KITTY HAWK, N.C. — The First Flight Society has put out a call for nominations for the 2027 Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine.
The shrine was established in 1966 to honor individuals and groups for achieving significant “firsts” in aviation since 1903. Recipients include Charles Lindbergh, Mary Feik, John Glenn, NASA’s Katherine Johnson, Gail Halvorsen, Sally K. Ride, Walter and Olive Ann Beech, and William Lear.
Honorees are selected annually by a national advisory committee from a list of nominees submitted to the First Flight Society from the public. Anyone can submit a nomination, not just First Flight Society members.
The nominee may — but does not have to be — a “first” but rather “…a person, living or dead, who since Dec. 17, 1903, either personally or with the assistance of others, have made such outstanding accomplishments in support of flight operations that they are generally recognized nationally and internationally for their achievements and contributions to aerospace activities.”
The 2026 honoree has been chosen and will be announced to the public on Wilbur Wright Day, April 16, 2026, according to society officials.
A nomination form for the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine, can be found at FirstFlight.org. It can be filled out online or mailed with any supporting documents to: First Flight Society, P.O. Box 1903, Kitty Hawk, N.C., 27949. Nominations may also be emailed to: [email protected].
Nominations are due March 31, 2026.
For more information about the Paul E. Garber Shrine, go to PaulGarberShrine.org
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