Fredericksburg Chapter November Tours
VIRGINIA AERONAUTICAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY
FREDERICKSBURG CHAPTER
NOVEMBER TOURS ANNOUNCEMENT
Tour dates and times:
Tour 1 – Saturday November 15, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Tour 2 – Saturday November 15, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Tour 3: Saturday November 22, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Tour 4: Saturday November 22, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Note: Tour content for all tours is the same. See tour selection instructions below.
Location: Tours will begin at the Stafford Airport terminal lobby located at 95 Aviation Way, Fredericksburg, Virginia. See attached map for directions.
What: Visit the location where the world’s first successful flight of a mechanically driven, heavier than air aircraft took place on May 6, 1896.
Who: All VAHS members and their guests.
Details: Chapter Leader Dick Genaille will start each tour in the Stafford Airport terminal lobby with a presentation on Samuel Pierpont Langley’s (Third Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution) 20 year project to design, develop, produce and fly Aerodrome Number 5, the world’s first successful unmanned mechanically driven heavier than air aircraft. Dick will reference the full scale replica of Aerodrome Number 5 and related wall murals on display in the terminal lobby during his presentation. Dick will also address the relationship between Professor Langley’s 1896 Aerodrome 5 and the Wright Brothers 1903 Flyer, the first MANNED, CONTROLLABLE, mechanically driven heavier than air aircraft. It is a fascinating story you won’t want to miss!
Tour participants will then board a van and travel to Quantico Marine Corps Base to view Chopawamsic Island in the Potomac River where the historic first flight occurred. Dick will describe the event in detail on location. The tour will conclude back at the Stafford Airport terminal.
Parking: There is plenty of free parking available in front of the terminal.
Cost: There is no cost to VAHS members and their guests.
VAHS members are welcome and encouraged to bring one adult guest. The guest can be a family member, relative or friend. Please advise if you will be bringing a guest.
IMPORTANT: Please note that Quantico Marine Corps Base is a controlled access military facility. Consequently, each tour will be limited to a maximum of 5 participants. Five is the total number of visitors Dick can bring on the base at a time using his retired military ID credential.
PLEASE RSVP ASAP TO DICK GENAILLE FREDERICKSBURG CHAPTER LEADER AT richardgenaille@gmail.com Please provide your name, guest name, telephone number and include your primary and alternate choices for Tour 1, 2, 3 or 4 in your rsvp. Tours will be filled based on the order in which rsvp’s are received. The last day to rsvp is Thursday November 13.
Dick Genaille
Member of the VAHS Board of Directors and Fredericksburg Chapter Leader
