Tony Palesotti Delivers Arkansas State Flag To Wright Brothers Memorial

KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. - Aug. 9, 2003 - Tony Palesotti, an Experimental Aircraft Association member pilot from Searcy, Arkansas officially represented the state in EAA's "50 Flags to Kitty Hawk" program Saturday, when he landed at the Wright Brothers National Memorial and presented the state flag to National Park Service officials.

Tony was one of 50 EAA-member pilots chosen - one from each state - to participate in the "50 Flags to Kitty Hawk" program, a year-long effort that is part of EAA's "Countdown to Kitty Hawk" initiative, presented by Ford Motor Company, celebrating the achievements of the Wright brothers and the 100th anniversary of powered flight in 2003.

Tony Palesotti was the 20th EAA-member pilot to complete the journey to Kitty Hawk, where he also presented National Park Service officials with a signed proclamation from Governor Mike Huckabee, declaring August 9th, 2003 as "50 Flags to Kitty Hawk Day" throughout the state. Following the presentation, the Arkansas flag was raised at the Wright Brothers National Memorial site, where it will fly for the entire day.

"The opportunity to repreaent the EAA and the great state of Arkansas, while becoming a permanent part of American aviation history, is just overwhelming. I am greatful to have been chosen and honored to be here." Tony said. Mr. Palesotti, a sales executive, has more than 3600 hours in the air, and has been an EAA member since 1997. His flight of 600 miles took 5 hours to complete in his 1969 Cessna 310.

EAA's "Countdown to Kitty Hawk" program, which is also supported by Microsoft Flight Simulator and Eclipse Aviation, includes construction of an exact flying reproduction of the 1903 Wright flyer, and a six-stop national tour of EAA's "Countdown to Kitty Hawk" pavilion exhibit, which features the Flyer, historic artifacts and Wright brothers correspondence from the Library of Congress, and numerous interactive aviation displays.

The tour will culminate at Kill Devil Hills, N.C., when as part of the Centennial of Flight Celebration, EAA's Wright Flyer will fly again at 10:35 a.m. on Dec. 17, 2003 - precisely 100 years to the minute from when the Wrights made history.

For more information on EAA's "Countdown to Kitty Hawk" program, search the website at www.countdowntokittyhawk.com.