News & Events

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11 11, 2019

The 116th Wright Brothers Anniversary of Powered Flight and More.

Celebrating the 116th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first successful powered flight. We are also celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the end of the Berlin Airlift as well as honoring the 2019 Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine Inductee Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen, USAF Retired.

The First Flight Society annually honors those individuals and groups that have achieved significant “firsts” in aviation and includes them in our Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine exhibit at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.  This year’s honorees are 99-year-old Col. Gail Halvorsen, USAF (Ret) “the Candy Bomber” and the Berlin Airlift (June 27, 1948 to May 12, 1949) commemorating the 70th Anniversary of that historic event.

On the morning of December 17th we will be honoring both Colonel Halvorsen and the Berlin Airlift 70th Anniversary with ceremonies on the Memorial grounds at Kitty Hawk, NC that will […]

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5 11, 2019

116th Anniversary Sponsorship Opportunities

Organizations from the aviation community and area businesses sponsor and underwrite many First Flight Society activities and programs throughout the year, especially the December 17th anniversary celebration at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.   Members, sponsors and volunteers work to joyfully commemorate the legacy of Orville and Wilbur Wright.  This year we will honor Col. Gail Halvorsen, USAF (Ret), the “Candy Bomber”, as representative of the crews that participated in the Berlin Airlift on this 70th Anniversary of the completion of that great humanitarian effort. We cannot help others experience this important story without you.  Your support keeps the inspiration, adventure and exploring spirit alive for the next generation of aviation pioneers.  Thank you!

 

LEGACY SPONSOR – $10,000

  • Framed Certificate of First Flight Society Sponsorship
  • Sponsor listing in official Commemorative Program
  • Framed 8×10 photo of “The First Flight”
  • Subscription to THE FLYER, with full page ad in each issue […]
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    8 10, 2019

    Canceled-The Wright Brothers Musical Returns!

    FFS and ECSU will host the return of Fresh Brewed Productions’ original musical, “Those Daring Young Men and Their Flying Machine” . Performed last year in Kitty Hawk, NC, the troupe will perform at the GR Little Theater on the ECSU campus on November 2nd and 3rd 2019. Tickets are available for purchase at EventBrite.com or by contacting the First Flight Society at admin@firstflight.org or 252.441.1903.

    Buy Tickets!

     

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    8 10, 2019

    October Membership Special!

    Members have always been an essential part of the First Flight Society. By joining FFS you become part of a community of people who care deeply about the legacy of the Wright Brothers, the Wright Brothers National Memorial and the future of aviation. Member by member, dollar by dollar, we are ensuring that future generations may enjoy this legacy and the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

    As part of your membership you receive:

    * Membership card
    * Society pin
    * 8 x 10 photo of the First Flight
    * Annual subscription to The Flyer
    * Discounts on FFS store items

    Join Now!

     

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    10 09, 2019

    Message from the President…

    Where have 3 years gone? At this year’s annual meeting a new president of this great organization will be elected. As i look back over the last 3 years, I remember some great events put on by the Society on December 17, August 19 N.A.D. and April 16, and putting our Wright Brothers re-enactors in our local schools.

    When a new situation comes up I believe in the saying, “Adapt and overcome” to solve new problems. Our commitment to financially support the NPS through the Friends Agreement will be terminated this coming December. This frees the Society from a host of restrictions on fundraising and where the funds had to go while still working with the NPS.

    We entered into an alliance with Elizabeth City State University with a Memorandum of Understanding which is beneficial to both parties. The MOA allowed […]

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    8 09, 2019

    FFS Partners with ECSU!

                     

     FIRST FLIGHT SOCIETY FORMS NEW ALLIANCE WITH      

    ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY’S

    DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION EDUCATION

    The Tuskegee Airmen, the Apollo 11 astronauts, Amelia Earhart: these are just a sampling of the historic portraits hanging along the wall of the second floor of Elizabeth City State University’s STEM Complex, celebrating the pioneers of aviation.

    They are part of a collection of 75 portraits that are on loan from the First Flight Society. The loan of the portraits are thanks to a Memorandum of Agreement between the organization and ECSU.

    The First Flight Society, […]

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    8 09, 2019

    FFS Announces 2020 Paul E. Garber Shrine Inductee!

    CANDY BOMBER HONORED BY FIRST FLIGHT SOCIETY

    On December 17, 2019 the First Flight Society will honor Colonel Gail S. “Hal” Halvorsen, USAF (Ret) as the latest aviation pioneer inducted into the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine as part of the 116th Anniversary Celebration of the first powered flight and the legacy of Orville and Wilbur Wright..  The First Flight Society selected Col. Halversen to honor all the flight and support crews who participated in the Berlin Airlift, and to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the end of the Berlin Airlift, lasting 15 months in 1948 – 1949 as part of a joint operation including members of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, British Royal Air Force  and U.S. Army Transport Command. 

    Colonel Halvorsen, officer and command pilot, has received numerous awards for his role in “Little Vittles”.  Halvorsen has also […]

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    17 08, 2019

    Celebrate National Aviation Day with Us!

    CELEBRATE NATIONAL AVIATION DAY AND ORVILLE WRIGHT’S BIRTHDAY

     WITH THE FIRST FLIGHT SOCIETY!

    AUGUST 19TH

    9AM TO 2PM

    Dare County Airport (MQI)

     

    FREE AND FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

     

     

     

    FREE THINGS TO DO:

    • Meet members and learn about the First Flight Society
    • Aviation static displays: Navion, Caravans, Med Flight Helo, Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) C-172, and ECSU simulator
    • Learn about the ECSU STEM Progams
    • Visit the Airport Museum and learn about the WWII squadrons that had special training at NAAS Manteo (the origin of this airport).

     

    Weather permitting, the airport commercial operators will be offering the following opportunities for a fee:

    ·         Open cockpit biplane, helicopter and warbird tours over the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina!

    ·         Tandem Skydiving!

     

    410 Airport Road
    Manteo NC 27954

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