CAA: GA News, "First Flight Centennial Commission Stages 'Come Fly Wright'"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@cwnet.com>]

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Friday, April 14, 2000

First Flight Centennial Commission Stages 'Come Fly Wright'
Associated Press


RALEIGH, N.C., April 14 -- Hundreds of elementary school children from the
Piedmont to the Outer Banks joined a celebration today honoring flight,
space, and the anniversary of the birth of an American hero -- Wilbur
Wright.

School children from Forsyth, Randolph, Johnston and Dare County schools
participated in "Come Fly Wright," a program celebrating the upcoming
centennial of the Wright brothers' historic flight at Kitty Hawk.

"Come Fly Wright" was sponsored by the First Flight Centennial Commission,
the official North Carolina agency charged with the commemoration and
celebration of the 100th anniversary of powered flight on December 17, 2003.

The Commission's special guest for "Come Fly Wright" was a real American
hero, Colonel William S. "Bill" McArthur, a North Carolina native son and a
NASA Astronaut since 1991.

Colonel McArthur participated in fly-ins at three regional airports: Smith
Reynolds, Winston-Salem; Asheboro Municipal, Asheboro; and Johnston County
Municipal, Smithfield. He was also part of the day's concluding program at
Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills. At each stop the
students were able to talk with Colonel McArthur and ask him questions about
space and aeronautics.

Other guests included the Hon. Mike Ward, N.C. Superintendent of Public
Instruction, Thad Woodard, Chairman of the First Flight Centennial
Commission, Dr. Keats Sparrow, Chairman of the Commission's Education
Committee, and Dr. Kathryn Holten, the Commission's Executive Director.

"How fitting that we celebrate Wilbur Wright's birthday with an educational
forum before hundreds of school children from across this great state," said
Thad Woodard.

"Over the next four years, we will focus statewide, national, and even
international attention on the great accomplishments of Wilbur and Orville
Wright. Their perseverance, fortitude and vision are an inspiration to not
just our children, but all Americans. This program today is just the
beginning of the grandest celebration this state has ever seen."

Friday's celebration was part of special Commission initiative to introduce
its strategic educational, marketing, and centennial awareness plan. It will
highlight North Carolina's historic role in aviation from the First Flight
forward. A future major event will be the Commission's sponsorship of a
symposium on flight, which will feature some of the world's foremost
authorities on aviation and aeronautics.

At each airport location, the children learned of the many cultural and
educational programs that will highlight the centennial celebration. They
include the arts, North Carolina's museums, special essay programs, and the
statewide First Flight Centennial Schools program.

Their chief focus for the day, however, was on Colonel McArthur, a veteran
of two space flights, 354 orbits of the earth, and 9.2 million miles in just
over 22 days.

Bill McArthur was born in Laurinburg, N.C., and considers Wakulla, N.C. his
hometown. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in applied science and
engineering from the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., and a
Master of Science degree in engineering from Georgia Tech.

Following a distinguished career in the U.S. Army, NASA selected Colonel
McArthur as an astronaut in July, 1991. His most recent stint was as a
mission specialist on STS-74, NASA's Space Shuttle mission to rendezvous and
dock with the Russian Space Station Mir.

Colonel McArthur's current assignment is as mission specialist on STS-92,
scheduled for launch in mid-2000. During this mission the crew of the
Atlantis will continue assembly of the International Space Station.

In his remarks, Colonel McArthur told the students of the unlimited
potential for space exploration and challenged them, as well.

"It is so special to be involved with a program that celebrates the great
achievements of Orville and Wilbur Wright. They saw before them a
magnificent future, and I can assure you that your education is the very key
to your own future," he said.

For information about the First Flight Centennial Commission, contact: Dr.
Kathryn Holten, Executive Director, 4635 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C.,
27699-4635, or call (919)-733-2003

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