Oklahoma Pilot Delivers State Flag To Wright Brothers Memorial

Michael Huffman, EAA member-pilot from Cookson, Oklahoma, officially represented the state in EAA's "50 Flags to Kitty Hawk" program Thursday, June 5, when he landed at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, with his wife Barbara, and presented the state flag to National Park Service officials.

Huffman 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.

Huffman was the 10th EAA-member pilot to complete the journey to Kitty Hawk, where he also presented National Park Service officials with a signed proclamation from Governor Brad Henry, declaring June 3-5, 2003 as "50 Flags to Kitty Hawk Day" throughout the state. Following the presentation, the Oklahoma flag was raised at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

"Barbara and I are thrilled to participate in this historic celebration and commemoration," Huffman said. "Beginning shortly after the Wright Brothers' flight, Oklahomans began a century of rich aviation accomplishments in the state and our flight also celebrates that heritage." Huffman, a Cookson aviation newspaper publisher, has more than 2500 hours in the air, and has been an EAA member since 1968. His flight of over 1,000 miles took two days to complete in his Luscombe 185-11E.

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.