Save the date! December 17th, 2022 is the 119th anniversary of powered flight. The First Flight Society will be honoring Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. as the 2022 Paul E Garber Shrine inductee. The Shrine is located in the Museum and Visitors Center at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, USA.
This honor is selected annually by a high-level panel appointed by the First Flight Society, from among numerous nominations submitted from around the world as well as compiled lists of qualified candidates. The induction ceremony will be held on Wright Brothers Day, December 17, 2022, with a celebration luncheon also held that day in Kitty Hawk. A portrait of General Davis will be unveiled and presented at the ceremony on December 17th.
The FFS Annual Luncheon will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn OBX/Kitty Hawk at 12:00 noon on the 17th. The luncheon will consist of a sit down meal and speakers from the USAF and the Davis family. The luncheon is open to everyone and tickets are available in the Wright Brothers Day Store. FFS will recognize our 2022, 2021 and 2020 Classes of Honorary Members. The Class of 2022 is Zara Rutherford, Nicole Malachowski, Jerry Yagen and Gregory Kavalec. The Class of 2021 is Mark Baker, Rob Holland, and Tom Crouch. The Class of 2020 is Charles McGee, Gail Halvorsen, Patty Wagstaff, Sean Tucker and Dick Rutan. The 2022 Class of Honorary members was announced on November 19th, 2022.
The First Flight Society is proud and honored to have all of these luminaries as new Honorary Members.