APRIL/MAY ACTIVITY REPORT
The next Commission meeting has been set for May 20-21, 2003, in the Outer Banks, NC.
Fayetteville Festival of Flight begins May 16 and ends May 26. Commission and Advisory Board members have been invited to attend the Festival on May 19. CBS’ Early Show will broadcast live from the Aviation Exposition at the Coliseum on May 20.
The Space Day event at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum on May 1 and the Rocketry Challenge on May 10 were both complete successes. Congratulations to the Space Day team and the Rocketry Challenge team!
Debbie Gallaway was asked to be the 2003-2004 Silver Wings Honorary National President.
**Please continue to add your Centennial of Flight related events and activities to the Centennial calendar of events.**
Partnership Updates:
As a Festival of Flight partner, Aviation Week will present The Next Century of Flight program during the week of May 19-25, and will host a daylong NCF Education/ Workforce Forum workshop on May 21.
The FAA’s R & D Review, Spring 2003, features “Charting the Next Century of Flight.”
Sent 1,500 brochures to the EAA Museum for “Wright Brothers Week,” May 19-23, 2003.
On May 23, 2003, “Talk to America,” an international call-in talk show broadcast simultaneously on Voice of America radio, Worldnet television and the Internet, will feature Roger Launius and Bert Ulrich along with co-editors of “Flight: A Celebration of 100 Years in Art and Literature.” This book will be out soon from Welcome Books, and will carry the Commission logo. Roger Launius and Anne Collins Goodyear will also appear on the Marc Steiner show in Baltimore on June 3 to discuss this same book.
On May 22, 2003, the National Air and Space Museum’s Charles A. Lindbergh Memorial Lecture will present “Rediscovering the Wright Brothers” with Stephen Wright, great-grandnephew of Wilbur and Orville; Rick Young, historian and builder of Wright aircraft; Peter L. Jakab, chairman of the Museum's Aeronautics division; and Tom D. Crouch, senior curator and Wright biographer. Following the lecture, Peter Jakab and Tom Crouch will sign copies of 'The Wright Brothers and the Invention of the Aerial Age,' the companion book to the museum's upcoming exhibition.
On June 6, Major General Joe Henry Engle, USAF (Ret.), will speak on "Flight Test: X-15 to the Space Shuttle,” 8 p.m., National Air and Space Museum.
The Director, Public Communication, Sheppard AFB, TX, has requested 2,000 brochures for use in promoting Centennial of Flight activities at their June 14-15 open house and air show.
The USAF Academy Military Strategic Studies will be using the Commission logo in its classroom and on its slide presentations.
There was a Centennial of Flight Airplane Parade and exhibits in San Jose, CA. The NASA Associate Administrator for Education was the Grand Marshal. NASA, Lockheed Martin Space Systems and The Tech Museum of Innovation cosponsored the event.
The Goddard Space Flight Center Home Page has a link to the Commission’s Web site.
Staff from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum have many speaking engagements throughout the centennial year on the Wright brothers or aspects of the invention of the airplane. Some in May/June include:
May 15: Address to the Phoenix Chapter, AIAA
May 21: Addressing the Friends of the Library Author's Lunch, Wright State
May 22: Participating in Lindbergh Lecture, NASM
May 31: Address to International Science Teachers, Williamsburg, VA
June 9: Address to the Aero Materiel Conference, WPAFB, Ohio
June 14: Commencement speaker, Sinclair College, Dayton, Ohio
June 28: Jallonick Lecture, University of Texas
The first Air Force Base to order a COFC logo t-shirt is Elmendorf AFB, AK.
The Air Force ROTC Detachment 845 at Texas Christian University is planning to celebrate 100 years of aviation with a wide range of military and aeronautical organizations from the Fort Worth area.
Outreach Activity:
There has been an increased amount of international interest in the Centennial celebration. To date, the Commission has been contacted and/or is working with individuals and organizations in the following countries: Britain, Korea, London, Norway, China, Italy, Canada, Israel, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Costa Rica, among others.
The Civil Air Patrol’s 2002 Annual Report to Congress prominently features the centennial of flight and the Wright brothers.
