Bluefish to Hold Gustave Whitehead "First in Flight" Ceremony on August 14 at Harbor Yard
August 11, 2015 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Bridgeport Bluefish News Release
(Bridgeport, Conn. - August 11, 2015) - The Bridgeport Bluefish today announced that they will honor late Bridgeport resident Gustave Whitehead with a pre-game ceremony on Friday, August 14th.
On August 14, 1901, Gustave Whitehead, a German immigrant living in Bridgeport, CT, was credited with successfully flying the first powered, heavier-than-air vehicle in Fairfield, CT. Though eye-witnesses had seen Whitehead fly before this date and many times afterwards in Fairfield, Bridgeport and Stratford, he was never successful in further developing his ideas on flight and faded into obscurity, despite generations of southwestern Connecticut residents both witnessing and being told by eye witnesses about his success.
On the 114th anniversary of the first flight credited to Whitehead, local communications company IdeaEngineUSA and the Bridgeport Bluefish will celebrate the accomplishments of Gustave Whitehead and the great innovators from greater Bridgeport's history in a pre-game ceremony.
In addition to the ceremony, Andy Kosch, one of the last living builders of the Whitehead replica of No. 21, the first heavier-than-air powered craft to successfully fly and land, will display the vehicle near the Two-Roads Brewery Beer Garden.The craft will be brought in front of the stands for the ceremony proper. Kosch will answer questions about the craft and a new replica he is building for a documentary film.
Special commemorative Whitehead jerseys based on Kosch's personal collection of photos and drawings will be worn by the Bluefish during the game. The jerseys will be signed by the players and auctioned off during the game. Proceeds from the jersey auction will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters.
In addition, fans who own Unmanned Ariel Vehicles (UAV,) commonly known as "drones," are welcome to fly them before the game in the triangle between Webster Bank Arena and The Ballpark at Harbor Yard. Drones will not be allowed to be flown in the parking lots, over the street or taken into the ballpark.
Game time on Friday, August 24th will be at 7:05 p.m., with the gates to The Ballpark at Harbor Yard opening at 6:05 p.m. The "First in Flight" ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling 203-210-BLUE, visiting the Bluefish Box Office at Harbor Yard.
The Bridgeport Bluefish are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard. For further information, call 203-210-BLUE (2583) or visit BridgeportBluefish.com.
Atlantic League Stories from August 11, 2015
- Revs Held In Check In Loss To Barnstormers - York Revolution
- Morgado, Pen Suppress York - Lancaster Stormers
- Marshall's Masterpiece Leads Long Island - Long Island Ducks
- Patriots Defeat Skeeters 8-5 - Somerset Patriots
- Barnstormers Welcome Jeff Earnhardt at Clipper Magazine Stadium - Lancaster Stormers
- Bluefish to Hold Gustave Whitehead "First in Flight" Ceremony on August 14 at Harbor Yard - Bridgeport Bluefish
- York Overturns Barnstormers Lead, Tightens Race - Lancaster Stormers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
