The exhaustive effort to collect oral histories from the first century of powered flight is now easier to access than ever, as the "Timeless Voices of Aviation" project, created by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), now has a home web site that offers full details of the program.

The site, at www.timelessvoices.org, is an extensive overview of the program that was first unveiled during EAA AirVenture 2002 in Oshkosh.  Timeless Voices is a major video history project of the EAA AirVenture Museum, to assure that the first-person oral histories of thousands who experienced aviation's development are preserved for future generations of family members, teachers, students, historians and others.  The program is also an official partner of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, which is recording the experiences of veterans, especially from the World War II era.

"There are lifetimes of aviation knowledge, experience and lore that we are losing every day as these early aviators pass on," said Adam Smith, EAA AirVenture Museum Director.  "That's why Timeless Voices is such a critical project to begin now.  We are seeking not just the heroes and personalities, but individuals within every aspect of aviation.  The program's theme, "Let No Story Go Untold," accurately describes our mission, as each story provides another piece to the amazing portrait of flight during the last 100 years."

There are four basic goals of the Timeless Voices program:

• To collect thousands of first person video oral history recordings from individuals who have impacted aviation's development.
• To document and preserve these recordings for future generations of family members, teachers, students, historians and others.
• To make the recordings accessible through an on-line video history archive, and initiatives such as Museum displays and TV productions.
• To engage thousands of volunteers in the rewarding process of gathering video oral history recordings.

The new Timeless Voices web site features sample video clips already recorded with early aviators, as well as a complete description of the project.  The site offers details for those who would like their story recorded and instructions for those who wish to tape the aviation story of a friend, colleague or family member.  There are also areas where those interested in supporting the project in other ways, such as through volunteer or financial assistance, can find more information.

Along with collecting the aviation stories recorded from individuals throughout North America and around the world, EAA is recording Timeless Voices stories at numerous venues during 2003, including EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and the Sun 'n Fun EAA Fly-In; the approximately 40 stops of the 2003 B-17 "Road to Kitty Hawk" Tour; and the six scheduled stops of the "Countdown to Kitty Hawk" Pavilion. In addition, a forum will be held April 3 at Sun 'n Fun for those interested in taping Timeless Voices stories in their own communities.

"This effort is especially valuable during this year, when we are celebrating the centennial of powered flight," Smith said.  "By collecting these fascinating oral histories now, we are insuring that future generations will have access to the facts and personal recollections of aviation's early years."

Along with sharing the veterans' stories with the Library of Congress, the EAA AirVenture Museum will be the permanent home for the aviation oral histories.  They will eventually available to researchers at the museum and through the Internet in an on-line history archive. The EAA Aviation Foundation was founded in 1962 and is dedicated to aviation education, preservation and research.  Its headquarters are at the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh, Wis.

FMI: www.timelessvoices.org