National Aviation Day Celebration: A Family Fun Day

Date: August 12, 2010
Contact: Wright Brothers National Memorial, 252-441-7430

 Events Taking Place Throughout the Day at Wright Brothers National Memorial

Thursday, August 19, 2010 will be a family fun day at Wright Brothers National Memorial as the National Park Service celebrates National Aviation Day and Orville Wright’s 139^th birthday. Orville Wright was born in Dayton, Ohio on August 19, 1871. He and his older brother Wilbur Wright were the first to fly on that historic morning of December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Schedule of Events:

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.– Junior Flight Ranger Program:  Kids . . . don’t forget to ask about the Wright Brothers Junior Ranger Program! Pick-up a Junior Ranger booklet at the Visitor Center information desk.

10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. - Flight Room Talk: Learn how the Wright brothers solved the problems of human flight as a park ranger tells the story of their triumph at Kitty Hawk. Visitor Center Flight Room Auditorium.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Let’s Go Fly A Kite: There will be fun for the whole family with kite building and kite flying demonstrations by Kitty Hawk Kites. Centennial Pavilion Exhibit Hall.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Book Signing: author Jim Martin will be signing his newly released book “The Beacon On Kill Devil Hills”. Main Lobby Visitor Center

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Life at Kitty Hawk: Join descendents of the original crew of the Kill Devil Hills Life Saving Station and see a reproduction of the camera that took the famous first flight photograph on the morning of December 17, 1903. Wright Brothers Camp Buildings.

10:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. –A Salute to the National Civil Air Patrol: The First Flight Society, the organization that helped establish Wright Brothers National Memorial in 1927, presents the opening of a one-day temporary exhibit honoring the Civil Air Patrol. Aircraft static displays and a one aircraft fly-by. Centennial Pavilion Auditorium.

11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Our “National Treasure” Exhibit: Learn more about the key missions of the Civil Air Patrol; search and rescue, disaster relief operation and aerospace education for youth and the general public. The exhibit will be manned by Civil Air Patrol personal thought out the event. Centennial Pavilion Auditorium & Park Grounds.

2 p.m. to 3 p.m. - Dedication Ceremonies

In support of the First Flight Society's salute to the Civil Air Patrol, Friends of The Monument To A Century of Flight will conduct a formal ceremony, dedicating one of its pylons to the National Civil Air Patrol. The CAP Color Guard will participate along with national and local officials. The public as well as all current and former CAP members are cordially invited. The Monument is located in Kitty Hawk, adjacent to the Aycock Brown Visitor's Center at Milepost 1 on US-158 by-pass.

11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. -Flight Room Talk:  Learn how the Wright brothers solved the problems of human flight as a park ranger tells the story of their triumph at Kitty Hawk. Visitor Center Flight Room Auditorium.

11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. - First Flight Tour: Step back in history 106 years ago when the Wright brothers made the world’s first flight during a short walk to the actual site. Visitor Center Back Patio.

12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. -Flight Room Talk: Learn how the Wright brothers solved the problems of human flight as a park ranger tells the story of their triumph at Kitty Hawk. Visitor Center Flight Room Auditorium.

1 p.m. to 2 p.m.–Ladies and Gentleman: The Aeroplane!   Presented by Paul Glenshaw, Executive Director of The Discovery of Flight Foundation. See rare footage of the Wright brothers’ Exhibition Team, 1910-1912. Centennial Pavilion Auditorium.

2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.   –Flight Room Talk: Learn how the Wright brothers solved the problems of human flight as a park ranger tells the story of their triumph at Kitty Hawk. Visitor Center Flight Room Auditorium.

3 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Rediscovering the First Aviation Documentary:  presented by Paul Glenshaw, Director of The Discovery of Flight Foundation.  Never seen before documentary filmed by Thomas Edison of the Wright Brothers at Fort Myer,1909. Centennial Pavilion Auditorium.

3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Flight Room Talk: Learn how the Wright brothers solved the problems of human flight as a park ranger tells the story of their triumph at Kitty Hawk. Visitor Center Flight Room Auditorium.

3 p.m. to 4 p.m. – First Flight Tour:Step back in history 106 years ago when the Wright brothers made the world’s first flight during a short walk to the actual site. Visitor Center Back Patio.

4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. –Flight Room Talk: Learn how the Wright brothers solved the problems of human flight as a park ranger tells the story of their triumph at Kitty Hawk. Visitor Center Flight Room Auditorium.

6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. -Family Night with Flight:  Learn about flight through gadgets and toys, much like the Wright brothers did as children. Centennial Pavilion Auditorium.

On National Aviation Day, Wright Brothers National Memorial will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Park fees will be waived for the event.