Celebrate aviation where it all started

The First Flight Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the origins of aviation, will be welcoming pilots and aviation enthusiasts at the Dare County Regional Airport in Manteo, North Carolina, where they can visit with Wright Brothers National Memorial rangers. Those who fly in can get a free T-shirt and recognition certificate signed by a relative of the Wright brothers at the First Flight Society booth.

Just a 19-mile drive from the Dare County airport, the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills will offer a bevy of educational aviation activities and entertainment for visitors throughout the day. Guests will have the opportunity to visit exhibitors, walk the actual site of the Wright brothers’ first powered flight, learn about other famous aviators to visit the Outer Banks like Charles Lindbergh, hear from retired U.S. Navy Admiral Joey Tynch and other guest speakers, and take a sunset walk to the top of Big Kill Devil Hill. To close out the day, visitors can take in a movie under the stars with an outdoor showing of Disney’s Up.

Admission and parking are free, and guests can learn more about the day’s events online.

To further its mission and ongoing community outreach and aviation scholarships the First Flight Society will also raffle off a behind-the-scenes VIP tour and dinner for four at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia; a flight for one in the museum's restored 1941 Stearman PT–17 trainers; and $1,000 for travel expenses. The tour will be given by the museum director and CEO, Keegan Chetwynd, who was recognized as a Warbirds 20 Under 40 Rising Star for 2024. The museum hosts one of the largest flying collections of historic military aircraft in the world with over 50 aircraft from World War I and World War II on display.

The sweepstakes closes December 9 with the drawing taking place during the First Flight Society’s December 17 annual celebration at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Interested parties can learn more from the First Flight Society at the National Aviation Day event or online.