KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC
December 8, 2003

Event planners for the First Flight Centennial Celebration have announced the flyover aircraft schedule for the First Flight Centennial Celebration taking place December 12-17 at Wright Brothers National Memorial, the site of the first manned, powered, controlled, sustained flights.

Highlights include the F/A-22 and the B-2 on December 17, as well as the United States Air Force Thunderbirds on December 16th and 17th. Additionally, commemorative aircraft will include a Mitchell B-25 bomber of the same type with which Jimmy Doolittle led the Raid of Tokyo; two North American P-51 Mustangs, one with the red-tailed Tuskegee Airmen paint scheme; the A-26 Intruder, "Spirit of North Carolina"; and a Spitfire, the British fighter used in the Battle of Britain.

Skydiving team participation includes the United States Air Force Academy Wings of Blue on December 15, 16 and 17, and the U. S. Army's Golden Knights on December 17th.

"The Centennial Celebration is about the Wright Brothers, airplanes, and flying. That is why the people are coming," said Ken Mann, Chairman, First Flight Centennial Commission. "This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for many people to see these performances by some of the best pilots in the world."

The flyovers will take place at 2:30 p.m. on December 12-14; from 10:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on December 15, at 2:00 p.m. on December 16, and 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on December 17.

Below is a list of participating aircraft that are scheduled to fly. Please note that flyover aircraft and schedules are subject to change.

Military Aircraft: AH-64D Longbow, AV-8 Harrier, A-10 Warthog, B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber, B-52 Stratofortress, C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, E-2C, E-3A Sentry, EA-6B Prowler, F-14 Tomcat, F-15C Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Falcon, F/A-18 Hornet, F/A-22 Raptor, F-117 Nighthawk, CH-46 Sea Knight, MH-53 Sea Dragon, HH-60 Jayhawk, KC-10 Extender, KC-135 Stratotanker, MC-130 Combat Talon, P-3 Orion, S-3B Viking, T-1 Jayhawk, T-6A Texan II, T-34 Turbomentor, T-37 Tweet, T-38 Talon, U-2 Dragonlady, V-22 Osprey.

Commemorative Aircraft: A-26 Invader "Spirit of N.C.", AD-5 Skyraider, SBD-5 Dauntless, PBY-5A Catalina, B-25 Mitchell "Panchito", C-47 Skytrain, C-45 Expeditor "Bucket of Bolts", C-60A Lodestar "Lady Lodestar", US-2B Tracker, UC-78 Bobcat, P-51C Mustang "Red Tail", P 51-D Mustang "Obsession", Spitfire, L-3 Grasshopper, L-19 Birddog, O-2A Super Skymaster, MH-1521 Broussard, L-5 Sentinel "Gayle Ann", SNJ-6 Texan, T6-G Texan, T-28B Trojan, AT-19 Reliant, P3-05 Pilatus, PT-17 Kaydet, P-149-D Piaggio, DHC-1 Chipmunk, YAK-52, BT-13, N2S-3 Kaydet, PT-17 Kaydet.

The First Flight Centennial Celebration takes place at Wright Brothers National Memorial December 12-17, 2003. The six-day event is designed to commemorate the last century of flight; celebrate the achievements of aviators throughout history; and inspire the next generation of aviators to further the Wright brothers' dream. All of the most recent information on the First Flight Centennial Celebration can be accessed at the Centennial website on http://www.firstflightcentennial.org. Friday, December 12 is a non-ticketed day. December 16 and 17 are sold out. Tickets for December 13-15 are available while supplies last for purchase from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Fort Raleigh Visitor Center in Manteo, NC. Ticket sales must be made in person. Forms of payment include personal checks, cash, Master Card or Visa credit cards. Phone orders will not be accepted.

For information on accommodations, check the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau website at http://www.outerbanks.org or call their toll-free number at (877) 298-4373. For information on the event's transportation plan, see http://www.ncdot.org/news/centennialceleb11_03.html

Contact:

Erin Porter Centennial Planning Office
Tel: 252 441 6291, ext. 224
ErinPorterNPS@aol.com