First Flight Centennial Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE OF UPDATE (click on the link below to go to the story)
Official First Flight Centennial® Video Available!
Happy (Belated) Birthday, Wilbur!
Celebration Commemoratives Still Available
Mother's Day Sale; Honoring the Women of Aviation
Limited Edition First Flight Rings and Pendants
Official Watercolor Collection Added to Smithsonian

FIRST FLIGHT CENTENNIAL® VIDEO AVAILABLE
Relive all the fabulous memories from the 6 day First Flight Centennial Celebration held December 12 -17, 2003 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. This multi DVD or VHS set will feature footage of rare planes, interviews and biographies of a virtual "Who's Who" from the first 100 years of flight, air-show demonstrations and a special section devoted to the 100 Aviation Heroes.

For more information click on the image above or click here

CELEBRATION COMMEMORATIVES STILL AVAILABLE

It's not too late to celebrate 100 years of aviation with the Official First Flight Centennial merchandise and commemoratives related to the Wright Brothers' extraordinary achievement of December 17, 1903.

If you haven't visited the store recently, we have added more:

gifts for kids,
lamps,
remote control models, and
aviation gifts and products related to other historical aviators.

With a wide array of products to choose from, you will find the perfect gift for your colleagues, friends and family.

We will be adding products on a continuous basis.

Visit us often to view New Products
for your collection and
to find out about our Monthly Specials!

HAPPY (BELATED) BIRTHDAY, WILBUR!
April 16, 2004 – would have been Wilbur Wright’s 137^th birthday. The day was celebrated with cake and ice cream for visitors to Wright Brothers National Memorial. The refreshments were but part of events that lasted most of the day and took place in the First Flight Centennial Pavilion.

A presentation was made by Paul Wright Jameson, a descendant of Lorin Wright who was brother to Wilbur and Orville. Mr. Jameson had provided a patch of fabric from the original Wright Flyer that Neil Armstrong had taken on his voyage to the moon. Mr. Jameson spoke of Leontine Wright Jameson, his great-grandmother, who was the first woman to fly.

There was a reenactment that honored and portrayed members of the Life Saving Service and a review of the events of the Centennial celebration of December 17, 2003 by Ken Hyde of the Wright Experience. A kite-flying event for the enjoyment of children of all ages was held outdoors.

HONORING THE WOMEN OF AVIATION

Mother’s Day Sale - 20% Off - April 27 – May 7^th

From the time the Wright Brothers took flight, women such as Harriet Quimby, Jacqueline Cochran, Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, Eileen Collins, the WASPS and the “Rosies” of WWII have played a major role in the history of aviation.

Honor the women aviators in your life this Mother’s Day with a gift celebrating 100 years of aviation.

All Ladies Wear,
Collectibles,
Tote Bags,
Notecards & Stationery,
Ornaments,
Tapestries & Flags
are 20% off at the First Flight Centennial Store.

Receive a FREE First Flight Centennial re-usable camera with any purchase of $50 or more!

SHOW MOM OR DAD YOU CARE

WITH A LIMITED EDITION GOLD FIRST FLIGHT RING OR PENDANT!

A perfect gift for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. Numbered and made of solid 14 Karat gold cast by Brunswick Mint, these timeless masterpieces are sure to become a family heirloom.

Visit www.brunswickmint.com or call ( 1-888-855-6468 ).

OFFICIAL FIRST FLIGHT CENTENNIAL® WATERCOLOR COLLECTION ADDED TO SMITHSONIAN

The four piece First Flight Centennial® Watercolor Collection by North Carolina artist Marsha Mills is now part of the permanent art collection of the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. The paintings are both historically accurate and remarkably detailed, a rare combination in the watercolor genre. The pieces will be on display periodically at the museum for special events and exhibits. To learn more about the paintings and how you may purchase limited edition, fine art Giclee prints of this collection for your home or business, click here.

"Airborne" by Marsha Mills.

Mills worked with five historians from four different states to create a work of art that is not only artistically impressive but also historically accurate and aeronautically correct. To date, the finished piece has been declared by these historians to be the best representation of the moment when the Wright Flyer first left the ground at 10:35 a.m. at Kitty Hawk, NC on December 17, 1903.

"Wright Monument" by Marsha Mills.

Mills rendered this dry-brush watercolor landscape in 1987 at the request of the National Park Academy of the Arts. From a pool of 2,300 art pieces, Mills' watercolor was one of 20 selected to tour the United States in 1988.

"The Coin Toss" by Marsha Mills.

Peering through the doorway of the Wright's humble residence among the dunes, we can witness the coin toss on December 14, 1903 establishing the order in which the brothers would attempt to fly. Wilbur won the toss, but, it was Orville who achieved the first successful powered flight three days later.

"Beginning to Beyond" by Marsha Mills.

From the cockpit of the Bell XS-1(with its instruments depicting the flight conditions after Chuck Yeager broke Mach I) the Wright brothers are seen achieving the first successful powered flight.