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Eclipse Aviation to Display World's Most Authentic 1903 Wright Flyer in Orlando at Last Public Venue Before First Flight Centennial
EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk Pavilion helps National Business Aviation Association Convention celebrate 100 years of transportation innovation
ORLANDO, FL - October 6, 2003 - In celebration of aviation innovation over the past 100 years, Eclipse Aviation, which represents the future of jet travel, is bringing the world's most authentic 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction to more than 30,000 aviation decision makers at the National Business Aviation Association's (NBAA) 56th Annual Meeting & Convention. The event starts Tuesday, Oct. 7, and runs through Thursday, Oct. 9, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
Eclipse, the Albuquerque, N.M., developer of the Eclipse 500 jet, is a sponsor of the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) Countdown to Kitty Hawk, along with presenting sponsor Ford Motor Company, and other supporting sponsors Microsoft Flight Simulator and Northrop Grumman. More than 250,000 visitors from around the world have visited the Countdown to Kitty Hawk pavilion and its centerpiece; the 1903 Wright Flyer, during its five tour stops thus far including Lakeland, Fla.; Dearborn, Mich.; Dayton, Ohio; Oshkosh, Wis.; and Seattle, Wash.
To bring the Countdown to Kitty Hawk experience to the NBAA Convention, Eclipse partnered with the NBAA and Eclipse suppliers Mecaer, Mach 2 Management, Parker Aerospace, Avidyne, Aerazur, EDS, Seamech, and QualPro Strategies.
EAA's 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction will have its inaugural flight when it recreates the Wright brothers' first powered flight 100 years later at 10:35 a.m. on Dec. 17, 2003, near Kitty Hawk, N.C., at the exact location where the Wright brothers made their historic flight. In July, Countdown to Kitty Hawk officials announced that pilots Terry Queijo (pronounced KAY-JO) and Dr. Kevin Kochersberger (pronounced COKE-ERS-BERGER) will re-enact the roles of Orville and Wilbur Wright on Dec. 17, 2003. Just as the Wrights did, the pilots will flip a coin to determine which of them will make the first flight.
After this ceremonial flight, which is the backbone of the First Flight Centennial Celebration from Dec. 13-17, 2003, the Wright Flyer reproduction will reside at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn as part of the museum's new “Heroes of the Sky” exhibit.
Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation, said, “Eclipse and our sponsoring partners are excited to share with the aviation community the 1903 Wright Flyer, which will soon recreate history when it attempts to fly at Kill Devil Hills, N.C. Anyone involved in aviation today knows the Wright brothers' spirit of innovation and determination to succeed against all odds were instrumental to their success. At Eclipse, these values are essential to our goal of revolutionizing air travel in the next century.”
EAA President and U.S. Centennial of Flight Commissioner Tom Poberezny, said, “This is the last public venue for our Wright Flyer reproduction prior to our recreation of the Wright brothers' first flight this December. Together, EAA, Ford Motor Company, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Eclipse Aviation, and Northrop Grumman are leading a very special centennial-year celebration that we are proud to share with those in the aviation community at NBAA this year.”
The centerpiece of the pavilion is EAA's 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction, built by Ken Hyde of The Wright Experience in Warrenton, Va. Other major components of the pavilion include:
-Interactive and web-based exhibits, including a contest sponsored by Eclipse Aviation to select the “Greatest Aviation Innovation of the First 100 Years.” On the first day of NBAA, attendees will have the opportunity to vote for aviation's greatest innovation at the Countdown to Kitty Hawk pavilion. On Wednesday, Oct. 8, Eclipse will announce the winner of its drawing. The winner will receive a deluxe travel package to the Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kitty Hawk to witness the re-enactment of the first powered flight on Dec. 17, 2003.
-Digital reproductions of Wright brothers' documents from the Library of Congress archives.
-Exhibits on the history of transportation pioneers Henry Ford and Orville and Wilbur Wright.
-Microsoft Flight Simulator “cradles” of the 1903 Wright Flyer, which allow visitors to actually try their hand at flying the historic aircraft, and a kiosk where attendees can fly the Ford Tri-Motor.
-A live presentation area for authorities on the Wrights to share their insight.
