EAA Announced Addition Details for the First Flight Centennial Celebration on Dec. 17, 2003

EAA Unveils Additional Plans for Countdown to Kitty Hawk Presented by Ford Motor Company   

Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Presents Plans at a News Conference at the Wright Brothers National Memorial Including an Overview of Dec. 17, 2003, when the Nation will Celebrate the 100^th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ Achievement  

Kill Devil Hills, N.C. (May 8, 2002) — EAA — The Leader in Recreational Aviation — today unveiled details for EAA events that will take place here on Dec. 17, 2003 for the First Flight Centennial Celebration.  Plans include: re-creating the Wright brothers‘ first and last powered flights from Dec. 17, 1903 using EAA‘s 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction; historic aircraft flights; the flight of the one-millionth Young Eagle; and, EAA‘s 24,000-square-foot Countdown to Kitty Hawk Touring Pavilion.  EAA presented the plans at a news conference as part of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau‘s observance of National Tourism Week.

“On Dec. 17, 2003, our nation’s dignitaries, top innovators, government officials and citizens of the United States will gather at the Wright Brothers National Memorial to witness the historic flight re-creation of the Wright brothers’ first powered flight,” said Stephan Brown, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for EAA.  “We’re proud to be presenting plans that utilize EAA’s 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction as the only flyer in this historic flight re-creation as well as the details for our Countdown to Kitty Hawk Touring Pavilion that will make its final stop at the memorial.”

Re-creating the Wright Brothers’ First Powered Flight
EAA has contracted Ken Hyde of The Wright Experience in Warrenton, Va., to build an authentic reproduction of the 1903 Wright Flyer.  It is the most accurate of its kind and is scheduled to be complete in early 2003.

“To ensure the authenticity of the 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction and research from The Wright Experience, Ford Motor Company has provided technological expertise and major help for the project,” said Ken Hyde, president of The Wright Experience.

At 10:35 a.m. on Dec. 17, 2003, 100 years to-the-minute of the first flight, EAA and Countdown to Kitty Hawk presenting sponsor, Ford Motor Company, are scheduled to re-create the Wright brothers’ historic moment.  It will mark the first time a truly accurate 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction has taken to the air at the site of the Wrights’ flight.  Through a special partnership with the National Park Service, EAA’s 1903 Wright Flyer is the only reproduction scheduled to re-create the flight at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

“Orville and Wilbur Wright, two brothers from Dayton, Ohio, made a discovery that changed the course of history — powered flight.  And the sand dunes near Kitty Hawk is the place where they actually took to the air.  Today, American citizens call this place the Wright Brothers National Memorial,” said Lawrence Belli, National Park Service superintendent.  “We look forward to working with EAA and using their 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction at the nation’s celebration of 100 years of powered flight.”

Historic Aircraft Flights, One Millionth Young Eagle
Following the flight scheduled at 10:35 a.m. on Dec. 17, 2003, EAA will orchestrate a series of historically significant aircraft flying over the memorial, tracing the chronology of aviation advances from 1903 to the present.

At noon local time, EAA’s Young Eagles multi-year initiative to fly one million kids before the centennial of flight, will culminate with retired Brigadier General Chuck Yeager’s flight of the one-millionth Young Eagle.  Joe Lamothe, chapter president, EAA Chapter 1278, Elizabeth City, N.C., flew the 778,452nd Young Eagle today during a flight following the news conference.

Final Flight of EAA’s 1903 Wright Flyer Reproduction on Dec. 17, 2003
At 2 p.m. local time, EAA, Ford Motor Company and The Wright Experience will host the second flight of EAA’s 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction to commemorate the Wrights’ fourth and final flight of their Flyer on Dec. 17, 1903.  Following will be another round of historically significant aircraft flying over the site.

Countdown to Kitty Hawk Touring Pavilion
EAA’s 24,000-square-foot touring pavilion will be a destination stop for visitors at the First Flight Centennial Celebration (Dec. 13 - 17, 2003).  EAA’s 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction will be a part of the Countdown to Kitty Hawk Touring Pavilion in 2003.  Additional components of the Pavilion will include:  

• Flight simulator station developed by Microsoft of the 1903 Wright Flyer; 

• a Young Eagles area with hands-on activities for children; 

• actors who will assume the roles of Orville and Wilbur Wright; 

• a huge , digital countdown clock counting down the minutes to the first powered flight; 

• opportunities to select the greatest aviators and aviation advances of the last 100 years and,

• an interactive exhibit featuring Ford Motor Company’s 100 years of innovation and their history in aviation.

Before making its final stop at the First Flight Centennial Celebration at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills, N.C., EAA’s Countdown to Kitty Hawk Touring Pavilion will make stops at significant celebrations and aviation events in 2003 including: 

• the Sun ’n Fun EAA Fly-in, Lakeland, Fla.; 

• Ford Motor Company’s 100^th Anniversary Celebration in Dearborn, Mich.;

• Inventing Flight: Dayton 2003, Dayton, Ohio; and,

• EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wis.  

About EAA’s Countdown to Kitty Hawk presented by Ford Motor Company
Countdown to Kitty Hawk is the most elaborate celebration of aviation in history.  Through a historic partnership, Ford Motor Company is presenting the Countdown to Kitty Hawk initiative.  As one of the premier innovators of his generation, Henry Ford was fascinated by flight and shared a vision with the fellow inventors of his era including his friends the Wright brothers.  In 2004, EAA’s 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction will be installed at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. for public viewing.

For more information about Countdown to Kitty Hawk, visit www.countdowntokittyhawk.org.

EAA — The Leader in Recreational Aviation — is an international association with 170,000 members and more than 975 chapters worldwide.  For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or visit the Web site at www.eaa.org.