EAA Wright Brothers Memorial Banquet Welcomes the Patey Brothers

Mike and Mark Patey, identical twins who hold multiple world speed records between them, are this year’s featured guests at EAA’s annual Wright Brothers Memorial Banquet on Friday, December 9, at the EAA Aviation Museum. The brothers are replacing Top Gun: Maverick Aerial Coordinator Kevin LaRosa II, who is no longer able to commit to speaking due to a scheduling conflict.

Tickets for the event are currently available at the EAA Aviation Museum website. Attendance is limited to 350.

The Patey brothers have an extensive homebuilding background including an RV-6, a Zenith 801 with a modified engine, and multiple high-performance Lancair Legacys. Mike and Mark used their Legacys to compete in the Sport Air Racing League before attempting to set world records. Mike has received significant praise for his two latest original designs, Draco and Scrappy, which were popular draws at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

On March 10, 2011, Mike and Mark each departed from San Diego in an attempt to break the transcontinental world speed record for both eastbound routes. After stopping to refuel in Texas, Mike flew to Charleston, South Carolina, to set the northern route record, while Mark flew to Jacksonville, Florida, to claim the southern route record. Mike broke the West route record the following day flying from Jacksonville to San Diego. In 2016, Mike set a world record for fastest single-engine turboprop with Turbulence, a heavily modified Lancair Legacy with an 850-horsepower engine, at 438.02 miles per hour. Mark also won a world STOL drag championship and later founded Best Tugs, a business specializing in premium aircraft tugs.

EAA’s annual Wright Brothers Memorial Banquet honors the Wright brothers’ successful flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903, that began the era of manned flight. Tickets for the event are $70 for EAA members and $95 for nonmembers. Doors open on December 9 at 5 p.m., with the dinner starting at 6:30 p.m., and the presentation immediately following dinner.