| EAA's
Countdown to Kitty Hawk Embarks on Yearlong Program to Celebrate
Wright Brothers and Centennial of Flight
Aviation Group to Lead Nationwide Wright Flyer Reproduction Tour Along with Ford Motor Company, Microsoft Flight Simulator and Eclipse Aviation EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. -- (Dec. 16, 2002) -- With the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers’ first flight one year away, excitement continues to build as plans evolve for EAA’s Countdown to Kitty Hawk presented Ford Motor Company’s yearlong celebration. Ninety-nine years to the date of the Wright brothers’ first flight, the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission will kick off a yearlong national “Centennial of Flight: Born of Dreams - Inspired by Freedom: commemoration on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2002, at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Actor, pilot and EAA member John Travolta will serve as the master of ceremonies for the event. “Countdown to Kitty Hawk represents a long-standing commitment by EAA and its partners to preserve the Wright brothers’ legacy and honor mankind’s aviation achievements over the past 100 years,” said EAA President and U.S. Centennial of Flight Commissioner Tom Poberezny. “With the upcoming national kick-off event in Washington, D.C. (www.centennialofflight.gov), we’re just one year away for the world to experience the magic of seeing EAA’s 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction soar above the dunes in Kitty Hawk, N.C., as the Wright brothers did 99 years ago. “We’re lucky to have tremendously innovative partners, like Ford Motor Company, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Eclipse Aviation and FLYING magazine on board, to make Countdown to Kitty Hawk and all of its program components a success.” Countdown to Kitty Hawk is the most elaborate celebration of aviation in the past 100 years. Its touring pavilion with EAA’s 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction, 1903 Wright Flyer simulators by Microsoft “Flight Simulator”, exhibits on the Wright brothers, Henry Ford and aviation history as well activities for children will be the centerpiece of the celebration. Tour Schedule April 2 - 8, 2003: First Stop of U.S. Tour of EAA’s 2003 Wright Flyer at Sun ‘n Fun EAA Fly-In, Lakeland, Fla. June 13 - 16, 2003: Second Stop of U.S. Tour of EAA’s 2003 Wright Flyer at Ford Motor Company’s 100th Anniversary Celebration, Dearborn, Mich. July 4 - 20, 2003: Third Stop of U.S. Tour of EAA’s 2003 Wright Flyer at Inventing Flight Celebration, Dayton, Ohio July 29 - Aug. 4, 2003: Fourth Stop of U.S. Tour of EAA’s 2003 Wright Flyer at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in Oshkosh, Wis. Aug. 23 - Sept. 2, 2003: Fifth Stop of U.S. Tour of EAA’s 2003 Wright Flyer at the Museum of Flight, Seattle, Wash. Dec. 13 - 17, 2003: Final Stop of U.S. Tour of EAA’s Wright Flyer at Wright Brothers National Monument, Kitty Hawk, N.C. Updates on Celebration Components Other Countdown to Kitty Hawk celebration component updates include:
About EAA EAA, The Leader in Recreational Aviation, is an international association with 170,000 members and more than 1,000 local chapters. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or explore EAA’s Wide Web site (www.eaa.org). About EAA’s “Countdown to Kitty Hawk Presented By Ford Motor Company” EAA’s “Countdown to Kitty Hawk” is a centennial celebration of the Wright brothers’ first powered flight - an innovation that forever changed our world. Led by EAA, presented by Ford Motor Company, and supported by Microsoft “Flight Simulator” and Eclipse Aviation, this yearlong series of inspirational events honors the innovation and determination it takes to make world-changing dreams a reality. “Countdown to Kitty Hawk” features an interactive touring pavilion and the world’s most accurate 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction that will exclusively re-enact the Wright brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., on Dec. 17, 2003 - exactly 100 years later. For more information regarding the program, check the official “Countdown to Kitty Hawk” Web site (www.countdowntokittyhawk.org).
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