Modern Day Aviation Pioneer Launches Interactive Exhibit to Celebrate Aviation Innovation

Reflecting its passion for aviation innovation and vision to revolutionize air transportation, Eclipse Aviation announced its latest mission - to celebrate the most significant aviation innovations of the past century of flight. As part of its sponsorship of EAA's Countdown to Kitty Hawk, Eclipse today revealed that a distinguished panel of aviation experts has selected the greatest aviation innovations of the first 100 years of flight. 

Eclipse's "Greatest Aviation Innovations of the First 100 Years" initiative asked the panel to identify the 10 innovations that have most significantly impacted the first century of civil aviation. The group selected aviation milestones that have benefited travelers by decreasing travel time, increasing comfort, reducing cost and improving air safety. The panel included: Tom Crouch of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum; Richard Collins of FLYING magazine; Scott Spangler of EAA AirVenture Museum; Jack Olcott of the National Business Aviation Association; Michael Fopp of the Royal Air Force Museum; and Sir Peter Masefield, aviation historian.

"The top innovations we are honoring through our sponsorship are just the tip of the iceberg," said Vern Raburn (right), president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. "There have been thousands of aviation milestones, each one achieved by individuals of tremendous creativity and perseverance. Our goal is to celebrate innovation and inspire the public to learn more about the great accomplishments that have made air travel something we can all take for granted today. Our judges agree - these innovations exemplify mankind's best aviation accomplishments."

Encompassing revolutionary aircraft and major technical achievements, the 10 greatest aviation innovations selected by the judges are:

• 1903 Wright Flyer - Pointed the way for all successful aircraft that followed it.
• Douglas DC-3/Boeing 247 - The first modern airliners.
• Jet Engine - The biggest advance in propulsion.
• Sikorsky VS-300 Helicopter - Made vertical flight a reality.
• Piper Cub - The plane that introduced thousands of people to the joy of flying and made "Cub" a synonym for small plane.
• Boeing 747 - Proved industry skeptics who doubted there would be enough passengers to make the "big bird" profitable very wrong.
• Controllable Pitch Propeller - Unlocked the key to getting full performance potential out of any engine.
• Air Traffic Control (ATC) Technology - Introduced a unified system of air traffic control.
• Learjet - Revolutionized business aviation and became synonymous with "business jet."
• De Havilland Comet & Boeing Dash 80 - Set the performance benchmark for the jet airliners that followed.

Also, Eclipse has launched an interactive exhibit in the Countdown to Kitty Hawk touring pavilion spotlighting the "Greatest Aviation Innovations of the First 100 Years." Exhibit displays educate visitors about the innovations that have made modern air travel possible and include: hands-on 747, DC-3, and Piper Cub flight simulators; a multimedia display that demonstrates how the air traffic control system works; a hands-on exhibit showcasing how a helicopter flies; and an actual full-size jet engine. 

Eclipse is also inviting the public to vote for the innovation they think is the most significant. Participants who cast their votes become eligible to win deluxe travel packages to the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, N.C. to witness the re-enactment of the Wright Brothers' first powered flight on December 17, 2003.

The schedule for the traveling 24,000-square foot pavilion is:

• June 13 - 16, 2003 Ford Motor Company's 100th Anniversary Celebration in Dearborn, Mich.
• July 3 - 20, 2003 Inventing Flight: Dayton 2003 in Dayton, Ohio
• July 29 - Aug. 4, 2003 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in Oshkosh, Wis.
• Aug. 23 - Sept. 2, 2003 Museum of Flight in Seattle, Wash.
• Oct. 7-9, 2003 National Business Aviation Association's 56th  Annual Meeting & Convention in Orlando, Fla.
• Dec. 13 - 17, 2003 First Flight Centennial Celebration in Kitty Hawk, N.C.

Final voting results will be released in October 2003 at the NBAA event in Orlando, Fla. At that time, Eclipse will also announce the winners of the travel packages to the First Flight Centennial Celebration in Kitty Hawk, N.C.

FMI: http://www.eclipseaviation.com, www.countdowntokittyhawk.com