The Army and Air Force Mutual Aid Association’s 2002 124th Annual Report features Celebrating 100 Years of Flight.
Raytheon Aircraft Company is considering producing a small “Scotchcal” emblem of the Commission logo that could be applied on the exterior of an A36 Bonanza and embroidered headrest covers for the A36 Bonanza crew seats.
Kentucky Department of Military Affairs will be using the Commission logo in conjunction with Aviation Day 2003 activities at the Capital City Airport, Frankfort, KY.
Spin Master Toys, a Commission licensee, has kicked off its North American van tour to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of flight.
Mike Huffman of the Oklahoma Centennial of Flight Commission, with whom the Commission has an MOA, and his wife have been selected by EAA as the “50 Flags to Kitty Hawk” pilots from Oklahoma.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation, Aviation Division, will be using the Commission logo on its give-away items.
The Museum Bonfanti, Italy, will be using the Commission logo on its exhibit catalog, a poster and on the museum’s “personal” writing paper.
War Eagles Air Museum, New Mexico, will be hosting special events to celebrate the centennial of flight. They are interested in borrowing some exhibitry.
The 27th Annual International Forest of Friendship celebration on June 25-27, 2003, in Kansas will include a memorial service for the Forest of Friendship’s co-founder and famed aviatrix, Fay Gillis Wells.
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is having a 100-year celebration September 12-14 at the Allegheny County Airport, PA. They specialize in training students for aviation maintenance and aviation electronic positions. Orville Wright founded the school in 1927.
Goodrich Aviation Technical Services, Inc. requested the Commission exhibit for an open house for its 1,500 employees.
The History Center in Cedar Rapids, IA, is preparing an exhibit that will focus on contributions Iowans have made to the field of aviation.
The speech of the U.S. Representative to the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space will include comments on the Wright brothers and the centennial of flight celebrations in 2003.
The Palatine Public District Library, IL, will use the Commission logo on its reading guide.
The Coordinator of Special Projects, Girl Scout Council of Greater New York, Inc. has contacted the COFC. In addition, the Girl Scouts of the Appalachian are planning a space/flight day camp and are planning a full day dedicated to the history of flight and the centennial.
The Traveling Science and Mathematics Demonstrations Program, USCA Curriculum Lab, will be centering its annual Science Education Enrichment Day on the centennial of flight and will be using the Commission logo.
The Orlando Science Center will kick off its centennial celebration “Touch the Sky” in September. The cornerstone of the exhibit will be the construction of a flight worthy two-seat airplane in full view of the public in a 5,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall.
James Dilda has written a musical called “First Flight – The Story of the Wright Brothers” that has been endorsed by the First Flight Centennial Commission and the First Flight Society of Kitty Hawk.
Nebraska Statewide Fly-In will take place September 14 at the York Municipal Airport and will be centered on the celebration of the centennial of flight.
There will be a 5K run/walk in Greenbelt, MD, on December 7 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers’ first flight. The race will benefit the American Heart Association and the Commission logo will be used on shirts given out to volunteers and race participants.
David Mason has restored photos his father took at the National Air Races in1933. The photos can be viewed at www.airracephotos.com.
The Coordinator of a Centennial of Flight display at the Royal Army and Military Museum in Brussels, Belgium, has contacted us for assistance and potential exhibitors.
French-German Channel ARTE, Hamburg, called Ames Research Center to request video of the Wright Flyer replica tests.
The theme of the State PTA and Regional PTA Conventions in Utah will be “Where Dreams Take Flight.”
The Amelia Earhart Festival, July 25-26, will use the Commission logo on the cover of its festival brochure and poster, both of which will feature a photograph of Orville Wright and Amelia Earhart taken at the dedication of the Franklin Institute’s Hall of Aviation on December 17, 1933.
Made contact with the national offices of the Boys and Girls Club of America, who are interested in using Centennial of Flight related educational materials for after school programs.
Media Relations:
There was great Centennial of Flight coverage in USA Today during the last month. On April 25, the Life section was devoted to the Centennial commemoration, and on May 2, the business section ran an article on the inventions of 1903.
