Salina, Kan. Aviation will be the centerpiece of a special event to be held Thursday, April 28 at the Salina Municipal Airport.

After spending 67 hours in the cockpit of the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, adventurer Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo around the world, non-stop landing safely at the Salina Municipal Airport at 1:48 p.m. CST on March 3, 2005.

Since the historic flight's completion, the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer has remained in one of the Airport's large hangars. Now, the general public will have an opportunity to view the GlobalFlyer and to hear a special panel presentation, "Dreamers and Achievers, a panel of Black Aviation Pioneers." Events are free and open to the public.

"We are thrilled that Steve Fossett has agreed to allow the Salina Airport Authority, K-State at Salina and the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce to have a public viewing of his amazing aircraft, " said Dennis Kuhlman, dean of K-State at Salina. "And starting the day with the distinguished panel of aviation pioneers will add an exciting historical element to the entire event."

The Dreamers and Achievers panel will feature six prominent aviation professionals discussing the past, present and future of minorities in the aviation industry.

Panel guests will be retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Lee Archer, a former Tuskegee Airman and World War II ace; retired Kansas Civil Air Patrol Col. George Mills Boyd, former commander with the Civil Air Patrol who also trained with the Tuskegee Airmen; retired Kansas Rep. U.L. "Rip" Gooch, a pilot in the Black Aviators Hall of Fame; John Hightower, an air traffic controller with the Federal Aviation Administration and founder and executive director of the Aviation Youth Academy; Tahira Lamont Brown, second officer with Federal Express; and Clovis Jones, Jr., a Federal Express captain.

All events will take place at the Salina Municipal Airport, with public parking adjacent to Hangar No. 509. Guests are invited to enter the airfield through the perimeter gate north of the Hangar and will be directed to the Dreamers and Achievers panel and the Virgin Atlantic Globalflyer viewing from there.

Public seating for the panel discussion will begin at 9:30 a.m. that day with the program beginning at 10:00 a.m. (Guests should allow 20 minutes for seating upon their arrival at the Airport.) Public viewing of the GlobalFlyer will begin at 11:30 a.m. and will continue until 7 p.m. that evening.

Also occurring during this time will be the Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference - SAFECON. K-State at Salina is host for the 2005 national competition, which will bring in approximately 30 of the nation's top collegiate flight teams. Limited viewing of the competition will be available on the 28th for those waiting to see the GlobalFlyer.

K-State at Salina

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