Isabel Slows 'em Down

Tour organizers and volunteer pilots of 25 rare, historic airplanes on the National Air Tour 2003 elect to remain in Atlanta/Peachtree City-Falcon Field an additional 24 hours to avoid potentially hazardous weather conditions, including gusty winds, associated with hurricane Isabel.

The National Air Tour 2003, featuring some America's rarest vintage aircraft from the '20s and '30s, is enroute to 26 cities on a 4,000-mile journey around the United States, for what would have been the 1932 National Air Tour. The original National Air Tours took place 1925-31 and introduced America to the basic concept of commercial and civil aviation.

Update: Thursday, noon:

The NAT told us, "First, a schedule modification announcement: The National Air Tour 2003 will remain an extra night at Peachtree City, Falcon Field (GA) to allow Hurricane Isabel to move further north. This means our stops in Greenville and Winston-Salem will be delayed until Friday, September 19th. This is necessary due to weather conditions which include forecasted high and gusty winds. The weather should be significantly improved and we will take a good look at the possibility of continuing to Wilson and the Outer Banks on Saturday the 20th.

"If the hurricane continues to move Northward we should be able to return to our regular schedule for Richmond and Frederick (MD). We are able to get back on schedule more easily because we had allotted two days in Kitty Hawk for just such a contingency. We will keep you updated on the National Air Tour web site of any projected schedule time changes."

They're particularly concerned about: Greenville (SC); Winston-Salem (NC.); Wilson (NC); and Kill Devil Hills (NC), the site of the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

This will not significantly impact the rest of the Tour's schedule, as two days had been allotted for the Tour's stay in Kill Devil Hills. With the revised schedule, one day is now allotted.

FMI: www.NationalAirTour.org