The Countdown to Kitty Hawk pavilion is located in Booth #4543. The NBAA Convention is being held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
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 Corp, 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
Eclipse, the Albuquerque, N.M., developer of the Eclipse 500 jet, is a sponsor of the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) Countdown to Kitty Hawk, along with presenting sponsor Ford Motor Company, and other supporting sponsors Microsoft Flight Simulator and Northrop Grumman. More than 250,000 visitors from around the world have visited the Countdown to Kitty Hawk pavilion and its centerpiece; the 1903 Wright Flyer, during its five tour stops thus far including Lakeland, Fla.; Dearborn, Mich.; Dayton, Ohio; Oshkosh, Wis.; and Seattle, Wash.
To bring the Countdown to Kitty Hawk experience to the NBAA Convention, Eclipse partnered with the NBAA and Eclipse suppliers Mecaer, Mach 2 Management, Parker Aerospace, Avidyne, Aerazur, EDS, Seamech, and QualPro Strategies.
EAA's 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction will have its inaugural flight when it recreates the Wright brothers' first powered flight 100 years later at 10:35 a.m. on Dec. 17, 2003, near Kitty Hawk, N.C., at the exact location where the Wright brothers made their historic flight. In July, Countdown to Kitty Hawk officials announced that pilots Terry Queijo (pronounced KAY-JO) and Dr. Kevin Kochersberger (pronounced COKE-ERS-BERGER) will re-enact the roles of Orville and Wilbur Wright on Dec. 17, 2003. Just as the Wrights did, the pilots will flip a coin to determine which of them will make the first flight.
After this ceremonial flight, which is the backbone of the First Flight Centennial Celebration from Dec. 13-17, 2003, the Wright Flyer reproduction will reside at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn as part of the museum's new “Heroes of the Sky” exhibit.
Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation, said, “Eclipse and our sponsoring partners are excited to share with the aviation community the 1903 Wright Flyer, which will soon recreate history when it attempts to fly at Kill Devil Hills, N.C. Anyone involved in aviation today knows the Wright brothers' spirit of innovation and determination to succeed against all odds were instrumental to their success. At Eclipse, these values are essential to our goal of revolutionizing air travel in the next century.”
EAA President and U.S. Centennial of Flight Commissioner Tom Poberezny, said, “This is the last public venue for our Wright Flyer reproduction prior to our recreation of the Wright brothers' first flight this December. Together, EAA, Ford Motor Company, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Eclipse Aviation, and Northrop Grumman are leading a very special centennial-year celebration that we are proud to share with those in the aviation community at NBAA this year.”
The centerpiece of the pavilion is EAA's 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction, built by Ken Hyde of The Wright Experience in Warrenton, Va. Other major components of the pavilion include:
-Interactive and web-based exhibits, including a contest sponsored by Eclipse Aviation to select the “Greatest Aviation Innovation of the First 100 Years.” On the first day of NBAA, attendees will have the opportunity to vote for aviation's greatest innovation at the Countdown to Kitty Hawk pavilion. On Wednesday, Oct. 8, Eclipse will announce the winner of its drawing. The winner will receive a deluxe travel package to the Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kitty Hawk to witness the re-enactment of the first powered flight on Dec. 17, 2003.
-Digital reproductions of Wright brothers' documents from the Library of Congress archives.
-Exhibits on the history of transportation pioneers Henry Ford and Orville and Wilbur Wright.
-Microsoft Flight Simulator “cradles” of the 1903 Wright Flyer, which allow visitors to actually try their hand at flying the historic aircraft, and a kiosk where attendees can fly the Ford Tri-Motor.
-A live presentation area for authorities on the Wrights to share their insight.
The Countdown to Kitty Hawk pavilion is located in Booth #4543. The NBAA Convention is being held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
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 Corp, 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
About Eclipse:
Eclipse Aviation is in the business of designing, certifying and producing modern, affordable jet aircraft that will revolutionize the transportation market. The company is applying advanced electronics systems, manufacturing and business practices to produce aircraft that cost less than a quarter of today's small jet aircraft, will be significantly safer and easier to operate than those of today, and have the lowest cost of ownership ever achieved in a jet aircraft.
The goal of Eclipse is to bring the word "personal" into aviation, making it possible for commercial air passengers to move directly between cities on a quick, affordable and convenient basis. It will also allow pilot owners to enter the world of jet-powered aviation.