First In Flight: Free Summer Fun For The Entire Family

BRIDGEPORT — The Discovery Museum and Planetarium will host a one-day outdoor festival to commemorate three of Bridgeport’s significant innovative contributions to aviation: the 110th anniversary of Gustave Whitehead and the first airplane flight, the Sikorsky Helicopter, and the Frisbee (The Frisbie Baking Company).

The event will run from 11 am until 4 pm on Sunday, August 14, at the museum, 4450 Park Avenue in Bridgeport, and admission is free.

There will be live music performed by Kite, Frisbee dog demonstrations, Frisbee freestyle demonstrations, a Frisbee Golf Tournament (registration is required for this, since space is limited), Frisbee dunk tank (use a Frisbee to hit a target on the tank), and Frisbee throwing contests for accuracy and distance.

There will also be displays by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Barnum Museum, Connecticut Air & Space Center, Bridgeport History Center, and Black Horse Garage.

Andy Kosch, who built and flew a replica of Whitehead’s airplane 25 years ago, will offer a presentation that will include a display of his replica craft. Former City Historian Charles Brilovitch will also be a guest speaker during the event, as will George “Doc” Gunther, the founder of Connecticut Air & Space Museum.

From 11:30 am until 1 pm, the museum will also host a live teleconference with the head of the Whitehead Museum in Germany and a virtual tour of the museum. Mayor Bill Finch will be on hand to greet his counterpart in Germany via the teleconference. Congressman Jim Himes and members of the German consulate will be in attendance as well.

The festival is being presented in conjunction with the opening of a new exhibition, “Bridgeport: First in Flight” at The Discovery Museum.

On August 14, 1901, two years before the Wright Brothers, Gustave Whitehead, a German immigrant to Bridgeport, flew his powered aircraft unassisted a distance of a half mile in the skies over Bridgeport, truly being First in Flight. The exhibit will offer a historic collection of Whitehead’s memorabilia and personal documents.

For additional information call  203-372-3521 or visit DiscoveryMuseum.org.