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First Flight Centennial
Celebration
December 12-17
Must Know FAQs - Security
Screening, Lodging, Parking, Seating and more!
Daily
Themes
Current Schedule
Special Exhibits
Presenter Highlights
Volunteer Information
Learn about other
centennial events
Didn't make it to the December 12-17 Celebration?
That's OK - you can still keep up with the daily events
. . . - check our event
First Flight Centennial Photo Album!
Daily Themes
Friday, December 12
IGNITING THE IMAGINATION |
This day
is designed to inspire the next generation of
aviators by engaging children of all ages in the
power of flight. The
day’s highlights include the Raleigh Boychoir
singing the National Anthem at opening ceremonies; a
greeting by North Carolina’s First Lady Mary Easley;
appearances by Wright Family children; an uplink to
the International Space Station at 12:00 noon
provided by NASA; Grammy award-winning pop superstar
Michelle Branch on the Main Stage at 1 p.m.; Candy
Bomber demonstrations and the Afterburner Youth
“Flight Plan for Life” program (sponsored by
Bank of America).
The only non-ticketed day. |
Saturday
December 13 and
Sunday, December 14
REMEMBER THE PAST,
IMAGINE THE FUTURE |
This
two-day festival will celebrate aviation’s impact
over the last century and will feature appearances
by historic aviators; exhibits chronicling this
history of flight; aircraft demonstrations and
entertainment. (Jump team; skywriting competition;
wing-walker team. The Beach Boys on the Main Stage
at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Temptations on the Main
Stage at 1 p.m. on Sunday). |
Monday, December 15
PROTECTING
THE HOME OF THE BRAVE |
Celebrating the impact of aviation in the military,
this day is designed to honor those men and women
who developed and flew military aircraft through the
years. Highlights include military aircraft dating
back to World War I and participation from the U.S.
Military stationed around the world. (Skydiving
demonstrations; Flybys including Pre-World War,
Korean War, WWII and Gulf War Era Planes; Special
honor for all branches of the military; Aaron Tippin
on the Main Stage at 1 p.m. Monday). |
Tuesday, December 16
IN HISTORY'S FOOTSTEPS, CELEBRATING 100 AVIATION
PIONEERS |
The
North Carolina Centennial special committee will
hold a ceremony to honor 100 aviation heroes (click
here to see the list), as
selected by the commission. In addition, the
historic contributions of these individuals will be
examined through film and exhibits. Also included will
be a performance of "Riding the Winds of December"
by the Dare County Schools. Lee Greenwood to perform
on the Main Stage at 1 pm on Tuesday. |
Wednesday, December 17
12 SECONDS
THAT CHANGED
THE WORLD |
The
celebration will culminate with
EAA's re-creation of
the single-most significant moment of the last
century - the Wright brother's first
heavier-than-air powered flight which took off at
precisely 10:35 a.m. and lasted 12 seconds,
traveling 120 feet. The Wright Experience team will
re-enact the first flight with an authentic
reproduction of the 1903 Flyer. Later that day, Harry B. Combs, noted
pilot, author, and former president of Gates Learjet
Corporation will donate a full-scale, authentic
reproduction of the 1903 Wright Flyer to the National
Park Service. Dignitaries, celebrities and
aviation legends will be on-hand to celebrate and
commemorate this occasion. John Travolta will serve
as Master of Ceremonies for the morning event. Highlights include a 100-
Plane Flyby (spaced throughout the day), Millionth EAA Young Eagle flight with retired Brigadier
General Chuck Yeager; Second show starts at 2 p.m. |
Current Schedule
Click here for a detailed schedule
(subject to
change)
Updated schedule will be
posted as aircraft, speakers and performers are
confirmed
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8:00 a.m. |
Gates Open |
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10:00 a.m. |
Welcome, Centennial Greetings |
|
12:00 p.m. |
Air Show |
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1:00 p.m. |
Main Stage Musical Group |
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2:30 p.m. |
Narrated Fly-bys |
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4:00 p.m. |
Exhibits Close |
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5:00 p.m. |
Gates Closed |
Special Exhibits
Click
here for a listing of Special Exhibits
Presenter Highlights
The Celebration schedule
will be filled with special speakers and presenters who
will highlight past events in aviation and aerospace,
and look to the future as we take flight toward the
stars. Speakers and presenters will include:
-Ethel Finley (Women
Airforce Service Pilots)
-Colonel Charles E. McGee (Tuskegee Airmen)
-Linda Morgan (set speed records in 1986 from Atlanta to
Kitty Hawk and in 1996 from
-Asheville to Kitty Hawk)
-Wendie Olds (local author)
-Jack Frost (National Aeronautics)
-Richard Keyt (record holder of the world's fastest
4-cylinder airplane)
-Speakers from the Marshall Space Flight Center
-Robert B. and Beverly M. Elliot (program and
demonstrations of toothpick airplanes)
Check back for updates as more speakers are confirmed.
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