News & Events

/News & Events/
7 07, 2022

Warbird Rides Available as Part of National Aviation Day Celebration August 19th-20th, 2022

KITTY HAWK, N.C. – July 5, 2022 — As part of the First Flight Society Celebration of National Aviation Day at Dare County Regional Airport in Manteo, NC on August 19th, the Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) will be providing warbird rides in its 1945 General Motors TBM Avenger torpedo bomber.

The TBM Avenger is much the same as the 1903 Wright Flyer. It was wings. And an engine. But that is where the commonality ends. The Wright Flyer’s engine produced 12hp. The Avenger’s 14-cylinder radial engine produces 1,900hp. The first flight travelled 120 feet. The Avenger’s wingspan is half that distance at 54 feet and has a range of 900 miles. The Wright’s airplane had fixed wings. The Avenger’s wings fold back against the fuselage. However, there is something else in common between the Wright Flyer and the TBM Avenger: both […]

4 05, 2022

Wilbur Wright Day Celebration 2022 Focused on Education

Historian Larry Tise was the keynote speaker for the Wilbur Wright Day Event at College of the Albemarle- Currituck. The event held Saturday, August 16th consisted of presentations by Tise, Currituck historian Barbara Snowden and “Spirit of Wilbur Wright” portayed by First Flight Society Secretary Paul Carr.

Two of the first five teachers that we awarded the Wilbur Wright Teacher Incentives. First Flight Society is collaborating with Sally Ride Science at UC San Diego to offer classes that award continuing education credits. The five teachers are: Miriam Fauth, Ted Mitchell, Kelly Chrisco, Caroline Kittrell and Sandy Corbett. Congratulations to all!

3 05, 2022

Save the Date for National Aviation Day, August 19th, 2022!

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. 

Free and fun for the whole family. Event hours will be 10:00 AM-3:00 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.

11 04, 2022

First Flight Society Celebrates Wilbur Wright Day 2022 On April 16th

The First Flight Society announced the 1st annual Wilbur Wright Day at Currituck County Regional Airport on April 16th, 2022. The event runs from 12PM-3PM and features historian Larry Tise and other speakers.

FFS will display the winning artwork of the 2022 FFS Youth Aviation Art Contest. The society will also introduce the first four teachers they are sponsoring for classes leading to Continuing Education Credits from Sally Ride Science at the University of California-San Diego.

Come visit displays from the First Flight Society and Civil Air Patrol among others. All children will receive an aviation activity booklet from FFS sponsor, AOPA.

This will also be the launch day of the First Flight Society Kids Club www.ffskidsclub.com focusing on youth aviation education for elementary aged children 6-12 years old.  

Other speakers include Currituck historian […]

8 04, 2022

First Flight Society 2022 Young Artist Contest


Firsts in Aviation and Aerospace – Use Your Imagination!
The First Flight Society invited Northeastern North Carolina students to participate in our 2022 Young Artist Contest.


The Contest is an opportunity for Young Artists in Camden, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pasquotank and Tyrrell Counties to express themselves artistically according to the selected theme.


Teachers also have an excellent starting point to teach students about the legacy of Wilbur and Orville Wright in North Carolina.

Participating Young Artists are urged to let their artistic talents
and their imagination soar to create their own personal vision of a person, aircraft or flight system that was a first in aviation.

Each year the First Flight Society recognizes a person who has
made an outstanding contribution to the great world of aviation. In 2022, the Paul […]

26 03, 2022

We are Accepting Nominations for the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine for 2023

Honorees for the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine are selected annually by our National Advisory Committee from a list of nominees submitted to the First Flight Society and passed to the Committee for consideration.  The nominee(s) may but does not have to be a “first” but rather “…a person, living or dead, who since December 17, 1903, either personally or with the assistance of others, has made such outstanding accomplishments in manned flight that they are generally recognized nationally and internationally for their achievements and contributions to aviation.”  Nominees are kept on file for immediate or future consideration. Enclosed is the Nomination Form for the 2023 Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine Inductee, which can be emailed with any supporting documents to: admin@firstflight.org or mailed as indicated on the form. Nominations are due April 30th, 2022. Please call our office if you have other questions.