89th AS pilot keynote speaker for first flight ceremony
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --
Lt. Col. Eric Piel, 89th Airlift Squadron pilot, was the keynote speaker for the 109th anniversary ceremony commemorating the Wright brothers' first successful powered flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., held at Wright Memorial Hill Dec. 17. Air Force and National Park Service officials coordinated the event.
As part of the ceremony, a 445th Airlift Wing C-17 Globemaster III performed a flyover during the singing of the National Anthem.
Piel spoke about the beginnings of aviation and how the Wright Brothers' trials and errors led to where aviation is today. He said that today's training puts a heavy emphasis on the use of simulators and the latest in technology, something that the Wright Brothers didn't have during their time.
"Compared to what the Wright Brothers went through, I've had it easy when it comes to the pilot training I've had. It's been a 'walk in the park,'" Piel said.
Following Piel's speech, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Park superintendent Dean Alexander read the proclamation on the significance of the first flight on Dec. 17, 1903 and how two young men, Orville and Wilbur Wright, from Dayton, Ohio, changed the world with their invention of the airplane.
The ceremony concluded with Amanda Wright Lane, great grand niece of the Wright brothers and Col. Cassie Barlow, 88th Air Base Wing and Installation Commander, laying a wreath at the Wright Brothers memorial.
One last pass of the C-17 marked the closing of this year's ceremony.
As part of the ceremony, a 445th Airlift Wing C-17 Globemaster III performed a flyover during the singing of the National Anthem.
Piel spoke about the beginnings of aviation and how the Wright Brothers' trials and errors led to where aviation is today. He said that today's training puts a heavy emphasis on the use of simulators and the latest in technology, something that the Wright Brothers didn't have during their time.
"Compared to what the Wright Brothers went through, I've had it easy when it comes to the pilot training I've had. It's been a 'walk in the park,'" Piel said.
Following Piel's speech, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Park superintendent Dean Alexander read the proclamation on the significance of the first flight on Dec. 17, 1903 and how two young men, Orville and Wilbur Wright, from Dayton, Ohio, changed the world with their invention of the airplane.
The ceremony concluded with Amanda Wright Lane, great grand niece of the Wright brothers and Col. Cassie Barlow, 88th Air Base Wing and Installation Commander, laying a wreath at the Wright Brothers memorial.
One last pass of the C-17 marked the closing of this year's ceremony.
