The First Flight Society has announced a joint celebration on August 19th, 2024 of National Aviation Day with the Wright Brothers National Memorial (WBNM). Running from 10am until 10pm, the mission of the celebration is to provide a fun and educational experience promoting, honoring, and celebrating the accomplishments of Orville and Wilbur Wright and helping educate the world about aviation.
The morning activities (held at Dare County Regional Airport) will consist of Airplane Displays, Exhibitors, and Food Trucks. Highlights of the afternoon events (held at the WBNM) will include guest speakers as well as Ranger talks inside the Visitor Center and around the park. The evening’s outdoor movie will start around 8pm so bring your blankets and chairs to watch the movie under the stars. Admission to all events is free.
National Aviation Day is also Orville Wright’s birthday. Then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the creator of National Aviation Day, deciding for the first time in 1939 that the nation should celebrate the growth and advancements being made in aviation. Mr. Wright, born in 1871, was still alive when the proclamation was first issued. Interestingly Katharine Wright, sister of Orville and Wilbur was also born on August 19th, but in 1874.
Dare County Regional airport (MQI) is located at 410 Airport Road, Manteo, NC 27954. Wright Brothers National Memorial is located at 1000 North Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948.
Additional information can be found at www.nationalaviationday.org.