EAA
Announces the Pilot of the Century for First Flight Reenactment
Kill Devil Hills, NC - December 12, 2003
- The Experimental Aircraft Association today announced that
Dr. Kevin Kochersberger (pronounced COKE-ERS-BERGER)
will pilot the
1903 Wright Flyer during the historic recreation of the Wright brothers
first flight. During the month of November, The Wright Experience
conducted an encampment at Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil
Hills, N.C., to conduct proof of concept tests with the 1903 Wright Kitty
Hawk Flyer. Due to time constraints and weather conditions, the team only
was able to conduct three proof-of-concept flights, Kochersberger had two
and Terry Queijo (KAY-JO) had one.
“We would have
loved to have had more time testing the ’03 Flyer, but Mother Nature
just didn’t cooperate,” said Scott Crossfield, director of flight
training for The Wright Experience. “During every session on the
simulator and each training flight, our pilots learned a lot about the
flight parameters of the Flyer. They have all played a crucial role in
this process, and I’m proud of each of the pilots.”
“I’m honored to have a chance to fly the most incredible
plane ever built on the 100th anniversary of the first
flight,” said Kochersberger. “This flight would not be possible
without the efforts of the entire Wright Experience team.”
EAA commissioned The Wright Experience to build the 1903
Wright Flyer and to provide pilots for the recreation of the first flight.
The original four pilots included Kochersberger,
Rochester, N.Y., an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the
Rochester Institute of Technology; Queijo,
Trappe, Md., an American Airlines captain of Boeing 767 and 757s; Ken
Hyde of Warrenton, Va., a retired American Airlines pilot and master
builder of the 1903 Wright flyer; and Chris Johnson of Manassas, Va., an
American Airlines first officer of
Boeing 737s. The four participated in a year-long training program
that included work in a flight simulator featuring data from the 1903
Wright Flyer wind tunnel tests, as well as practice flights on a 1902
Wright glider.
Tom Poberezny, president of EAA, said, “I wish our pilots
could have had more time, but like the Wrights 100 years ago, we’ve
pushed it to the edge. I’m confident that if the weather conditions are
right, the world’s most accurate 1903 Wright flyer will lift off the
sand as it did 100 years ago.”
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, Eclipse Aviation and Northrop Grumman
Corporation, 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 built by
The Wright Experience that will exclusively re-enact the Wright
brothers’ first flight near Kitty Hawk, N.C., on Dec. 17, 2003 —
exactly 100 years later. www.countdowntokittyhawk.org
