FOR RELEASE - July 22, 2003

Two events in September to celebrate 100 years of flight

For information: Contact: Bill Cooksey at (318) 673-5370; Pager (318) 866-5103

The Shreveport Airport Authority will celebrate the 100th anniversary of flight this year with two separate historic aircraft events in September.

Both events are scheduled at Shreveport Downtown Airport and will be free and open to the public to see vintage airplanes ranging from passenger airliners to a famous World War II bomber.

The first event is set from noon to 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, and features a stop in Shreveport of the National Air Tour. The second event is from Sept. 22-25 and features a B-17 bomber on display and available for aircraft rides.

National Air Tour Arrives Sept. 15

The Sept. 15 event is coordinated by the National Air Tour, an organization of aircraft owners who are recreating a cross-country trip to more than two dozen cities in historic aircraft. People will have a chance to see more than two dozen vintage aircraft from the 1920s and 1930s, including Ford tri-motors, Stinson tri-motors, and aircraft with romantic old names like Travel Air, WACO, Paramount, Curtiss, New Standard and Eaglerock. There will be bi-planes, monoplanes and flying boats, all dating back to the Golden Age of Aviation.

The National Air Tours were conceived in 1925 to demonstrate the reliability of air travel, to encourage the development of safe and reliable aircraft, and to promote the building of suitable airports and ground facilities. The tours became one of the most successful promotional efforts of the 20th century.

The local visit will feature the arrival of the about 30 aircraft within one hour for refueling and a lunch visit and will give the public a chance to see the aircraft for about two hours before the aircraft continue their journey to Little Rock, Ark..

"Shreveport was one of the original stops in the 1931 air tour and it is fitting that our city be one of the stops made with this incredible event," said Raymond Alley, Chairman of the Shreveport Airport Authority. "We encourage people to come out and see these living, flying pieces of history. This is a rare treat for people to see aircraft such as Ford Tri-Motors."

For more information on the National Air Tour, visit the website: www.NATIONALAIRTOUR.org

B-17 Bomber Arrives Sept. 22

The second event will be a three-day visit from the Experimental Aircraft Association's

B-17 bomber, "Aluminum Overcast." The four-engine bomber is one of about a dozen still being flown in the world today and is restored to its World War II-era condition.

The aircraft will be on display at the Downtown Shreveport Airport beginning Sept. 22 and will provide daily tour with discounted rates to families, students and groups. Tours are free to World War II veterans and to children under 8 when accompanied by an adult.

"The Experimental Aircraft Association is well known for its members ongoing efforts to create awareness of both modern and historic aircraft and for introducing children to aviation," said Chairman Raymond Alley. "The fact that Barksdale is home to the Eighth Air Force and the B-17 played a critical role in the World War II makes it very fitting for this aircraft to come here."

The B-17 will also be available for rides with several flights scheduled both Sept. 23 and Sept. 24. A donation of $350 for EAA members or $395 for non-members is required.

More information on the B-17 is available by calling 1-800-359-6217 or through the B-17 website at: www.b17.org

For more information on the Shreveport EAA Chapter, contact Harry Protzeller at (318) 635-1243.