Wright Brothers National Memorial hosts virtual-only celebration event
First Flight Society Announces 2020 Class of Honorary Members
The First Flight Society announces 5 new Honorary Members: Colonel Gail Halvorsen, Brigadier General Charles McGee, Lieutenant Colonel Richard “Dick” Rutan, Sean D. Tucker, and Patty Wagstaff.
Colonel Halvorsen, General McGee and Colonel Dick Rutan have all been previously inducted into the
Paul E Garber Shrine. Halvorsen was nicknamed “the Candy Bomber” for air dropping candy to German
children during the Berlin Airlift. McGee was one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen who flew fighter
escort for Allied bombers. Rutan is a fighter pilot, test pilot, and record-breaking aviator who in
1986 piloted the Voyager aircraft on the first non-stop around-the-world flight with co-pilot Jeana
Yeager. Halvorsen turned 100 in October and McGee celebrated 101 on December 7th.
Sean Tucker and Patty Wagstaff are celebrated Aerobatic pilots, who still perform. Tucker has won
numerous air show championship competitions throughout his career and was inducted into the
National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2008. Wagstaff […]
Make Plans to Celebrate the 117th Anniversary of Powered Flight.
Save the date! December 17th, 2020 is the 117th anniversary of powered flight. The First Flight Society will be honoring Frank Caldwell as the 2020 Paul E Garber Shrine inductee.
Like every other event held this year, this will be different than previous years. There will be a large Virtual element to this years celebration. More details will be coming soon.
The Paul E Garber honoree is selected annually by a high-level panel appointed by the First Flight Society, from among numerous nominations submitted from around the world as well as compiled lists of qualified candidates. A portrait of Frank Caldwell will be unveiled and presented at the ceremony on December 17th, 2020, celebrating the 117th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers First Flight.
Mr. Caldwell’s many contributions to aviation in propeller technology highlighted by his winning with Hamilton Standard the 1933 Collier Trophy for design of the controllable-pitch propeller. His design innovations led […]
Welcome Our New Business Member Meta Special Aerospace.
The First Flight Society is excited to welcome Meta Special Aerospace as our newest Business Member.
Meta Special Aerospace’s team of experts have designed, rebuilt, improved, operated, and delivered high-reliability advanced multi-spectral airborne payloads and training to our tip of the spear forces consistently for over 30 years. Throughout our history, we have developed and built over 100 modified King Air and expanded this reach into custom enhancements for the entire King Air Family and other general and business aviation-class aircraft. In addition to modified aircraft, our experts have developed products for government and international security services, providing many modifications, ISR solutions, and Special Missions Operations.
ANGEL SMITH is the President. Angel Smith has over 26 years of experience spanning a variety of positions including military, government affairs, and intelligence. Prior to joining Meta Special Aerospace, Ms. Smith served as the Director of Azure Government Affairs, with Microsoft, based in Washington, D.C. […]
Frank Caldwell Selected as 2020 Paul E Garber Shrine Honoree
The First Flight Society announced today that Frank Caldwell, has been named the 2020 Honoree to be inducted into the Dr. Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine located in the Museum and Visitors Center at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, USA.
This honor is selected annually by a high-level panel appointed by the First Flight Society, from among
numerous nominations submitted from around the world as well as compiled lists of qualified candidates. The induction ceremony will be held on Wright Brothers Day, December 17, 2020, with a celebration banquet held on December 16, 2020 in Kitty Hawk. A portrait of Frank Caldwell will be unveiled and presented at the ceremony on December 17th, 2020, celebrating the 117th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers First Flight.
Mr. Caldwell’s many contributions to aviation in propeller technology highlighted by his winning with
Hamilton Standard the […]
First Flight Society Giving Day is August 19th, 2020!
First Flight Society Giving Day is August 19th, 2020!
FFS Giving Day offers First Flight Society supporters the chance to come together and make a tremendous cumulative impact. This year Giving Day is on National Aviation Day.
You can help us make First Flight Society Giving Day a big success! In the spirit of the Wright Brothers, donate to the FFS Annual Fund during Giving Day, August 19th!
#FFSGIVINGDAY
Donate
Make Plans to Attend National Aviation Day August 19th, 2020
Make plans to join First Flight Society for our National Aviation Day Event on August 19th. We will be celebrating National Aviation Day and Orville Wright’s birthday at the Dare County Regional Airport (MQI). There will be representatives from First Flight Society and several other Aviation and Outer Banks organizations, as well as educational displays. Exhibitors include Kitty Hawk Kites, Elizabeth City State University, and the Military Aviation Museum. The Military Aviation Museum will be bringing one of their World War II warbirds!
Free and fun for the whole family. Event hours will be 10:00 AM-4:00 PM.
The Dare County Airport is located at:
410 Airport Road
Manteo, NC 27954
Look out for more details here and through email and social media as we get closer.
Please RSVP on our Facebook event page.
First Flight: The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk Webinar
First Flight: The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk Webinar hosted by the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, VA. FFS President Mike Fonseca speaks about both the Wright Brothers’ experiences at Kitty Hawk. He also speaks about the First Flight Society and their role in the creation of the Wright Brothers Monument.
The First Flight Society would like to thank The Military Aviation Museum for hosting this webinar.
1341 Princess Anne Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23457
1 (757) 721-7767
The Military Aviation Museum is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit organization.
Check Out Our New YouTube Channel!
Exciting news! We just created our own channel on YouTube. Our first major online event was an interview with Wilbur Wright for his birthday Celebration on April 16th. The interview streamed Live on Facebook and YouTube and is now available to view on our YouTube channel. We are slowly, but surely, adding new videos like the one below. This features a slideshow of some of the many paintings of our Paul E Garber Shrine Honorees.
To see our other videos, please go to First Flight Society YouTube Channel.
FFS is Accepting Nominations for the First Flight Shrine.
We are accepting nominations for the First Flight Society Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine for 2021. Nominees should have made an outstanding accomplishment in manned flight and that they are generally recognized nationally and internationally for their achievements and contributions to aviation.
All nominations must be received no later than March 31st, 2020. 