This week near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina the jet that is poised to define the next century of flight, Eclipse Aviation's revolutionary Eclipse 500 jet, stood face-to-face with the world's most accurate 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction for the first time in a moment that signified the transition from the first century of flight to the second.  The milestone meeting took place at the First Flight Centennial Celebration, a six-day tribute to the past, present and future of aviation that begins today. To symbolically unite the past and the future of flight, Eclipse Aviation and EAA brought the 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction, which will attempt to fly on the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight, together with the Eclipse 500 jet in front of the Wright Brothers Nat

NOTAM:  3/1789  Issued:  12/15/2003 17:32  Effective:  12/17/2003 13:45 - 12/17/2003 17:00  State:  NC  Facility:  ZDC - WASHINGTON (ARTCC),DC.  Type:  VIP  Description:  KILL DEVIL HILLS, NORTH CAROLINA, DECEMBER 17, 2003 LOCAL.   

Where to begin: If you didn't know you were on the outer banks of North Carolina, you could be in the Florida Panhandle, driving down Highway 98. Or heading towards Mesa from downtown Phoenix. Looks the same. Food Lions, Outback Steakhouse, Shell gas stations, normal stuff.  And  then, you drive north along Highway 158, through Nags Head, (NOT named for Patty Wagstaff) and into Kitty Hawk, and on the left, on the bay side of the barrier island, there is the monument. Atop Kill Devil Hill, now covered with grass, the sixty-foot marker reaches to the sky. Just the names there, Wilbur Wright, Orville Wright. This is it. This is where it all started, 100 years ago. Monday's weather couldn't have been better, CAVU, winds 15-20 knots. The procession of flight

50 flags from 50 states, one from D.C. and one from Puerto Rico. When the EAA puts their mind to something, it usually happens, and they were all smiles when Exec. V.P. Bob Warner took the stage in Kitty Hawk to thank all the members who flew to Kitty Hawk and First Flight field with their state flags. In honor of the Centennial of Flight, that mission has been underway for the last year. The flags are flown here, it's raised up the flag pole, pictures are taken, handshakes made. The aircraft ranged from a Falcon 50 to some guys from Maine who did it in powered parachutes, and took 4 or 5 days. There was a Super Cub from Alaska.

A TFR For Avalanche Control? NOTAM: 3/1803 Issued: 12/15/2003 20:07 Effective: 12/16/2003 17:00 - 12/16/2003 19:00 State: UT Facility: ZLC - SALT LAKE CITY (ARTCC),UT. Type: HAZARDS Description: PROVO, UT.

Guess Who's Coming To Albany, GA? NOTAM: 3/1809 Issued: 12/15/2003 22:15 Effective: 12/17/2003 22:20 - 12/18/2003 20:50 State: GA Facility: ZJX - JACKSONVILLE (ARTCC),FL. Type: VIP Description: ALBANY, GEORGIA DECEMBER 17-18, 2003.

NOTAM: 3/1790 Issued: 12/15/2003 17:48 Effective: 12/17/2003 13:45 - 12/17/2003 17:00 State: NC Facility: ZDC - WASHINGTON (ARTCC),DC. Type: VIP Description: ELIZABETH CITY, NORTH CAROLINA, DECEMBER 17, 2003 LOCAL.

GW Sure Gets Around... NOTAM: 3/1808 Issued: 12/15/2003 21:51 Effective: 12/16/2003 21:05 - 12/16/2003 22:05 State: GA Facility: ZJX - JACKSONVILLE (ARTCC),FL. Type: VIP Description: VALDOSTA AND THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA, DECEMBER 16-17, 2003.

Who said there wasn't a Santa Claus (from 23,000 feet msl)??? In the case of the missing "Hot Wings" in Oklahoma that we detailed on ANN on the Fifth of December, we're happy to report that they were seen by a friendly high-altitude "Santa." Thereafter, the police were notified and most important... the wings were found!