EAA's Countdown To Kitty Hawk Presented By Ford Motor Company Introduces Pilot Candidates For The Centennial Re-enactment Of The First Powered Flight

Pilot candidates introduced at a news conference at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2002; Additional announcements include program partnerships with Eclipse Aviation and the Library of Congress

Oshkosh, Wis. (July 24, 2002) - EAA - The Leader in Recreational Aviation - and Ford Motor Company today introduced the four candidates for the Pilots of the Century at a news conference at EAA AirVenture 2002, the nation's largest aviation event. Two of the four candidates will ultimately be chosen to re-enact the roles of Orville and Wilbur Wright and fly EAA's 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction, the most accurate of its kind, at our nation's celebration of the centennial of flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., on Dec. 17, 2003.

The selection of the candidates for the Pilots of the Century and the re-creation of the first powered flight are part of EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk, a multi-year initiative to celebrate the centennial of flight. Through a historic partnership, Ford Motor Company is driving the Countdown to Kitty Hawk initiative. Also at today's news conference, EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk announced partnerships with Eclipse Aviation Corporation and the Library of Congress.

Pilots of the Century Candidates

Pilot Candidates: From left to right Ken Hyde, Chris Johnson, Terry Queijo and Dr. Kevin Kochersberger.

"This year marks EAA's 50th annual fly-in. We're pleased to be working with Ford Motor Company for Countdown to Kitty Hawk and to introduce these top-quality pilot candidates at a news conference during such a high point in EAA's history," said Tom Poberezny, president and CEO of EAA.

"Each of these candidates already represents the innovative spirit of the Wright brothers through their dedication to creating or discovering aviation firsts."

The four pilot candidates are:

• Ken Hyde, Warrenton, Va., retired American Airlines pilot, president and founder of The Wright Experience - the company contracted by EAA to exactly reproduce the 1903 Wright Flyer;
• Terry Queijo, Trappe, Md., co-pilot of the historic, first all-female flight crew for American Airlines and captain of Boeing 767 and 757's out of Washington, D.C.;
• Chris Johnson, Manassas, Va., major for the U.S. Air Force Reserves and American Airlines pilot; and,
• Dr. Kevin Kochersberger, Honeoye Falls, N.Y., associate professor of mechanical engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology and pilot with more than 1,400 hours. He is on sabbatical and leading the testing of the Wright 1901 and 1902 gliders at the Langley Full Scale Tunnel in Hampton, Va.

The four pilot candidates will undergo training and testing with Scott Crossfield, aviation legend and renowned research pilot for organizations including NACA - the predecessor of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA. Crossfield made aeronautical history on Nov. 20, 1953, as the first person to reach Mach 2, twice the speed of sound (more than 1,320 miles per hour). Crossfield also served as pilot, design consultant and eventually systems director and technical director for North American Aviation working on such projects as the revolutionary X-15 rocket-powered airplane and Apollo Command.

Overview of Candidate Selection Process and Training
The candidates were selected by The Wright Experience with consultation from EAA and Ford Motor Company. For the next year, the pilots will train with Crossfield, developing a training system that includes flight simulators of the 1902 Wright Glider and flying an actual 1902 Wright Glider reproduction. During training, each candidate will keep a journal. Entries will be posted on www.countdowntokittyawk.org at benchmarks in the training process to allow Web site visitors to read about the pilots' experiences.

Based on skill, training results and input from Countdown to Kitty Hawk organizers, two of the candidates will be selected to assume the roles of either Orville or Wilbur Wright for the Countdown to Kitty Hawk celebration on Dec. 17, 2003. Once selected, EAA, Ford Motor Company and Crossfield plan to announce the results at or before EAA AirVenture 2003, where EAA's completed 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction will be on public display.

Pilots of the Century to Fly Most Accurate 1903 Wright Flyer Reproduction
Ultimately, the Pilots of the Century will fly EAA's 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction at the Countdown to Kitty Hawk celebration on Dec. 17, 2003. The 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction is currently under construction. The air-frame (wings and center section) are complete. The Wright Experience is researching the fabric production for the muslin to cover the wings while the thread is being made.

EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk presented by Ford Motor Company

As one of the premier innovators of his generation, Henry Ford was fascinated by flight and shared a "No Boundaries" vision with the fellow inventors of his era including his friends the Wright brothers. It was Ford, who is enshrined in the National Aviation Hall of Fame, who put the nation on wings through his efforts in developing suitable aircraft to serve the public, then building public confidence in their reliability, safety and necessity.

To ensure the authenticity of the 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction and The Wright Experience's research, Ford Motor Company has provided technological expertise and support. In the same laboratories and testing facilities used to develop, build and improve vehicles, Ford Motor Company engineers analyzed original Wright brothers materials crucial to the reverse-engineering of the Wright Flyer. Ford Motor Company and its suppliers also provided extensive information technology expertise and equipment to implement a document management system to allow the Wright Experience to access and easily retrieve information from thousands of news clippings, handwritten notes and other documents - now and for the future.

"The support of Ford Motor Company has been so important to this historic project," said Ken Hyde president, The Wright Experience. "Our 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction will be one the Wright brothers would recognize and be able to fly if they were here today."

The centerpiece of Countdown to Kitty Hawk will be the highlight of all activities associated with the centennial of flight. EAA and Ford Motor Company are scheduled to re-create the Wright brothers' historic first flight at the Wright Brothers National Memorial near Kitty Hawk, N.C., at 10:35 a.m. on Dec. 17, 2003. In 2004, EAA's 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction will be given to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich., and installed for public viewing.

Countdown to Kitty Hawk Partners with Eclipse Aviation Corporation
EAA today also announced Eclipse Aviation Corporation, manufacturer of the Eclipse 500 jet, is joining EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk initiative. The Eclipse supporting sponsorship will celebrate the "Greatest Aviation Innovations of the First 100 Years," a featured element in the 24,000-square-foot Countdown to Kitty Hawk Touring Pavilion. The sponsorship also will include a poll that allows citizens to cast their votes for the most important aviation innovations in history. For more information about this partnership, please visit the "Countdown News" section on www.countdowntokittyhawk.org.

Countdown to Kitty Hawk Taps Wright Brother Resources at the Library of Congress
The document display in the touring pavilion "Countdown to Kitty Hawk" is drawn entirely from the collections of the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress is cooperating with the Experimental Aircraft Association on this display and other aspects of the Wright Brothers
centennial commemoration.

The Library of Congress, the world's largest repository of knowledge and creativity, has been sustained for more than 200 years by Congress and serves all Americans in a variety of ways. It is the research arm of Congress through the Congressional Research Service and the Law Library; the protector of creativity through the Copyright Office; an unparalleled collector of more than 124 million items, including 28 million books and other print materials, millions of prints, photographs, films, maps, recordings, broadcasts, and manuscripts. It promotes reading through its Center for the Book and Children's Literature Center. The Library creates catalog records for libraries everywhere, and serves as a library for people with disabilities nationwide. And it has become a national digital library on the Internet, serving the world at www.loc.gov.

Ford Motor Company at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2002
Ford Motor Company, a longtime participant and supporter of AirVenture, offers visitors many exciting and hands-on exhibits, including:

• Ford Motor Company Hangar: The exhibit depicts the company's history and its historic connection to aviation, including the first public showing of the all-new 2003 Lincoln Aviator.
• Living Legends Tour: The one-of-a-kind road show provides a look at some of Ford's current classics and concepts, including the 2003 Mustang Mach 1, 2002 Mustang Pony, 2002 Thunderbird and Thunderbird Sports Roadster.
• Great American Race: Entertainment for all ages, including NASCAR race car simulators, slot car racing, K'nex building corner, daily giveaways and raffles.
• Harley-Davidson display area: Featuring a 2002 F-150 Harley SuperCrew Truck, Fat Boy bike and other sought-after motorcycles.
  · Truck Corral: This first-year display features Ford truck products and specialists to showcase the company's collection of SUVs, light and mid-size pickups and heavy-duty trucks.
• "Family adventure" vehicles: Among the unique vehicles will be a Ford Focus Wagon, equipped with a roof rack to tote bikes or skis, cargo security shade and ground effects kit. In addition, the display will feature a Ford Windstar, Volvo Cross Country and Mazda MPV.