Aviation as we know it began in our state back in 1903 with the Wright brothers. The industry is responsible for over 100,000 jobs in North Carolina and the impact of the aviation industry in our state exceeds $25 billion annually according to the NC Airports Association.
Our own airport in Elizabethtown at the Curtis L. Brown, Jr. Field is a huge benefit to our community. The National Aviation Day on August 19th is the perfect day to recognize the benefits it brings to Bladen County and what aviation does for our state.
In 1939 President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed August 19th to be National Aviation Day. The day coincides with the birthday of Orville Wright, who piloted the Wright Flyer right here in North Carolina.
Orville and his brother Wilbur are given credit for building the world’s first successful airplane with aircraft controls that enabled them to steer the plane. Orville Wright made the first flight for 12 seconds and 120 feet around the site of Wright Brothers’ National Memorial on December 17, 1903 according to ncairports.org.
The NC Airports Association released a statement saying, “We have much to be proud of. Let’s take the opportunity on National Aviation Day to contact our local, state, and national representatives to thank them for their support, to inform them with our endeavors, and the great economic impact aviation provides North Carolina.”
The association announced activities going on in our state on the national day of recognition. They also asked, “What will you do to promote your airport? Who will you talk to about aviation on this day? Does your community know?”
The staff at BladenOnline.com is grateful for our airports and we wanted to help spread the word about the day and the importance of it. Eddie Madden, Elizabethtown Town Manager, would also like to encourage community members to go by the Elizabethtown Airport and take a tour and visit their website at elizabethtownairport.org. To find out more about the upcoming events for National Aviation Day or for more information about our airports visit, www.ncairports.org.
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