Wright, took flight in Kitty Hawk, NC. They dubbed
their remarkable invention “The Flyer”, and it now
resides at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Its
wings are comprised of a cotton-covered wooden frames. Other
early 20th century aircraft used fabrics made from cotton, linen,
and silk fiber.
  Over
time, airplane quality improved, thanks to industry pioneers
such as Glenn Curtis, one of the first aircraft manufacturers.
In 1927, to great global acclaim, Charles A. Lindbergh, piloted
“The Spirit of St. Louis” in the first non-stop transatlantic
flight between New York and Paris. His aircraft was constructed
with fabric wings and fuselage — it is now displayed at
the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.
Similar fabrics remained the primary airplane covering until
the 1930s, when technological advances allowed airplane construction
with light metal alloys. |