Cottonwood Falls Kansas KS Wright Brothers Postcard RPPC Airplane 1911 Crash

Description

Original (Not a reproduction) Photo Postcard of Cartter (misspelled on front of postcard) & Woolcott's Airplane they purchased directly from the Wright Brothers, Orville & Wilbur, and where Paul was trained to fly it. The plane was purchased and had been flying since 1908, but crashed in 1910, This postcard is a picture after it crashed in 1910. I have included screenshots of an article written about the airplane, as well as a screenshot of a classified ad of where he is selling the motor after the crash, they are not part of the auction, just to show more of it's history. This auction is just for the postcard. Below is a recollection of the plane from a relative of Paul Cartter. The word "ebay" on the postcard is merely a watermark i have digitally added to the picture to keep people from copying the card and selling reproductions, which unfortuantely has become rampant on ebay lately. Fee free to contact me with any questions, and be sure to check out our other Cottonwood Falls, and other Kansas antique items for sale. Local pickup is available to avoid shipping fees.
-First Plane for Chase County
There are many who remember Paul Cartter's plane. It was owned by Paul and a man named Woolcott. The plane was purchased in Mineola, New York from Orville and Wilbur Wright, where Paul was trained as a pilot. It had to be taken apart to be shipped from there to Cottonwood Falls, and it was assembled in the Cartter pasture where the Chase County Nursing Home now stands.
The wings were covered with canvas, which Mrs. Cartter had sewed up on a household sewing machine. Later, the WICHITA EAGLE carried a picture of this plane with the caption: "AIRSHIP OF 1908."
The paragraph follows: "The Kansas Airship" pictured above was exhibited at the Stafford (Kan.) wheat jubilee celebration in 1908 by its builders. Cartter and Woolcott, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. Carter is in the pilot seat of the pusher-type biplane. <
Woolcott stands near the engine and propellers which are behind the pilot. Struts were of bamboo and much bailing wire was used, according to L.A. Lowe, 215 S. Chautauqua, who saw the plane. Lowe a World War I pilot, works in the fabrication department of Boeing Airplane Co."
The above story is of a successful flight and there were others; but, in 1910, Mr. Canter started to make a flight from the same place it was assembled southeast of town, and after it was a little higher than a telephone pole, it nose dived. The plane was demolished and Paul received a broken nose. He was lucky at that; but this was the end for the plane.
By: Mrs. Virginia Cartter White
Chase County Centennial, 1872 - 1972