CRT is continuing media relations outreach to educational publications. Time for Kids ran a great feature on the Centennial and the Wright brothers, and CRT is in ongoing discussions with the Mini Page, who has several features planned. In addition, CRT is working with Scholastic’s Science World, which is working on a September feature on the Wright brothers and the first flight.
Pitching travel stories continues to be a major area of focus for CRT. CRT is currently talking with the NY Times, the Chicago Tribune and other major dailies, in-flight magazines and travel publications.
Articles/Interviews:
Please see the attached media tracking report for recent media hits. If you have any questions about the report or would like to see full text articles, please contact CRT.
Press Releases:
A number of press releases have been issued recently and are available on the COFC Web site. Releases will be posted on the home page as well as in the media section.
May 14, 2003 – National Park Service Releases Ticket Sales Update for First Flight Centennial Celebration
May 14, 2003 – NASA Helps Celebrate Centennial of Flight in North Carolina
May 14, 2003 – Air Force Displays Aviation Art at Union Station
May 12, 2003 – Air Force Participates in North Carolina’s Festival of Flight
May 10, 2003 – Winning High School Teams Presented $59,000 in Prize Awards at World’s Largest Model Rocket Contest
May 8, 2003 – New Pilot Facility, Sponsored by AOPA, Opens on May 10
May 7, 2003 – NASA Ames & Community to Celebrate 100 Years of Powered Flight
May 5, 2003 – World’s Largest Model Rocket Contest Blasts Off May 10th
May 1, 2003 – The Wrights of Passage: A Theatrical Celebration Of A Century of Flight
May 1, 2003 – Space Day 2003 Recognizes “Stellar” Design Solutions
May 1, 2003 – Space Day 2003 Celebrates the Future of Flight
May 1, 2003 – Space Day 2003 Unveils Annual Student Survey
May 1, 2003 – Active Aeroelastic Wing Completes First Phase of Flight Tests
April 29, 2003 – Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts Announces Completion of First Day of On-Location Shoot of Wolf Trap’s Artistic Adventure Series
April 28, 2003 – Aviation Luminaries to Share Drama of First Flight Experiences During Program at U.S. Air Force Museum
April 28, 2003 – Space Day 2003 Celebrates the Future of Flight
April 24, 2003 – Festival of Flight Set to Begin NC’s Celebration of the Centennial of Flight
April 24, 2003 – National Park Service Announces Availability of Tickets for First Flight Centennial Celebration
April 24, 2003 – Wright Brothers’ First Flight to be Honored on U.S. Postage Stamp
April 24, 2003 – U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, Alaska Chapter of Ninety-Nines Sign Licensing Agreement
April 22, 2003 – Space Day 2003 Features Live Interactive Webcasts
April 17, 2003 – 2003 Schweizer 1-26 Championship Sailplane Contest Held in Dayton, Ohio, as Part of the Centennial of Flight Celebration
April 16, 2003 – Festival of Flight Will Host Next Century of Flight Forum
April 14, 2003 – Oklahoma Celebrates 100 Years of Powered Flight
April 2, 2003 – Aviat Aircraft Provides Two Husky Airplanes As Official Ships for The National Air Tour 2003
Web site:
There is a new word search puzzle on the COFC Web site for kids and educators.
The Web Enhancement procurement announcement closed May 2, 2003. The intent of this procurement is to obtain historical information regarding the Wright brothers that is credible, authentic, legitimate and educational for inclusion on the COFC Web site. Six proposals were received.
Web Trends data for April 2003 shows an all time high of over 1.6 million hits to the COFC Web site.
Additional Licensed Products have been added to the COFC Web site.
Partners’ press releases have been added to the Web site. Please continue to send your press releases, and pictures if you have them, via e-mail to CRT to post on the site.
Educational Outreach Activities:
The Commission staff has been contacted by an extraordinary number of schools, including home schools, museums and libraries requesting copies of our educational resources and the exhibit. Examples include York College, City University of New York; Troy-Miami County Public Library; South Lake Elementary School, MD; Mostly Math Learning Center, NV; Utah State University; Isle of Wight Academy, VA; Abigail Adam’s Intermediate School, MA; Stawarz Christian Academy, VA; National Soaring Museum, NY; Villa Academy School, WA; the Gifted Program Midd-West School District, PA; Martinsville Public Library District, IL; The Wisconsin Center for Gifted Learners; Harrison Library; Warsaw Community Public Library, IN; Landmarks for Schools; New Hope Elementary School, NC; and the Flight of the Phoenix Aviation Museum, TX.
