March Membership Drive

*2024 Membership Drive!*

How would you like to win a 120th Anniversary Silver Coin?

First Flight Society merch

Starting immediately and ending April 6th, the member gaining the most new membership points receives a 120th Anniversary Silver Coin and the runner-up receives the Brass proof version.

The winner wil be recognized at the April 13th Wilbur Wright Day Luncheon.

Scoring will be:

  • 1 point for a new or renewed one-year member
  • 3 points for a 3-year member
  • 10 points for a 3-year Life member
  • 30 points for full Life member

Points will be registered by Admin based on the member’s referral included with the new member or made by the FFS member.

Introducing The 2024 First Flight Society Board

The First Flight Society announces its Board of Directors for 2024. Most of the directors are from North Carolina.

The newly elected Executive Committee consists of:

President-Mike Fonseca

Vice President-Paul Wright Jameson

Finance Committee Chair- Erica Paynter

Marketing/Membership Committee Chair-William “Bill” Douglas

Education Committee Chair-Judith Fearing

The rest of the 2024 board consists of:

Paul Carr, Sara Lou Copeland, Danny Couch, M. Roy Daniels, III, Dr Charles Davidson, Mark Flynn, Orestes Gooden, Penny Leary Smith, William Nelson, Mike Smith, K Lynn Tadlock. Erica Paynter is new to the board this year.

The FFS plans an annual celebration at the Wright Brothers National Memorial on Wright Brothers Day, December 17th to memorialize the work of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, NC. First Flight Society also celebrates Wilbur Wright Day on April 16th and National Aviation Day on August 19th which is also Orville Wright’s birthday. December 17, 2024 is the 121st anniversary of the Wright Brothers first flight.

They created the Paul E Garber Shrine in 1966 to honor individuals and groups for achieving significant “firsts” in aviation development since 1903: Charles Lindbergh, General Chuck Yeager, Mary Feik, John Glenn, Katherine Johnson (Hidden Figures) and most recently Walter & Olive Ann Beech among others. The 2024 Inductee will be announced on April 16th.

Without the First Flight Society there would not be a Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. The Kill Devil Hills Memorial Association, later named First Flight Society, began as a group of local businessmen who successfully petitioned the US Congress to fund and build a monument to the Wright Brothers’ 1903 achievement. The FFS celebrates its 97th year in 2024.

First Flight Society has the Vision that One day people everywhere will be inspired by the dauntless resolution and tireless work of the Wright Brothers. Their Mission is that We tell the story of the Wright Brothers through community events, education, and the commemoration of the world’s very first powered flight, in Kitty Hawk, NC


More information about the First Flight Society can be found at https://firstflight.org  or https://wrightbrothersday.org.

Link to Press release:

Introducing the 2024 First Flight Society Board of Directors

Call For Nominations

Call for Nominations for the 2024 Paul E Garber First Flight Shrine.

Honorees for the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine are selected annually by a National Advisory Committee from a list of nominees submitted to the First Flight Society and public that is passed to the Committee for consideration.  The committee accepts a letter of nomination accompanied by supporting documentation. 

The nominee(s) may but does not have to be a “first” but rather “…a person, living or dead, who since December 17, 1903, either personally or with the assistance of others, have made such outstanding accomplishments in support of flight operations that they are generally recognized nationally and internationally for their achievements and contributions to aerospace activities.” 

Enclosed is the Nomination Form for the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine, which should be mailed with any supporting documents to:  First Flight Society, Post Office Box 1903, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949.   Nominations may also be emailed to: [email protected].

Nominations are due May 31st. Questions can be addressed to the NAC Chair, Charlie Davidson at [email protected]

Please help us save postage expense by providing an email address we can use to communicate important and membership information to you.

Win a Stallion 51 WWII Flight Experience!

Enter today for your chance to experience a WWII Flight Experience in both a T-6 Texan trainer and P-51 Mustang Fighter!

This is your chance to experience flight in both the trainer and operational aircraft as some of our First Flight Society Honorees such as the “Red Tail” Tuskegee Airmen General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., USAF and Brig. Gen. Charles McGee, USAF, did as well as such other famous First Flight Society Honorees as Col. Jacqueline Cochran, USAF (Former WASP), Maj. Gen. Robert White, USAF, and Brig. Gen. Charles Yeager, USAF! The Stallion 51 Corporation offers a rare and exhilarating hands-on flight experience in both the T-6 Texan and P-51 Mustang. The winner can schedule the experience up to 12 months after winning and the prize award includes $800 towards your expenses to travel to the Orlando, Florida area for the experience.

Introducing the 2023 First Flight Society Board of Directors

The First Flight Society announces its Board of Directors for 2023. Most of the directors are from North Carolina.

