SEPTEMBER ACTIVITY REPORT
The next U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission meeting will be held jointly with the First Flight Centennial Federal Advisory Board meeting on October 24, 2002, in Dayton, Ohio. The next media summit will be held that same afternoon, October 24, 2002, in Dayton, Ohio, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The information call for the 2002 National Plan was sent out June 28 and information is due on September 20, 2002. Our intent is to provide a polished draft to the Commissioners and Advisory Board members at our October joint meeting in Dayton.
The Senate unanimously confirmed Marion Blakey, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, as chief of the Federal Aviation Administration. We welcome her to the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission.
Representative Tony P. Hall (D-Ohio) resigned his House seat September 9 to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations food and agriculture agencies based in Rome. Hall, who represented Dayton, Ohio, was the principal author of the bills creating the Centennial of Flight Commission and the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and was the main advocate in Congress for Ohio's interests in promoting aviation history.
Ms. Karen Smith has joined the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission staff for a year. She is a participant in the NASA Professional Development Program and will be assisting the Commission staff with a variety of tasks.
Ms. Kim Sawyer, Community Relations Coordinator, is our new contact for the First Flight Centennial Commission. She can be reached at 252-441-6291 or by e-mail at kims@co.dare.nc.us.
Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) have been signed with the Chicago Centennial of Flight Commission; Mr. Greg Herrick, President of the Aviation Foundation of America, Inc.; the Challenger Center for Space Science Education; and Space Day Foundation. MOAs are in the signature process with the Virginia Air & Space Center and DGVF Productions. We have begun MOA discussions with Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, Fayetteville Festival of Flight and the Navy.
Partnership Updates:
Brad Tillson was honored with a Conservation Service Award by the U.S. Department of Interior at their 61st Honor Awards Convocation on September 4, 2002. This award is granted to individuals or groups who have performed outstanding and direct service to the DOI. It is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a private citizen or group by the Secretary of the Interior.
On October 4, the First Flight Centennial Commission will have its quarterly meeting at the Officers Club on the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, N.C.
The Commission is working with the National Park Service to help coordinate their October 10, 2002 event at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
The Commission, CRT, N.C. and Ohio are working together to coordinate our three Centennial kick-off ceremonies. CRT and the Commission are working out the details for the national kick-off ceremony on December 17, 2002, at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. The invitation has been designed and we are in the process of putting together the invitation list. We have also been working to invite key government officials and special guests.
NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe has accepted the Aerospace Industries Association’s invitation to be an award presenter at the Team America Rocketry Challenge on May 10, 2003.
The NASA Student Involvement Program (NSIP) presents the new Science and Technology Journalism K-12 competition for 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 school years – “Reflecting upon the Adventures in Flight.” Entry due date is January 31, 2003. Go to NASA for theme resources at www.aerospace.nasa.gov/centuryofflight. For complete details and to obtain the entry form please visit education.nasa.gov/nsip.
Department of Interior Secretary Norton has designated the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife, Craig Manson, as her representative to the Advisory Board.
Department of Transportation Secretary Mineta has designated the Assistant to the Secretary for Policy, Denise Daniels, as his representative to the Advisory Board.
On September 9, COF educational resources and information about upcoming COF activities were disseminated to all of NASA’s Aerospace Education Service Program (AESP) specialists. The AESPers conduct programs for educators and students throughout the U.S. and its territories. They will utilize COF educational materials and support COF events across the country next year.
Debbie Gallaway is coordinating with Kitty Hawk on 03 NASA exhibits, educational venues and Italian participation.
We are working with Fayetteville regarding 03 NASA exhibits and educational venues.
Debbie Gallaway is working with points of contact for the Dayton Air Show, Cleveland Air Show and Aviation World’s Fair 2003 to explore possibilities for the participation of the Frecce Tricolori’s at these events.
