Wright Flight is a non profit educational organization that helps fifth and sixth grade students have an opportunity to learn about aviation and fly in an airplane It began in Martin County, North Carolina in 2015 under the direction of Gene Powell, forty year member and Chair of the Martin County Airport Commission. Gene was hoping to share his love of aviation with future generations, and thereb
y motivate them to “set their eyes above the horizon.” He is now our esteemed President Emeritus of Wright Flight of Martin County NC, our Chief Advocate and Cheerleader, Chief Recruiter of Pilots and Volunteers, although actively and happily retired. Participation in Wright Flight requires each student agree to do the following:
1. Remain drug and alcohol free during the entirety of the program.
3. Complete a course in aviation history and test out at a B+ (85/100). Students meeting all the goals are awarded a Fly Day with a certified and insured private pilot. And, the pilot may decide, with the accompanying parent or guardian, to let the most worthy students actually fly the plane. Fifth grade students at Edna Andrews and East End participated in 2015. Seventy students began the program with twenty-seven successfully completing. Twenty of those students chose to participate in 2015 Fly Day. The program was offered to all fifth graders in Martin County in 2016. 101 students completed the program and participated in the field and fly days. The field day allows the students to be up close and personal with the airplanes and to learn from the pilots. The program was made available to all fifth graders in 2017, 2018, and 2019. More than 300 successful students total achieved their goals and had exciting, educational, and motivating field days and fly days that are shown in the photographs and videos on this page. The Covid 19 pandemic shut down face to face classes in 2020. It also shut down Wright Flight for the fifth graders of 2020. This page was the communication and educational tool used to help maintain and sustain relationships built over the years since 2015. On Monday, November 15, 2021 a county wide consensus decision to start planning Wright Flight of Martin County for all sixth graders was confirmed by the School System and the County Manager. Initial contacts and preliminary work began the week of November 21. Now, school staff, teachers, and volunteers are the key to directing and supporting the children and making the field days and fly days of 2021/2022 a success. Please like our page Wright Flight of Martin County NC and share it so our community knows this is happening! And, keep you eyes above the horizon!
2022 Field Day, Thursday, April 14, 2022
Field Day is an aviation education experience for 270 sixth graders. With their teachers they get to meet and talk with pilots and community leaders about airplanes and airport planning, engineering and management.
2022 Fly Day Saturday, April 30, 2022
Rain day Saturday, May 21, 2022
Fly Day is the opportunity for the students who have successfully completed their Wright Flight contract to fly in the copilot seat of a four passenger airplane with a parent or guardian in the passenger seat.
2022 WFMC Board of Directors:
Mitchell W. Manning Sr. - President
Gene Powell Sr.- President Emeritus
Jesse Council - Airport Manager
Joy Pierce - NC Extension
Cliff Hudson- Martin County Schools STEM
Mitch Reason - Riverside Teacher
Landon Leggett – Riverside Teacher
Courtney Groover - South Creek Teacher
Lori Roberson - Bear Grass Teacher
Ashley Williams - Hobgood Teacher
Mary Beth Shaw - Hobgood Teacher
2022 WFMC Advisory Board
Joe Ayers - County Commissioner
Renee Purvis - Board of Education
Cindy Ange- County Financial Manager
James Bennett - County Manager
Judge Regina Parker- District Court
Dr. Derrick Wilkins - Vice Chancellor ECSU
Dr. David Batts- BSIT East Carolina Univ. Jason Semple- Econ. Dev. Commission
Roy Lilley - Certified Public Accountant
2022 WFMC Partners
Beaufort County NC Wright Flight
Wright Flight of Arizona (national office)
First Flight Society
Inner Banks STEM Center
Outer Banks Airplanes
D2 Aviation
Dillon Aviation
2022 WFMC Field Day Opportunities
NC Forestry Service
Elizabeth City State University
Edgecombe-Martin EMC Academy
Martin County Sheriff’s Department
Martin County Health Department
W. K. Dickson
Martin Count Government
Martin County Chamber of Commerce
NC Extension Service
The Innovation High School
NC DOT Aviation - Drone Team
Southern Albemarle Association
2022 WFMC Pilots
Gene Powell Jr. Mike Roberson
Tom McLean
Jesse Council
Buck Davis
Monty Clark
Eric Mitchell
William Plaster
Wiley Price
Daniel Kramer
Mike Castle
Rodney Williford (2)
Wayne Woolard (2)
Robin Spinx
Donnie Boyette (5)
Robert Shellenberg
John Reichert
