1903 Wright Flyer replica leaves Raleigh history museum, 1902 Wright Glider to replace it

The downtown Raleigh museum announced Friday that it was receiving a replica 1902 Wright Glider previously housed in the Wright Brothers Memorial Visitor Center at Kitty Hawk.

The replica 1902 Wright Glider is replacing the replica 1903 Wright Flyer, which has been on loan to the museum during the renovation of the Wright Brothers Memorial Visitor Center at Kitty Hawk, according to a press release. The Wright Flyer is now being returned to the National Park Service to undergo conservation before it is re-installed in the renovated Visitor Center this fall.

The replica 1902 Wright Glider will hang in the lobby as part of the museum’s exhibit on the Wright Brothers. The 1902 Glider and its successful design and flight was the prelude to the successful powered flight of the subsequent 1903 Wright Flyer, the release said.

With the new renovation, the National Park Service no longer has room to house both aircraft in the Visitor Center so they are providing the replica 1902 Glider to the museum on a long-term loan, according to the museum. The glider is on site at the museum now.

“The museum is grateful to the National Park Service for the opportunity to display the replica 1903 Wright Flyer for the public to see,” said Ken Howard, the museum's director. “The museum looks forward to the display of the replica 1902 Wright Glider to help tell the remarkable story of the Wright Brothers and their experience in North Carolina.”

The museum showcased the big move on its Twitter feed this morning. Here's how it went ...

Admission is always free to the museum, which is at 5 E. Edenton St.