The Brewer Conference on Aerospace Education Report will be released soon. This report is phase one of an initiative designed to enhance the integration of aviation and space education into classrooms across the country.
The Commission is pursuing a licensing agreement with Spin Master Toys and is in discussion with a flag company and a pin company.
The Commission received the 100th Anniversary of Powered Flight Fact Sheet from the Wright Patterson Air Force Base Museum.
The Aviation Theme Study is moving forward again thanks to the National Park Service and the U.S. Air Force.
NASA signature authority for the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission has been officially delegated by the NASA Administrator to the NASA Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs.
Outreach Activity:
Gen. Dailey will speak at GSA’s Annual Federal Aviation Award Ceremony on September 19, 2002. His remarks will encourage people to participate in the upcoming Centennial of Flight commemoration.
USAopoly has contacted the Commission to discuss developing a Centennial of Flight monopoly game. We are polling our Centennial Partners to see if there is any interest in jointly developing the game. The game costs approximately $18 a piece; production time is 3-6 months; and the minimum order is 5,000 games.
NASA’s Education Division, in partnership with the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, has developeda Centennial of Flight Educational Tool Kit. This project has been done in coordination with the U.S. Department of Education. The kit contains an eight page Education Guide, a poster featuring the Wright brothers’ 1902 glider, a NACA/NASA timeline, a 32-page History of Flight booklet and three bookmarks. The materials will be contained in a 2-pocket folder featuring the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission’s logo on the front. The kit will be distributed in late November, early December. CRT and Debbie Gallaway are currently exploring the possibility of using the existing kit and/or creating a similar kit to distribute to museums.
On September 10, CRT met with representatives from Space Day. The theme of Space Day 2003 will be Celebrating the Future of Flight, in honor of the centennial. Space Day is very interested in working with the Commission and CRT will continue to follow-up with them to discuss ways in which we might collaborate our efforts.
Nebraska Centennial of Flight is in the process of having a 2003 calendar printed and the picture pages will be representative artwork produced by Nebraska youth for the international Aviation Art Contest. The Commission logo may be used on the cover of the calendar. The Nebraska Centennial of Flight will distribute the calendars to airports, schools and children’s museums.
The Commission is working to develop a significant three-week event/exhibit at Rockefeller Center Plaza in March 2003. The event would include a substantial media component and displays from several organizations. Rockefeller is currently working on securing sponsorships for the event.
CRT recently traveled to Los Angeles and met with representatives from Disneyland, who are very interested in participating in the Centennial celebration. CRT is currently brainstorming ideas and will stay in contact with them.
CRT has also been in contact with Red Baron, who is looking for ways in get involved, especially in educational outreach efforts. CRT has forwarded them several ideas for involvement and will continue to work with them.
CRT has been contacting airlines with ideas for ways in which they can get involved. A few have expressed an interest and CRT is following up with those organizations.
The U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission poster/brochure has been revised and is being re-printed. The media kit copy has also been revised to reflect changes in contact information, events, etc. If you would like to see the revised information, please contact CRT.
“The 1902 Glider, How the Problem of Control was Solved” educational poster is currently being printed. Final edits on the existing Wright brothers' posters have been made. Both Wright brothers’ posters and the COFC bookmark will be reprinted.
Media Relations
CRT had a great meeting with USA Today. They are considering several different Centennial ideas for their educational classroom program. CRT also met with the travel editor of USA Today and will continue to follow-up with story ideas.
The Fall 2002 copy of Invention and Technologyinvites readers to nominate inventors they believe deserve the honor of being considered for induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Next year, in honor of the 100th anniversary of flight, the National Inventors Hall of Fame will select the finest aviation inventors in history for induction in 2003. More information is available at www.invent.org.
The December 2003 issue of Space Research will have an article that ties NASA work to the Wright brothers’ heritage. The Commission logo will appear with the article.
The Washington Times is running a Centennial of Flight educational supplement in December and the Commission supplied a cover letter from Gen. Dailey.
