‘Birthplace of Aviation’ Dayton, USA, to host 117th FAI General Conference 2023
Organised by the National Aeronautical Association (NAA), the 117th FAI General Conference 2023 will be held in Dayton, Ohio, USA: the ‘Birthplace of Aviation’. The Conference will take place over two days, 26th and 27th of October 2023, and will bring together participants from all over the world.
This event is especially significant as it will be the first in-person FAI Conference since the COVID pandemic. Delegates and dignitaries will once again be able to meet to consider the future of air sports during collaborative sessions. An FAI Conference highlight is the annual Awards Ceremony, and the 2023 awardees will be able to collect their diplomas and medals in person on 25 October.
Since FAI’s foundation in 1905, the Conference has been hosted by the USA four times - in Washington D.C. (1934), Cleveland (1949), and Los Angeles twice (1958 and 1983).
NAA President Greg Principato said:
“From aviation’s earliest days, FAI has taken a leading role in supporting promoting the art, sport and science of aviation. As a founding member of FAI, the National Aeronautic Association is proud to welcome FAI, for the first time, to the Birthplace of Aviation: Dayton, Ohio. The Wright Brothers themselves played key roles in both organisations so it is natural that the aviation world should reconvene in Dayton. NAA looks forward to welcoming all participants.”
FAI President David Monks said:
“I want to express my sincere appreciation for the opportunity the NAA has extended to FAI. After three General Conferences conducted online, we all have a chance to re-engage. It is with great excitement I look forward to meeting our members in October at what promises to be an exceptional event. Ohio has deep roots in historic aviation and promises to be an outstanding location for the 117th FAI General Conference 2023.”
About Dayton
© Michael Bowman
Dayton, Ohio, renowned as the ‘Birthplace of Aviation’, is a city that has played a pivotal role in the history of aviation. Its claim to fame owes much to the Wright Brothers, who were born, lived in, and are buried in Dayton.
The city also boasts the largest and oldest aviation museum in the world, the National Museum of the United States Air Force. It is also home to the United States Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which conducts cutting-edge research and development in aerospace technology.
Furthermore, a record 23 NASA astronauts hail from Ohio, including the first person to set foot on the moon, Neil Armstrong. Dayton is a city that has left a lasting impact on the world of aviation, and its legacy continues to inspire generations of aviation enthusiasts worldwide.
© National Museum of the United States Air Force
About NAA
The NAA was formed in 1905 and is one of FAI’s Founding Members. The formal recognition of aviation achievement in the United States, in 1922, the entity was incorporated with the mission of advancing the art, sport, and science of aviation and space flight by fostering opportunities to participate fully in aviation activities and by promoting public understanding of the importance of aviation and space flight to the United States. The NAA is the official record-keeper for United States aviation and the administrator of the nation’s most prestigious aviation awards including the Collier Trophy and the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy.
