Tickets on sale beginning October 11 at 9 a.m. CDT
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (October 5, 2018) — Frank Borman and Jim Lovell, who 50 years ago captured the world’s imagination as two of the first humans to orbit the moon, will recount that famed mission as special guests at EAA’s annual Wright Brothers Memorial Banquet on Friday, December 7, at the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh. The evening will be hosted by former NASA space shuttle commander Charlie Precourt.
The banquet is held each December at EAA to commemorate the Wright brothers’ successful flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903, that began the era of manned flight.
Borman commanded the Apollo 8 mission, which lifted off from then-Cape Kennedy, Florida, on December 21, 1968. Lovell was command module pilot on the flight, which included two unforgettable moments: the reading from the Book of Genesis to a worldwide audience on Christmas Eve 1968 and the “Earthrise” photo that marked the first time humans had witnessed the earth rising above another celestial body.
“As the Apollo 8 astronauts are making very few combined personal appearances on this 50th anniversary of their historic mission, we are honored to have them join us as our special guests as we commemorate the anniversary of manned flight,” said Jack J. Pelton, EAA CEO and Chairman. “Both of these men are also longtime EAA members and have been active aviators. This event is a perfect place for all of us to commemorate the amazing progress in flight in just little more than a century.”
Tickets for this event will go on sale beginning at 9 a.m. CDT on Thursday, October 11, at EAA.org/WrightBrothers. All seats are $60 for EAA members and $80 for nonmembers, and include pre-assigned seating for the dinner. Those purchasing tickets will be asked for their dinner entrée preference, with options that include a vegetarian and gluten-free choice.
Doors will open on December 7 at 5 p.m., with a pre-event social hour at 5:30, followed by the dinner and presentation at 6:30. As this event is expected to sell out, those interested are urged to obtain their tickets early.