Aviation Careers magazine called to ask if the Commission could help with their “Ask the Experts” column. CRT agreed to pass questions from their readers on to the Commissioners/Partners/Patrons best suited to answer them.
The Commission and CRT met with George Larsen, Editor of Smithsonian/Air & Space Magazine, and David Kefford, General Manager of Smithsonian/Air & Space Magazine.
Through September 8, 2002, Legends of Air Power was broadcast 7,414 times at 233 stations, covering 80.9 percent of U.S. TV households for an estimated total exposure of 29.6 million households.
There will be a promotional piece in Business North Carolina’s special publication Earning Wings in the January 2003 issue that will take a comprehensive look at the first century of N.C.’s aviation industry.
Web site
Additions to our Web site include the ninth and tenth categories of essays to the History of Flight and the next Wright Experience piece on the 1903 Wright Flyer, Part 1. The eleventh category of essays about Spaceflight will be coming soon.
We are currently redesigning the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission Web site. The current Education Resources Matrix is being reformatted and updated.
CRT is planning a media relations push to drive people to the site once the new site is launched.
Press Releases
A number of press releases have been issued recently and are available on the COFC Web site at www.centennialofflight.gov/aboutcommission.htm.
September 17, 2002 – U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission Announces Four New Alliances
September 16, 2002 – Aerospace Commission To Hold Public Meeting September 17
September 16, 2002 – Inventing Flight and Five Rivers Metroparks Select General Contractor for Deeds Legacy Plaza
September 10, 2002 – Statement of Chairman Robert S. Walker Regarding the Anniversary of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks
September 4, 2002 – Historic Wright Replica Launches National Tour
September 4, 2002 – Aviation Week’s “Top 100 Stars of Aerospace” To Select and Celebrate All-Time Aerospace Legends and Leaders
September 3, 2002 – Detailed Replica Wright Flyer Now on Display at the Virginia Air & Space Museum
August 29, 2002 – Inventing Flight Breaks Ground on Deeds Legacy Plaza
August 21, 2002 – 2003 Rose Bowl Float Depicts Outer Banks Natural Beauty, Wright Brothers’ Achievement
August 19, 2002 – Aerospace Commission To Hold Public Meeting August 22
August 8, 2002 – Inventing Flight Breaks Ground on Deeds Point Legacy Plaza
July 2, 2002 – Celebrating 100 Years of Flight, Virginia Air & Space Center Soars to New Heights
Articles/Interviews
Virginian-Pilot; The Ledger-Star; The Patriot ledger (MA); Dayton Dailey News; Los Angeles Times; Desert News; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Miami Herald; Sun News; Hampton Roads Monthly; NASA History News & Notes (August 2002); and Inventing Flight event newsletter.
Completed Events:
On September 13, there was a Partnership Council Meeting at the Engineers Club of Dayton.
Many thanks to Aviation Week’s Next Century of Flight for distributing Centennial of Flight materials at the NBAA, September 10-12.
The Outer Banks unveiled their 2003 Rose Parade Float Design on August 22.
Senator DeWine and NPS Director Mainella visited National Aviation Heritage National Historic Park on August 19, National Aviation Day, and Orville’s and Katherine’s birthday.
In preparation for the Fayetteville Festival of Flight, a teacher in-service day was conducted on Friday August 16th. Debbie Gallaway presented COF and NASA materials in five sessions to 120 fourth grade teachers.
Other Notes:
Bob Altman of Altman Films contacted the Commission. Mr. Altman is developing a two-hour television movie about the Wright brothers and the centennial of flight. The script won first place in a 2001 film festival. Mr. Altman is seeking corporations to buy advertising time. Hallmark will contribute $1 million of the total production costs of $5 million.
Mr. Charlie Carey, who was on the Executive Committee for the Wright Brothers 50th Anniversary, has contacted the Commission and would like to become involved with the 100th anniversary as well.