States join in tribute of Wrights’ 1st flight
Dayton and Kitty Hawk combine to celebrate historic connection
An online celebration marking this week’s 118th anniversary of humanity’s first powered flight will finally join the two states responsible for the feat: Ohio and North Carolina.
Celebratory services are to be held Friday at both the National Aviation Heritage Area in Dayton, Ohio, and the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and livestreamed on Facebook, according to a joint news release.
The tribute will begin 9 a.m. Friday with a service in Kitty Hawk that will be broadcast by the Outer Banks Forever organization.
Ohio festivities begin 10 a.m. Friday with a program at the Dayton Aviation National Historical Park.
‘Wright Route’ connects Ohio with North Carolina
Outer Banks Forever and the National Aviation Heritage Area also announced this week they have combined their respective states’ claims to the historical feat through a partnership with the First Flight Society, which was formed in 1928 on the 25th anniversary of the world’s first powered flight.
“We are thrilled to partner with these two terrific organizations,” said Mike Fonseca, president of the First Flight Society. “It’s vitally important to share the full story of the Wright Brothers, from their childhood and early experiments in Dayton to their successful flights in Kitty Hawk and beyond.”
The organizations have worked together to launch Wrightroute.org, a free online resource that provides a fuller picture of Orville and Wilbur Wrights’ lives and work. It encourages aviation enthusiasts to travel between Ohio and North Carolina to explore the Wright Brothers’ legacy in a new way.
Major stops along the Wright Route are Dayton, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Norfolk, Virginia; Elizabeth City, North Carolina; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.
Many of the activities that are included as part of the Wright Route — or that can be done along the Wright Route — are inspired by the Wright Brothers themselves, including biking, boating, camping, fishing, hiking and photography.
Aviation enthusiasts will find recommendations for museums and historical sites to visit as well as family-friendly experiences and excursions to have as they journey through the Wright Brothers’ story.
“Not only can you experience two ultimate aviation heritage tourism destinations on the Wright Route, but you can also discover the towns where the Wright Brothers ate, rested and shopped for supplies,” said Mackensie
Wittmer, director of the National Aviation Heritage Area. “We are proud to combine our messaging for greater economic impact in Dayton, Kitty Hawk and all the towns in between.”
The dawn of powered aviation
World history changed on Dec. 17, 1903, over the sands of Kitty Hawk as Ohio boys Orville and Wilbur Wright prepared their Wright Flyer for another test.
The contraption flew for 12 seconds that day, a moment in time used to begin “Milestones in Aviation,” a book published by The Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum.
The importance of that day was explained by Terry Gwynn-jones, a freelance aviation writer who had served in the Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force. As a pilot, he helped set an around-theworld speed record for piston-engine aircraft in 1975.
“The Wright brothers’ stuttering 120foot flight — slightly more than half the wingspan of today’s Boeing 747 — seems incongruous compared with other distance milestones in aviation,” Gwynn-jones wrote. “Besides representing the first triumph of powered flight, this flight was the starting point from which the progress of aviation is measured. Indeed, on that remarkable day Wilbur and Orville Wright indulged in the first quest for distance — a minuscule example of the years of competition to follow. Alternating as pilots, they made another three flights, each a little farther, until Wilbur flew for 59 seconds and covered 852 feet.” ztuggle@gannett.com 419-564-3508
Twitter: @zachtuggle