December 12, 2002 - EAA and the National Park Service (NPS), partners in EAA's "Countdown to Kitty Hawk" program presented by Ford Motor Company, today unveiled the "50 Flags to Kitty Hawk" initiative, in which EAA-member pilots will play a significant role in helping celebrate the achievements of the Wright brothers and 100 years of powered flight.

EAA's "50 Flags to Kitty Hawk" program will select one EAA-member pilot from each of the 50 states to fly their respective state flag to the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, N.C., during calendar year 2003. Each pilot will also carry a proclamation from that state's governor declaring the day of their flight "50 Flags to Kitty Hawk Day" for their respective state.

Upon arriving in Kitty Hawk, each EAA-member pilot will be welcomed by the NPS and take part in the official NPS welcoming ceremonies. Following the ceremony, the flag of the pilot's state will be raised and flown throughout that day at the National Memorial. Pictures of the pilots, their state flags and the date of their "50 Flags" flight will be honored on EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk website at www.countdowntokittyhawk.org and updated reports will appear in EAA's Sport Aviation magazine and weekly e-Hot Line updates.

"The partnership between Wilbur and Orville Wright resulted in one of our nation's crowning achievements, controlled powered flight in a heavier than air machine," said Larry Belli, Superintendent of the Wright Brothers National Memorial. "Countdown to Kitty Hawk and '50 Flags to Kitty Hawk' are the result of a partnership between the world's leader in recreational aviation and the world's premier preservation and conservation organization.

"We welcome EAA-member pilots to Kitty Hawk to join the world in a fitting, year-long tribute to two of America's greatest heroes."

All pilots making the flight will also receive a Commemorative "50 Flags to Kitty Hawk" Certificate of Participation from EAA. At the end of 2003, plans call for the 50 flags delivered by EAA's member pilots to be used as part of a permanent EAA/NPS "50 Flags to Kitty Hawk" display at the Wright Brothers National Memorial site.

Pilots wishing to participate in EAA's "50 Flags to Kitty Hawk" program should contact EAA by filling out a Pilot Criteria Sheet that will be available on the "Countdown to Kitty Hawk" website after January 1, 2003. Participating pilots will be responsible for securing their state flag and Governor's proclamation, notifying the NPS of the date of their planned flight and coordinating media coverage of the event in their local media. Details and instructions will be provided on the Pilot Criteria Sheet.

EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk, presented by Ford Motor Company, was created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of powered flight. Highlighting the initiative is the planned flight of an exact reproduction of the 1903 Wright Flyer on Dec. 17, 2003, at Kitty Hawk, N.C. For more information regarding the program check the official Countdown to Kitty Hawk website at www.countdowntokittyhawk.com.