Illinois Pilot Delivers State Flag To Wright Brothers Memorial 

Charles Edward Taylor II, an EAA member-pilot from Chicago, Illinois, officially represented his state in EAA's "50 Flags to Kitty Hawk" program Monday, May 12, when he landed at the Wright Brothers National Memorial and presented the state flag to National Park Association officials.

Taylor 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.

Taylor was the fourth EAA-member pilot to complete the journey to Kitty Hawk, where he also presented National Park Service officials with a signed proclamation from Governor Blagojevich, declaring May 12, 2003 as "50 Flags to Kitty Hawk Day" throughout the state. Following the presentation, the Illinois flag was raised at the Wright Brothers National Memorial site, where it flew for the entire day.

"I am elated to represent the State of Illinois in this 100th anniversary celebration of flight. My flight recognizes my great grandfather, Charles E. Taylor, who worked for the Wrights and designed the first airplane engine. The invention of flight is the most significant invention in the history of man."
Taylor, a Chicago computer professional, has more than 400 hours in the air, and has been an EAA member since 2001. His flight of 700 miles took 7 hours to complete.

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, visit www.countdowntokittyhawk.com.