Washington, D.C.
Sept. 22, 2003

Just days before the September update to the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission (COFC) Web site, staff members sat glued to their computers. They were attempting to match historical pictures of Wright family members at various stages in their lives on one of the five new ShockwaveT games just added to the site. The games are intended to draw more youth and adults into the site to explore the vast amount of engaging historical content regarding the history of flight.

"The number of people visiting our Web site has been steadily increasing as we approach the centennial of the Wright brothers' first flight on December 17," said Sherry Foster, executive director of the COFC. "We wanted to give them another reason to keep visiting. and learning." The games were tested among Centennial Partners, their family members and parents participating in a home-schooling online community before releasing them to the public. All reported back with enthusiasm.

"My six year old son loved the memory picture puzzle. He's a thinker. Even my daughter who is just turning three got into it," said one home schooling parent. "We looked up the facts together for the historical facts match game, which is a great way to learn. The games are terrific." Visitors can play the games which were developed by Charlottesville, Virginia-based PeopleSpace at http://www.centennialofflight.gov/free/games.htm. The COFC Web site is part of the national Centennial of Flight: Born of Dreams - Inspired by Freedom campaign coordinated by the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first powered flight. The COFC offers a number of educational materials and resources related to the history of flight.

The U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission was created by Congress to expand national and international interest in the commemoration of the centennial of powered flight. The Commission is coordinating a national outreach campaign and advising the President, Congress and federal agencies on the most effective ways to encourage and promote national and international participation in 2003. Its members include the director of the National Air and Space Museum, the administrators of NASA and the FAA, the presidents of the Experimental Aircraft Association and First Flight Centennial Foundation of North Carolina, and the chairman of Inventing Flight: Dayton 2003. More information about the Commission can be found on the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission Web site at http://www.centennialofflight.gov.

Charlottesville, Virginia-based PeopleSpace is a leading developer of interactivities designed to attract, entertain, enlighten, and retain web site visitors. Our clients include major online companies ranging from TVGuide to Sesame Street. Products and services include single- and multiplayer games, polls, trivia, sweepstakes and advertising assets for web sites, interactive television, CDs and more. http://www.peoplespace.com.

Contact:

Christian Markow
804.675.8153
cmarkow@crtpr.com