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First Flight Centennial
Celebration
December 12-17
Daily Themes
Special Exhibits
Presenter Highlights
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
was designed to inspire the next generation of
aviators by engaging children of all ages in the
power of flight. The day's highlights included the
Raleigh Boys Choir 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; Candy Bomber demonstrations and the
Afterburner Youth “Flight Plan for Life” program
(sponsored by Bank of America). |
Saturday
December 13 and
Sunday, December 14
REMEMBER THE PAST,
IMAGINE THE FUTURE |
This
two-day festival celebrated aviation's impact over
the last century and featured appearances by
historic aviators; exhibits chronicling the history
of flight; aircraft demonstrations and
entertainment. (Jump team; skywriting competition;
wing-walker team, and performances by the Beach Boys
and the Temptations. |
Monday, December 15
PROTECTING
THE HOME OF THE BRAVE |
Celebrating the impact of aviation in the military,
this day was 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; and a
performance by Aaron Tippin. |
Tuesday, December 16
IN HISTORY'S FOOTSTEPS, CELEBRATING 100 AVIATION
PIONEERS |
The
North Carolina Centennial special committee held 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 were examined through
film and exhibits. Also included was a performance
of "Riding the Winds of December" by the Dare County
Schools and a performance by. Lee Greenwood. |
Wednesday, December 17
12 SECONDS
THAT CHANGED
THE WORLD |
The
celebration culminated 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
attempted to 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 donated a
full-scale, authentic reproduction of the 1903
Wright Flyer to the National Park Service.
Dignitaries, celebrities and aviation legends were
on-hand to celebrate and commemorate this occasion.
John Travolta served as Master of Ceremonies for the
morning event. Highlights included a 100- Plane
Flyby (spaced throughout the day), and the
One-Millionth EAA Young Eagle flight with retired
Brigadier General Chuck Yeager. |
Presenter Highlights
The Celebration schedule was
filled with special speakers and presenters who
highlighted past events in aviation and aerospace, and
looked to the future. Speakers and presenters included:
-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)
Special Exhibits
Click here for a listing of Special Exhibits
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