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Cunningham Field Composite Squadron celebrates National Aviation Day

C/Bailey Taylor with Major Jim Elliot
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C/Bailey Taylor with Major Jim Elliot. Photo by: Capt. Kimberly Morton, CAP Commander, NC-160 (click image to view full size)
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National Aviation Day 2015

8/19/2015–– 

In 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared August 19th National Aviation Day in honor of Orville Wright’s birthday. On August 19, 2015, it was only fitting for history to be made at the birthplace of powered flight: the Wright Brothers Memorial located in Kill Devil Hills, NC. C/AB Bailey Taylor, a cadet who joined Cunningham Field Composite Squadron the beginning of August, had the honor of taking her first powered flight at National Aviation Day 2015. C/AB Bailey Taylor, C/AB Greyson Katz, and C/TSgt Sam Giacobbi took to the beautiful blue skies over the Outer Banks of North Carolina with their pilot Major Jim Elliot to have a once in a lifetime experience. Orientation flights were also given to C/TSgt Dawson Mcelroy, C/SSgt Daniel Wilson and C/2d Lt. Joshua Stiver by CAP pilot Lt. Col Dion Viventi, both pilots are members of Elizabeth City Composite Squadron NC-305.

The day was filled with moving aircraft and assisting in securing the area for the movement of helicopters. Cadets had the honor of securing the perimeter for the US Coast Guard MH-60 T Jayhawk search & rescue helicopter from Elizabeth City, NC as it was put on alert for a possible mission.  Major Chris Bailey, NC Wing Director of Operations took the opportunity to show off the NCWG Cessna 206 and set up a recruitment booth to spread the word about the opportunities Civil Air Patrol has to offer adults and youth. 

NC-160’s day was completed with the opportunity to enter and tour the inside of the Wright Brothers Memorial Tower which is closed to the public.