Bridgeport, CT Bluefish Planned Commemoration Of Date That Gustave Whitehead Supposedly Flew

The Bridgeport Bluefish ... a professional baseball team not affiliated with Major League Baseball that plays in Bridgeport, CT, had sent out a call for fans that own UAVs to bring them to the ballpark August 14th and fly them to commemorate the day the Connecticut Legislature says Gustave Whitehead made the first heavier-than-air powered airplane flight.

Notwithstanding that the Connecticut legislature seems to be the ONLY body to support the Whitehead claim, the FAA stepped in and told the Bluefish flat "no."

The Connecticut Post reports that FAA spokesman Jim Peters contacted the Bluefish organization "to advise them of the requirements for operating unmanned aircraft safely.”

Apparently, the prospect of an unknown number of small UAVs flying at the Harbor Yard ballpark, which is within five miles of Sikorsky Airport, made the FAA sit up and take notice. A story about the promotion in the paper led a local pilot to contact other pilots and warn them of the potential risks on the night of the game.

While the UAV promotion didn't happen, the Bluefish said in a news release posted on their website that the team would "honor the late Gustave Whitehead, the former Bridgeport resident credited for flying the first successful heavier-than-air vehicle in 1901. A replica of the aircraft will be on display, and the players will wear specialty jerseys, which will be auctioned off to support Big Brothers Big Sisters."

FMI: http://bridgeportbluefish.com/