Sarah Keegan Headquarters, Washington, DC April 24, 2001 (Phone: 202/358-1902) RELEASE: 01-82 U.S. CENTENNIAL OF FLIGHT COMMISSION AND AVIATION WEEK'S NEXT CENTURY OF FLIGHT ANNOUNCE ALLIANCE The U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission and Aviation Week's The Next Century of Flight (NCF) today announced their partnership to promote upcoming activities and events that will celebrate the 100th anniversary of powered, controlled flight in 2003 and the history and future of aviation. The partnership will capitalize on the Commission's mandate to serve as a national and international source of information about activities to commemorate the centennial of the Wright Brothers' first powered flight on the sands at Kitty Hawk, NC, on Dec. 17, 1903, and on Aviation Week's global multimedia leadership. "We are extremely pleased to be able to work so closely with Aviation Week's Next Century of Flight," said U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission Chair General John R. (Jack) Dailey. "This is a tremendous opportunity for us to work together to educate and inspire the public in the celebration of the achievements of the Wright Brothers and a century of powered flight. More importantly, the celebration represents an opportunity to stimulate a new generation of inventors, innovators and dreamers. Our desire is to engage the American public and the world in a renewed appreciation of the technological marvel known as powered flight." "We are proud to have this unique opportunity to work with the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission to help raise global awareness of the extraordinary accomplishments that 100 years ago set the stage for the 20th Century," said Aviation Week Executive Vice President/Publisher Kenneth E. Gazzola. "This alliance will help us to deliver on our commitment to educate audiences around the world about aviation's incredible history and its exciting vision for the Next Century of Flight." The U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission (COFC) was created by the U.S. Congress to advise the President, Congress and federal agencies on the most effective ways to encourage national and international commemoration of the achievements of Orville and Wilbur Wright and the centennial of powered flight. The Commission hopes to generate enthusiasm for the commemoration by publicizing and fostering programs and events that will involve, educate and inspire the maximum number of people. The Web site of the Centennial of Flight Commission is at: http://www.centennialofflight.gov The Next Century of Flight campaign was launched in 1998, and integrates print, online, event and broadcast media to add perspective and insight to the story of flight's past and the promise of its future. Its most recent campaign successfully launched an exclusive Internet channel on the AviationNow.com portal at: http://www.AviationNow.com/NextCentury The six members of the Centennial of Flight Commission represent the First Flight Centennial Foundation of North Carolina; Inventing Flight: Dayton 2003 of Ohio; aeronautical societies, foundations and organizations outside of Ohio and North Carolina, represented by the President of the Experimental Aircraft Association; the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum; the Federal Aviation Administration; and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The NCF Channel spotlights the people and airplanes of aviation's past, present and future in unique interactive features and forums. It is also a source for information about NCF program developments such as the NCF Legends and Leaders initiative and NCF Scholarship program and for links to NCF program partners: the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Computer Sciences Corporation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the Society of British Aerospace Companies, Iconixx, plus the ongoing collaboration with NASA. Aviation Week is a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. Additional information on The McGraw-Hill Companies is available at: http://www.mcgraw-hill.com -end-