James Spene

Jim Spence has been performing for audiences for most of his life.
As “Orville Wright”, he has been performing for businesses, associations and schools since 1992. His speeches are a combination of History, Inspiration and Flag-Waving.
He was introduced to flying in 1947 when his uncle built an airplane from a kit. Jim’s mother sewed the material for the wings and fuselage. His uncle took Jim for a ride… and even let him fly the plane for about 30 seconds.
Reading books on flying, Jim dreamed of being a licensed pilot by the age of fifteen, but this was not to be. He was stricken with polio at thirteen. Doctors told him he would “never walk, use your right arm or stand straight again”. Miraculously, he recovered and went on to play football, softball and track. He has water skied, snow skied, scuba dived and climb mountains. Jim has done just about everything people told him he couldn’t do. In his mid-twenties, he again longed to fly. He did, only this time he “flew” as a skydiver.
Jim spent eleven years in the Navy’s music program. As an instructor and musician, he performed before groups in excess of 1500. While stationed in Japan for two and a half years, Jim learned to speak their language. In 1972, he designed and developed “stereo sound” for television.
Since 1992, Jim has spoken before groups throughout America about aviation history, inspiration, and patriotism. In his studies of the “First Man to Fly”, Jim has managed to capture the “essence” of Orville Wright who, since 1903, people throughout the world have praised.
Jim always felt that everyone has a purpose for being here, and continually strives to achieve new and higher goals. Jim Spence is an achiever, doing what doctors said couldn’t be done.
Orville Wright, also an achiever, aspired to do something that no human had ever done. Jim, as Orville, goes one step further. He shows you what dreams can do, through the eyes of the man who did.
When Jim stands before your organization “as” Orville, they understand what he accomplished. They will come away with memories, and a dream that will follow them for years to come. Once you hear “Orville”, you leave with a feeling of pride; pride in this country, pride in yourself and the reassurance that it is still OK to dream about the “what ifs?”
"Jim was clearly A BIG HIT with adults and kids alike."