Centennial of Circumnavigation! Celebrating the First Flight around the World!

Join us to mark the 100^th anniversary of the first round-the-world flight. Concluded in Seattle, WA on September 28, 1924, the attempt to fly around the world began in April of that year! We are observing the centennial with exciting programming, and a book fair that celebrates the great aviation adventures!

Aviation Adventure Book Fair (9am – 5pm)

Are you a history nerd? Do you love thrilling tales of adventure in the air? Do you miss how much fun it was to go to the book fair in middle school? So do we! This first-time activity at the Museum will feature hundreds of aviation books and magazines available to good homes at excellent prices! All proceeds help with conservation of our Museum collections.

Modern Magellan’s Exhibition (9am – 5pm)

This travelling exhibition is being displayed at the museum to coincide with the 100^th anniversary of the circumnavigation by the Douglas World Cruisers. This first round-the-world flight was a massive logistical undertaking which took 175 days to cover 26,345 miles, with aircraft going through multiple engine changes and an international effort put in place to support them, led by the US Military.

First Flight Around the World with Tim Grove (at 10am and 2pm)
Author Presentation 

(Intended for Ages 10+)

Public historian and author Tim Grove will talk about his book, First Flight Around the World, produced in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum where Grove worked for thirteen years. Inspired by the Chicago, one of the four airplanes on the US world flight and part of the museum’s collection, Grove based the book on the journal of the airplane’s mechanic and included many photos from the museum’s archives. The book was a finalist for the American Library Association’s YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction award. Five other nations were vying to be first and the race for glory made headlines around the world in 1924.

Douglas DC-3: Summer of Flight Demonstration (1pm)

Join us for a flight demonstration provided by a 1941-built DC-3E cared for by Vintage Flying Machines. First flown in 1935, just 11 years after the Douglas World Cruisers completed their flight around the world, the DC-3 would open up air travel to the masses. Fast, reliable and capable of flying long-range for the time, the DC-3 would pioneer air routes across the globe. (By DC-3 you could travel from New York to Los Angeles in just 18 hours, stopping just 3 times for fuel).

Known as the Western Airlines DC-3, this aircraft has just returned from its own trans-Atlantic flying adventure, having travelled to Europe and back this summer.

Around-the-World Activity Stations (10am – 2pm)

The trip had taken 363 flying hours 7 minutes, over 175 calendar days, and covered 26,345 miles, succeeding where the British, Portuguese, French, Italians and Argentinians failed. In celebration of this amazing accomplishment our Educators will have several activity stations for our younger visitors to make crafts from around the world!

Stearman Biplane Rides (10am – 4pm)

The Museum’s own 1941 Stearman Biplane will be offering rides throughout the day. The rides can be pre-purchased to secure your desired time slot by visiting https://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org/warbird-rides/