Continue to work with the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy Dinner Committee in preparation for the December 12, 2003 event.
Submitted an article to the Civil Air Patrol about the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission’s educational activities and materials. The article will be included in a newsletter for educators that will be disseminated nationally.
Arranged for all aviation magnet high schools to receive Centennial of Flight VIP educators’ folders. We will be distributing the materials to elementary aviation magnet schools next.
Coordinating the participation of the Associate Administrator of NASA’s Office of Education in centennial of flight events at Fayetteville, Dayton, Oshkosh and Kitty Hawk.
The Aerospace Development Center at Jacksonville State University has a new K-12 education program named Gaining Excellence through Aerospace Resources (GEAR). Its Aerospace Conference for Educators this summer will host 500 teachers and COFC educational resources will be distributed.
Students from Franklin High School, OR, captured first place in the 2003 Unisys Corporation Prize in the Online Science Education competition, administered by the American Association for the Advance of Science. The competition involved a glider design competition.
AF NORTH International School, affiliated with NATO Regional Headquarters Allied Forces North Europe, is having an International Culture Fair. The U.S. exhibit table will have innovation and invention as its themes.
The Alabama Wiregrass Math and Science Consortium is presenting a workshop for teachers that is themed around the Wright brothers.
The Daly Elementary School in NY will celebrate “Aviation Day” on June 13, 2003.
Kansas State Historical Society is researching and developing Kansas history curriculum material for grades K-12 and has requested our centennial educational resources.
The Cabarrus County Library, NC, will have a summer reading program “Take Flight … Read.”
Completed Activities/ Events:
The Dayton Development Coalition had its annual Capitol Hill reception May 6, 2003. It was co-sponsored by the Ohio Aerospace Council, Inc.
May 1, 2003, was the 80th birthday celebration for General Chuck Yeager in Dallas, Texas.
April 30, 2003, Dr. Dick Hallion and Dr. Mike Gorn presented a joint lecture titled “On the Frontier: Experimental Flight Research at NASA Dryden.”
The FAA Centennial of Flight Awareness Event for April was speaker Jim Loos, International Aviation Consultant and former FAA Staff Member.
April 23-27, 2003, attended the annual Federation Aeronautique Internationale Aviation and Space Education Commission in Madrid, Spain. The Commission delegates represented the US, Ireland, England, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Turkey, Holland, and Spain. Presented and disseminated information about the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission and NASA’s educational activities, materials, and web sites. We exchanged information and ideas about future partnership opportunities.
The Maryland Centennial of Flight Celebration took place April 26, 2003, as part of the Fifth Annual Maryland day. It was sponsored by College Park Aviation Museum, the University of Maryland and the National Archives II.
2003 Space Day Design Challenge “Stellar” Teams’ designs are included in a book entitled A Vision of Future Space Transportation that was released April 22, 2003.
April 19-22, 2003, attended NASACON 03 in Houston. The audience included over 1500 USAF ROTC students and members of the Silver Wings service organization. A plan is being developed to distribute educational materials and information to this group of freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors from all over the country.
The Dayton Black Cultural Festival held a reception April 18 to announce sponsors and 2003 programming as part of the Inventing Flight celebration.
Wilbur Wright’s birthday was celebrated April 16 at Wright Brothers Memorial Park with a daylong schedule of events.
The City of Dayton Department of Aviation dedicated the “Wright Kitty Hawk Flyer” on April 16, 2003.
Other:
The Space Day Foundation has moved into new offices. The new contact information is: Space Day Foundation, 1725 I Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20006. Phone number is 202-349-3755 and fax is 202-349-3756.
CRT has VHS tapes of the national kick off ceremony at the National Air and Space Museum. If you would like to purchase a tape of the ceremony, please contact Julie by phone (804-675-8167) or email (jbreissinger@crtpr.com).