Sept. 22, 2003

WHAT:

The 1903 Wright Flyer, the world's first airplane, will be moved for the only time in this centennial year of its flights at Kitty Hawk.

WHEN:

Wednesday, Sept. 24, 5:30 p.m.

WHERE:

Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum
Sixth Street and Independence Avenue, S.W.
(You must use the Independence Avenue entrance)

WHO:

Peter Jakab, chairman, Aeronautics Division and exhibition curator,
National Air and Space Museum
Barbara Brennan, exhibition designer,
National Air and Space Museum

NOTE TO EDITORS:

The aircraft will be lowered from its central hanging location in the National Air and Space Museum's Milestones of Flight gallery so it can be brought upstairs for unprecedented ground-level display in the new exhibition, "The Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age," which opens Oct. 11.

The new Wright brothers exhibition gallery will be made accessible to the media just before the Flyer is lowered. Because of safety issues, media will not be able to witness the moving of the Flyer to the museum's second floor.

Media only:

Peter Golkin
202.633.2374

Walton Ferrell
202.633.2373