Letter from Phil Kirk


A Year of Celebrations

There will be celebrations galore across North Carolina in 2003 as we celebrate the Wright Brothers’ first air flight in Kitty Hawk in Dare County. But while many communities will participate with local celebrations, the largest and most comprehensive one will be staged in Fayetteville from May 16-26.

Hugh Shelton, honorary chairman and retired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says the city’s Festival of Flight “will lead the state of North Carolina with the most expansive program in a year of statewide activities to honor the origin of manned air travel.”

The well-organized effort is headed by Gordon Clapp, the former director of N.C.’s Tourism, Film and Sports Development, who serves as president and CEO of Festival of Flight 2003. The Chief Operating Officer is Brigadier General Paul Dordal (USAF, retired). Mac Healy chairs the board of directors with Franklin “Rusty” Clark as vice-chair and Stuart Walters as secretary/treasurer.

Why Fayetteville? There are many reasons. The All-America City is home to 50,000 military personnel stationed at Pope Air Force Base and the U.S. Army’s Fort Bragg. Fayetteville has a unique role in aviation history and its future. The festival will showcase technology, business and operations in commercial, military and space flight.

Actually the State Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division contacted communities across the state nearly three years ago to encourage them to sponsor events during 2003. At least 20 communities are planning celebrations of various types. Fayetteville is the biggest and Dare County’s — to be held Dec. 13-17, 2003 — is the most historical.

“Barnstorming at its Best” is the theme of the general aviation air show scheduled for Sunday, May 18 at noon at the Fayetteville Regional Airport.

Opening ceremonies will begin with a dignitary fly-in-introduction, followed by a performance by the Hardees Air Show Team featuring grant scale radio controlled aircraft. The Golden Knights Parachute Team will perform.

Each day will have its own separate theme. The highlights will occur on Memorial Day weekend with a huge Fort Bragg/Pope Air Force Base Open House and Air Show on Saturday and Sunday and a spectacular Memorial Day parade.

More than 500,000 people are expected in Fayetteville for the extravaganza that will feature extensive exhibits from NASA and the Air Force, interactive displays from all branches of the military, exhibits from the Smithsonian Institute and the National Air and Space Museum, displays of current and vintage aircraft, both military and general aviation air shows and daily flight demonstrations with a replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer.

The festival will be successful because of superb and early organization, but also because of the many partnerships the organizers have formed. One such partnership designed to bring worldwide attention to Fayetteville is the one formed with Aviation Week, the world’s leading provider of news and information to the global aviation and aerospace industry.

The publication will provide the official program as well as marketing and promotional support for the event through “The Next Century of Flight,” its global education and outreach campaign to support future generations of aerospace professionals.

Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Bill Harrison is chairing a strong educational component. Aviation curricula have been developed and are being used in fourth, eighth, and 10th grades across the region. More than 1,000 students from each school district in North Carolina will be chosen each day to come to Fayetteville. Art, science and essay contests will be held, and some lucky students will enjoy actual flying experiences.

One of the permanent aspects of the Festival of Flight will be the unveiling of Star Gate 2003, a kinetic sculpture that measures 100 feet by 45 feet. The artist is Tom Grubb, an East Carolina University graduate who is the executive director of the Fayetteville Museum of Art.

NCCBI and the Festival of Flight 2003, Fayetteville committee are inviting supporters to “A Celebration of Flight Weekend” at Pinehurst on Nov. 23-24. Attendance will be limited to 100 couples for this fundraiser. For more information, visit www.festivalofflight.org  or www.pinehurst.com.

Return to magazine index