Celebrate the Centennial of
Naval Aviation in 2011
Organizers of Tacoma’s Freedom Fair are proud to be a part of the US Navy’s celebration of the Centennial of Naval Aviation. Tacoma’s history as both a military community and maritime port parallels that of the US Navy in many ways, and in July 2011, we plan to celebrate those shared histories.
Join us for four days of exciting events, to which we are inviting the men and women of the US Navy, as well as veterans of all military services. Tacoma will throw open its doors to welcome visitors, showing off the hospitality that was the hallmark of recent Tall Ships events. Visitors will discover the many aspects that make Tacoma a fun and exciting destination, and residents will enjoy an excuse to get out and rediscover those same things. There will be something for everyone to enjoy during this weekend!
More than 3,000 volunteers came out to make the first Tacoma Tall Ships a resounding success, and we’re hoping that some of those same people (as well as some new volunteers) will help make Freedom Fair Celebrates the Centennial of Naval Aviation a similar success. Committees are forming today to coordinate each of the activities you see below. Volunteer Information Workshops will kick off in Jan 2011 – to be a part of the fun and behind-the-scenes excitement, plan to attend one of those workshops, or simply fill out an application now. You won’t be sorry to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration!
AVIATION NIGHT AT (the newly renovated) CHENEY STADIUM -- We are offering reserved seating plus meal voucher for $15 per ticket (a $23 value) and want to work with local businesses who will purchase blocks of seats. Our hope is that sponsors will consider donating blocks of tickets back for distribution to military personnel and families of deployed military so they can enjoy the game for free. We will invite military recruiters and other military activities to have displays at the stadium celebrating their services' contributions to the community, and will host a small VIP reception during the game. A fireworks display after the game will be our opening salvo for a weekend of fun and excitement!
READ MORE ABOUT AVIATION NIGHT.
WINGS & WHEELS - The action moves across the bridge to the Tacoma Narrows Airport, where aircraft, both military and civilian, will FLY-IN and be on static display. You’ll thrill to the roar of the engines, and the opportunity to see these beautiful aircraft up close. Meet the crews that will dazzle you on July 4 with their daring and precision flying skills. Vendors, military displays, and entertainment throughout the day. READ MORE ABOUT WINGS & WHEELS.
Be sure to visit the Navy's official Centennial of Naval Aviation website.
100 Years Ago - Eugene Ely invented naval aviation
Naval aviation was invented one hundred years ago, on January 18, 1911, when a 24 year-old barnstormer pilot named Eugene B. Ely completed the world's first successful landing on a ship. It happened in San Francisco Bay, aboard the cruiser USS Pennsylvania, which had a temporary 133-foot wooden landing strip built above her afterdeck and gun turret as part of the experiment.
Ely's aircraft was rudimentary: a Curtiss Model D "Pusher" biplane, equipped with a 60 hp V-8 engine that gave the aircraft a 50 mph airspeed.
Ely's Curtis Pusher had been fitted with a clever new invention called a tailhook. The idea was to quickly halt the aircraft after landing by using the tailhook to catch one or two of 22 rope lines -- each propped up a foot above the deck and weighted by 50-pound sandbags tied to each end -- strung three feet apart along the Pennsylvania's temporary flight deck.
Videos and photos are courtesy of COMNAVAIRFOR's Centennial of Naval Aviation (CoNA) Task Force.
