Oxendorf Delivers Wisconsin State Flag to Wright Brothers Memorial

Oxendorf Delivers Wisconsin State Flag to Wright Brothers Memorial

WisDOT Bureau of Aeronautics Deputy Director Keith Gerard (right) presents the Governor James Doyle proclamation to pilot Eric Oxendorf. The proclamation reads in part, "Whereas, Wisconsin can be especially proud of its rich aviation tradition and the many brave aviation pioneers who hailed from this state whose knowledge and dedication have contributed greatly to the field of aeronautics..." Photos by Gary Dikkers

KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. - October 24th - Eric Oxendorf, an EAA member pilot from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, officially represented the state in EAA's "50 Flags to Kitty Hawk" program on Friday, October 24, when he landed at the Wright Brothers National Memorial and presented the Wisconsin state flag to National Park Service officials.

Oxendorf is 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.

Oxendorf was the 42nd EAA-member pilot to complete the journey to Kitty Hawk, where he also presented National Park Service officials with a signed proclamation from Governor James Doyle, declaring October 24, 2003 as "50 Flags to Kitty Hawk Day" throughout the state. Following the presentation, the Wisconsin flag was raised at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

Oxendorf, who was accompanied on his flight by his wife Terry and son Carl, said he was "Proud to represent all Wisconsin pilots, homebuilders and aviation pioneers." A Milwaukee photographer, Oxendorf has more than 2,700 hours flight time and has been an EAA member since 1988. His flight of 810 miles took 6.2 hours to complete in his 1972 Cessna 206.

Tomas J. Thomas (left) Aviation Education and Management Chief with the WisDOT Bureau of Aeronautics and pilot Eric Oxendorf (right) with the Wisconsin State Flag that will be flown to Kitty Hawk NC to become part of a permanent display on the Wright Memorial grounds. The tail section of the Cessna 206 shows the "50 Flags to Kitty Hawk" logo. Photos by Gary Dikkers

EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk program, 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, visit www.countdowntokittyhawk.com.




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