The 116th Anniversary of Powered Flight Event on December 17, 2019 will induct Col. Gail Halvorsen, USAF (Ret), the “Candy Bomber”, as a representative of the crews that flew the mission, and the Berlin Airlift (June 27, 1948 to May 12, 1949) on this 70th Anniversary of the completion of the great humanitarian event into the Dr. Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine. The event will include having the Berlin Airlift Foundation C-54 and a C-47 on display to represent the “workhorses” of the airlift, and a flyover, all dependent on maintenance and weather. The event at the Wright Brothers National Memorial is free and open to the public. More details here as we solidify the program.
You see this almost every day from one organization or another. You get telephone calls. You get letters. You see it on television. You hear it on the radio.
Like most non profits we rely on donations and memberships from people just like you to keep our group alive. Your next question is probably, “Why should I donate to the First Flight Society?” What do they actually do?
Did you know that If it wasn’t for the First Flight Society there wouldn’t even be a Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina? Under the name Kill Devil Hills Memorial Association, a group of local businessmen petitioned the US Congress to Fund and build a monument to the Wright Brothers’ achievement of 1903.
Though primarily known as the group that puts on the annual celebration at the Wright Brothers National Memorial every December 17th, that is not all that we […]
‘The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who … looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space … on the infinite highway of the air.”
—Wilbur Wright
Today is Wilbur Wright’s 152nd birthday. Wilbur was born on April 16, 1867 near Millville, Indiana. Wilbur was an inventor and his nickname was “Father of Modern Aviation”. Wilbur’s brother Orville was his playmate, co-inventor and business partner throughout his life. Wilbur and Orville lived in Dayton, Ohio most of their lives, but their most famous feat took place at Kill Devil Hill in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The Wright Brothers had their first successful airplane flight on December 17, 1903. Their Wright Flyer was the first powered, heavier-than-air machine to achieve controlled, sustained manned flight.
We are accepting nominations for the First Flight Society Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine for 2020. 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.
You see this almost every day from one organization or another. You get telephone calls. You get letters. You see it on television. You hear it on the radio.
Like most non profits we rely on donations and memberships from people just like you to keep our group alive. Your next question is probably, “Why should I donate to the First Flight Society?” What do they actually do?
Did you know that If it wasn’t for the First Flight Society there wouldn’t even be a Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina? Under the name Kill Devil Hills Memorial Association, a group of local businessmen petitioned the US Congress to Fund and build a monument to the Wright Brothers’ achievement of 1903.
Though primarily known as the group that puts on the annual celebration at the Wright Brothers National Memorial every December 17th, that is not all that we […]
Commander Stewart Ross Graham– Inducted into the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine at Wright Brothers National Memorial on December 17, 2016, celebrating the 113th Wright Brothers Anniversary of Powered Flight. This aviation hero was a pioneer in the development of techniques the helicopter is renowned for to this day.
Commander Graham, trained by his mentor Capt. Erickson, was soon designated as the second Coast Guard helicopter pilot. Commander Graham become “awestruck” by the new “machine”, and captivated by its possibilities. Instructor and student were an outstanding team – and deservingly earned their titles as HELICOPTER PILOT #1 and HELICOPTER PILOT #2.
Captain Frank A. Erickson – Inducted into the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine at Wright Brothers National Memorial on December 17, 2016, celebrating the 113th Wright Brothers Anniversary of Powered Flight.
This aviation hero was a pioneer in the development of techniques the helicopter is renowned for to this day. Captain Erikson is designated as the first Coast Guard helicopter pilot. Capt. Erickson, a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, applied for flight training, became fascinated with aviation, and was challenged by the possibilities for the helicopter.
