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Hi Julia: The suggestion to look at the Wright Experience is a good
one, but unfortunately the fabric they had made was not actually
successful. In spite of careful specifications, the fabric had excess
stretch in one direction (weft as I recall). It did not conform smoothly
to the frame of the aircraft. Although I believe they had some successful
test flights with that reproduction plane, it could not get off the ground for
its maiden voyage. I’ve been involved in several early fabric-covered
airplane projects, and as far as I know no one has been able to have a
satisfactory fabric made. At one time one of our suppliers, I believe it was Testfabrics,
stocked a fabric they called “airplane fabric”. I had a
sample of it, and it was a very nice quality, balanced plain weave
cotton. You might contact them to see if this is something they can still
get. “Dope” refers to the coating applied to some
later fabric-covered planes; the early planes I’ve worked with were covered
with cotton muslin without any coating. The dope was something developed
somewhat later to add water-resistance to the fabric. I’ve
never seen any linen-covered planes, and I would imagine linen would not have
the dimensional stability needed. Sorry I can’t be more helpful, but if you have other
questions please don’t hesitate to contact me, Deborah
Bede Stillwater
Textile Conservation Studio, LLC Bradford
NH 03221 (603)
938-2310 (603)
938-2455 fax |