EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. - (March 24, 2003) - EAA and the National Park Service - partners in EAA’s Countdown to Kitty Hawk program, presented by Ford Motor Company - announced today that five more EAA-member pilots have been chosen to represent their states in EAA’s “50 Flags to Kitty Hawk” initiative, celebrating the achievements of the Wright brothers and 100 years of powered flight.

The five pilots - selected to represent the states of Florida, Ohio, New Mexico, Texas, and Virginia - will fly their respective state flag to the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, N.C., on a day of their choice prior to December 1, 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 pilot will be welcomed by the National Park Service, take part in official welcoming ceremonies, after which the flag of their respective state will be raised and flown throughout the day at the National Memorial. At year’s end, the 50 flags delivered will be used in the creation of a permanent EAA/NPS “50 Flags to Kitty Hawk” display at the site.

The five selected are:

* Gordon Bowers, Midlothian, Va., an EAA member since 1988, who will fly his North American T-28B to Kitty Hawk sometime in July. Accompanying him will be passenger Andy Sherrer.

* Carl La Rue, Cambridge, Ohio, an EAA member since 1992, who will fly his Lancair IV-F to Kitty Hawk on September 13. Accompanying him will be passenger John Slais.

* Rick Raesz, Fort Worth, Tex., an EAA member since 1983, who will fly his Beechcraft A-60 “Duke” to Kitty Hawk in November. Accompanying him will be his wife Janie Raesz and sons Alex Raesz, Ben Raesz, and Blake Switzer.

* John D. “Mike” Rice, Santa Fe, N.M., an EAA member since 1998, who will fly his Commander AC68 to Kitty Hawk on April 8 or 9. Accompanying him will be his wife and co-pilot Janice Rice and passenger John D. Rice II, his nephew.

* Barbara Walters-Phillips, Apopka, Fla., an EAA member since 1992, who will fly her Stearman to Kitty Hawk sometime in the fall. Accompanying her will be her husband, Patrick Phillips.

The five selections bring to six the number of EAA member pilots chosen to participate in the “50 Flags to Kitty Hawk” program. EAA member pilot Charles Stites of Chapel Hill, N.C., kicked off the program by flying the North Carolina state flag to Kitty Hawk on Dec. 17, 2002 as part of the 99th Anniversary First Flight Celebration there. All flights in 2003 must be completed by December 1.