The newly elected Executive Committee consists of:

President-Mike Fonseca

Vice President-Paul Wright Jameson

Finance Committee Chair- H Taylor Sugg

Marketing/Membership Committee Chair-William “Bill” Douglas

Education Committee Chair-Judith Fearing

Events Committee Chair-Tony Bruno

The rest of the 2023 board consists of:

Peter Bruemmer, Paul Carr, Sara Lou Copeland, Danny Couch, M. Roy Daniels, III, Dr Charles Davidson, Orestes Gooden, Todd Huvard, Penny Leary Smith, William Nelson, Doug Seay, Mike Smith, K Lynn Tadlock and Peregrine White. Lynn Tadlock is new to the board this year.

The FFS plans an annual celebration at the Wright Brothers National Memorial on Wright Brothers Day, December 17th to memorialize the work of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, NC. First Flight Society also celebrates Wilbur Wright Day on April 16th and National Aviation Day on August 19th which is also Orville Wright’s birthday.

Without the First Flight Society there would not be a Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. The Kill Devil Hills Memorial Association, later named First Flight Society, began as a group of local businessmen who successfully petitioned the US Congress to fund and build a monument to the Wright Brothers’ 1903 achievement. The FFS celebrates its 96th year in 2023.

First Flight Society has the Vision that One day people everywhere will be inspired by the dauntless resolution and tireless work of the Wright Brothers. Their Mission is that We tell the story of the Wright Brothers through community events, education, and the commemoration of the world’s very first powered flight, in Kitty Hawk, NC

NAD Sponsorship Opportunities

All proceeds to support our mission of Aviation Education focusing on the Wright Brothers

  • $100 (Bronze)-Recognition on social media, listing of names on website and newsletter
  • $250 (Silver)-Name and logo on program handout at the show, our website, and newsletter
  • $500 (Gold)-All the above, plus name on our NAD Sponsor plaque
  • $1,000 (Platinum)-All the above, plus sponsor supplied banner at the show.

Celebrate National Aviation Day with First Flight Society on August 19, 2022

NAD 2021

The First Flight Society announced the 4th annual National Aviation Day at Dare County Regional Airport on August 19th, 2022. The event runs from 10AM-3PM and features Airplane Displays, Exhibitors, and Food Trucks. The mission of the celebration is to provide a fun and educational experience promoting, honoring, and celebrating the accomplishments of the Wright Brothers and helping educate the world about aviation. NAD is a free event aimed at all ages.

NAD is also Orville Wright’s birthday. Former president Franklin D. Roosevelt was the creator of National Aviation Day, deciding for the first time in 1939 that the nation should celebrate the growth and advancements being made in aviation.

Our keynote speaker will be historian Larry Tise. His presentation is titled “The Elusive Orville Wright from Kitty Hawk and Beyond.

Another highlight will be Warbird rides. To combine the First Flight Society observation of National Aviation Day and the mission of the Commemorative Air Force, the Capital Wing will bring the queen of its fleet, a TBM-3E Avenger named “Doris Mae” on August 19th and 20th and provide warbird rides to the public. Advance purchases of rides in the TBM can be made online at: www.capitalwingwarbirdrides.org.

Confirmed exhibitors include Kitty Hawk Kites, Civil Air Patrol, Military Aviation Museum, Elizabeth City State University, Dare County Radio Control Flyers, AOPA, Dare County and Tubbs Hot Dogs.

Dare County Regional airport (MQI) is located at 410 Airport Road, Manteo, NC 27954.

Additional information can be found at www.nationalaviationday.org.

The Kill Devil Hills Memorial Association, later named First Flight Society, began as a group of local businessmen who successfully petitioned the US Congress to fund and build a monument to the Wright Brothers’ 1903 achievement.

The FFS plans an annual celebration at the Wright Brothers National Memorial on December 17th to memorialize the accomplishments of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, NC.

Your Chance To Win a 2022 Jeep Wrangler 392 with a 6.4L HEMI V8 engine!

The Rubicon 392 is the ONLY WRANGLER with a 6.4L HEMI® V8 engine. This Jeep is highly sought after, and we have one on hand to give away to one lucky winner! This Rubicon comes in Silver Zynith Clear coat exterior and a Black interior with Leather trimmed bucket seats, 8-speed automatic transmission and LT285/70R17C OWL off-road tires. These cars typically sell for a premium over the $79,380 list price. You can no longer order a 2022 392 in any form.


The Sweepstakes began on June 30, 2022 and ends at 10:00am EST on December 17, 2022 (“Sweepstakes
Period”). Entries received outside this time will be ineligible and will be discarded. The Sweepstakes for the prize or prizes will be conducted by the Organization at 12:00pm EST on December 17, 2022 at Wright Brothers National Memorial, 1000 N Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27949. The winner need not be present to win.

Proceeds from this sweepstakes go to support the First Flight Society, a nonprofit organization working to
preserve the history of the Wright brothers.The First Flight Society celebrates aviation history and
achievements through programs, activities, education and the arts.


Thank you to our Sponsor Carolina Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Elizabeth City, NC! They have the Jeep
on display right now! Visit https://carolinachrysler.com


Enter the Jeep 392 Sweepstakes at https://www.tapkat.org/first-flight-society-inc


The Sweepstakes is open to anyone 18 years or older.