We are turning back the clock to wintertime in 1903!
On the 119th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first powered flight, we present a day of wintery Wright-themed activities that are fun for the whole family with talks, authors, tours, music and more!
Activities include: live music by the Boeing Employees Concert Band and Orchestra of Flight, Wright-themed family activity workshops, plus presentations by Wright Flyer pilot and expert Kevin Kochersberger; engineer, hang glider pilot and antique glider builder Paul Dees; and Ben Thompson, popular children’s author of Epic Fails: The Wright Brothers - Nose Diving into History.
And a special screening of the documentary, Return to Kittyhawk – 100 Years of Flight.
This event is FREE with Museum admission.
Event Schedule
We have something for everyone to get into the Wright Spirit! Times and locations are subject to change. Please check with a Staff member or Volunteer when you arrive for the complete schedule.
Presentation / Activity Schedule
9:00 AM to 10:00 AM - Members-Only Exclusive: Wright Flyer Tour (Registration required)
10:30 AM to 12:00 PM - Weekend Family Workshops - Join in on a fun, craft activity!
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Lecture: The Chanute-Herring and Wright Gliders – Paul Dees
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM - Family/Kid's Talk: Nose-Diving Into History – Ben Thompson
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM - Weekend Family Workshops - Join in on a fun, craft activity!
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM - Lecture: The 1903 Wright Flyer Replica – Kevin Kochersberger
3:45 PM to 4:30 PM - Film Screening: Return to Kittyhawk: 100 Years of Flight
Musical Performance Schedule
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Orchestra of Flight
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM - Boeing Employee Concert Band
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM - NorthWest Swing
Special Guest Presenters
Kevin Kochersberger - Currently a Research Associate Professor at Virginia Tech, Kochersberger was at the controls of a Wright Flyer replica for the centennial reenactment of the Wrights’ 1903 flight. Although weather that day doomed the attempts, he had already made several successful flights in the plane preparing for the anniversary. He is a leading expert of the design, construction and piloting of the Wright Flyer.
Paul Dees - Engineer and hang glider pilot Paul Dees re-engineered, built, and safely flew The Museum of Flight’s full-scale replica of the 1896 Herring-Chanute glider that influenced the Wrights. Paul is also an inventor, teacher, and expert on early flight.
Ben Thompson - Thompson is the author of a dozen books on various historical subjects including the Guts & Glory series, and the Epic Fails series that includes Epic Fails: The Wright Brothers - Nose Diving into History. He has also appeared on television programs for the History Channel, Discovery and the American Heroes Channel.
