It would be hard to imagine a better place to celebrate National Aviation Day than the Outer Banks. It is, after all, the birthplace of flight.
Coming Thursday, August 19, the Dare County Regional Airport will be the place to be as Warbirds from WWII fly in as well as the Elizabeth City Composite Squadron—that’s the Civil Air Patrol from the city.
That’s just a few of the exhibits and information that will be on hand to trace the history of aviation nationally and locally.
The day, August 19, celebrates the life of Orville Wright. First formally recognized as National Aviation ay in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the tradition of honoring the younger Wright Brother has continued for over 80 years.
Orville, born in 1871 died in 1949, but not before he saw flight leap from the gliders he and his brother, Wilbur used to prove flight was possible, to the beginning of the jet age.
Wilbur, who was often considered the more brilliant of the two, tased away in 1912 from typhoid fever.
Although Wilbur was thought of as the more intellectually astute of the two, Orville was noted for his keen intellect and curiosity. He was also a remarkably skilled mechanic and a natural engineer.
And he was one of the finest pilots of his day. Wanting to test a new form of stabilization for his aircraft, Orville returned to the Outer Banks in October of 1911. His test flight in a glider lasted 9 minutes and 45 seconds, a gliding record that stood for 10 years.
The Outer Banks is a place steeped in history but very much part of modern life. A Brindley Beach Vacations home is the perfect base of your exploration of today and days gone by.
Current Exhibitors from Dare County Regional Airport Authority
NASA Langley Research Center
Outer Banks Forever
Wright Brothers USA
Elizabeth City Composite Squadron (Civil Air Patrol)
Outer Banks History Center
Kitty Hawk Kites
Military Aviation Museum– bringing 1 or 2 World War II planes
Capital Wing Commemorative Air Force-selling rides in WWII TBM Avenger
Elizabeth City State University-STEM lab
Dare County Radio Control Flyers
Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce
Outer Banks Visitors Bureau
Dare County
NCDOT/Aviation Division
Tubbs Hot Dogs
