First Flight Airport (FFA)

First Flight Airport (KFFA) — Pilot Information & Visitor Guide

First Flight Airport (FAA identifier: FFA / ICAO: KFFA) is a public-use, single-runway airport located in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, directly adjacent to the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Operated by the National Park Service, FFA sits on the same dunes where Orville and Wilbur Wright made the world’s first powered flight on December 17, 1903.

Airport at a Glance

  • Identifier: FFA (FAA) / KFFA (ICAO)
  • Location: Kill Devil Hills, Dare County, NC
  • Coordinates: 36.0181° N, 75.6713° W
  • Elevation: 13 ft MSL
  • Runway: 03/21 — 3,000 ft × 60 ft, asphalt
  • CTAF: 122.9
  • Lighting: Daytime use only (no runway lights)
  • Fuel: None available on field
  • Owner/Operator: National Park Service

Pilot Information

First Flight Airport is uncontrolled (no tower). All operations use CTAF 122.9 for self-announcement. The airport is open from sunrise to sunset only — no night operations are permitted. Tie-downs are available on a 24-hour limit; pilots should bring their own ropes. There is no fuel, no maintenance, and no FBO services on field. The nearest fuel is at Dare County Regional Airport (MQI), approximately 7 nautical miles south.

Wildlife Warning: Deer on Runway

Deer are frequently present on and near Runway 03/21. A low pass to clear the runway before landing is strongly recommended. This is one of the most cited hazards at KFFA and should not be ignored.

Runway 03/21

The single asphalt runway runs roughly north-northeast to south-southwest, aligned with the prevailing Atlantic winds that drew the Wright Brothers to Kitty Hawk in the first place. At 3,000 feet by 60 feet, it accommodates light single- and twin-engine aircraft. The surrounding terrain is open and flat, but pilots should be aware of the 60-foot Wright Brothers Monument on Kill Devil Hill just west of the field.

Walking to the Wright Brothers National Memorial

One of the unique features of flying into FFA is that the Wright Brothers National Memorial visitor center, museum, and the marked First Flight stones are within a short walk of the parking area. Many pilots fly in specifically to visit the memorial — there is no other airport in the United States where you can land at the actual site of the first powered flight.

Ground Transportation

FFA has no on-site car rental or taxi stand. For exploring the wider Outer Banks, pilots can arrange a 4×4 vehicle delivery to the airport. See our Ground Transportation page for details.

Nearby Alternate Airports

History

The land that is now First Flight Airport was used for glider experiments by the Wright Brothers in 1900, 1901, and 1902 before their powered flights of 1903. The airport itself was paved in the 1960s as part of the National Park Service’s plan to allow pilots to visit the memorial. Today it remains one of the most historically significant general aviation airports in the world.