National Aviation Day at Wright Brothers National Memorial -Events Taking Place Throughout the Day

Date: August 8, 2008
Contact: Outer Banks Group, 252-441-7430

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 will be a family fun day at the Wright Brothers National Memorial from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as the National Park Service celebrates National Aviation Day. The event is free and open to the public.

Speaker presentations include:

10 a.m. – Tom Crouch, Chairman of the Aeronautics Department, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum presents: Flights Before the Wrights - Were the Wright Brothers Really the First to Fly? Located in the visitor center Flight Room Auditorium. This program will be followed by a book signing in the main lobby of the visitor center.

11 a.m. – Vicki Crisp, NASA, Director of Langley’s Aeronautics Research presents: NASA and the Future of Aviation. Located in the Centennial Pavilion Auditorium.

11:30 a.m. - First Flight Tour - Step back in history with a park ranger during a short walk at the actual site of the Wright’s first powered flight. Program starts at the visitor center rear patio.

12 p.m. - Paul Glenshaw, Executive Director of the Discovery of Flight Foundation presents: One Century after The Wright Brothers’ Big Year- 1908.Located in the Centennial Pavilion Auditorium.

1:30 p.m. - Vicki Crisp, NASA, Director of Langley’s Aeronautics Research presents: NASA and the Future of Aviation. Located in the Centennial Pavilion Auditorium.

2 p.m. – Tom Crouch, Chairman of the Aeronautics Department, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum presents: The Bishop’s Boys, The Life and Times of Wilbur and Orville Wright. Located in the visitor center Flight Room Auditorium. This program will be followed by a book signing in the main lobby of the visitor center.

2:30 p.m. – Paul Glenshaw, Executive Director of the Discovery of Flight Foundation presents: The Wright Brothers on Film. Located in the Centennial Pavilion Auditorium.

4 p.m. - Flight Room Talk – Join a National Park Service Ranger to Learn about the Wrights and how they developed the first successful airplane. Located in the visitor center Flight Room Auditorium.

In addition to guest speakers there will activities throughout the day:

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Kite building and flying for the whole family sponsored by Kitty Hawk Kites. Located in the Centennial Pavilion Exhibit Hall.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – NASA-Langley educators provide hands-on family activities and demonstrations. Located in the Centennial Pavilion Exhibit Hall.

8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. – The Wright Monument atop of Big Kill Devil Hill will be open to the public to climb.

12 p.m. to 2 p.m.- Living History: Join descendents of the original crew of the Kill Devil Hills Life Saving Service Station. Located at the reproduction Camp Buildings.

In 1939, a Presidential Proclamation established National Aviation Day to celebrate America’s aviation heritage on Orville Wright’s birthday. Orville Wright, the first to fly, made this flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on the morning of December 17, 1903. The Wright brothers left their footprints in the sands at Kitty Hawk and their mark on the world.

Wright Brothers National Memorial is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Call [phone] for more information.

-NPS-