THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 14, 1996 TAG: 9604140066
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: KILL DEVIL HILLS LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
The 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight is more than seven years away, but already people are launching plans to refurbish the Wright Brothers National Memorial.
The National Park Service and North Carolina's First Flight Centennial Commission are leading the campaign.
The chairman of the commission said Friday its top priority is upgrading the facilities at the historic site.
``Improvements to the pylon, and to the visitors' center are one and two on our list,'' former State Sen. Melvin Daniels said. ``I think it's important to note that all of the funding for those projects will come from private donation and from the federal government.''
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Superintendent Russell W. Berry Jr. said the availability of such money will determine whether a new visitors center is built, or if the present facility will be remodeled.
As for the stone pylon that is the focal point of the memorial, historians will study the original plans for the monument to match the architect's original vision. The results of that study are expected by mid-June.
Officials hope to begin construction on the project in early 2000, so that the facility will be ready for the centennial celebration on Dec. 17, 2003. Costs of the pylon work are not yet known, but members of the First Flight Centennial Foundation and the park service have met with contractors. If a new visitors center is constructed, however, its estimated cost at $10 to $15 million.
In other action Friday, First Flight Society Executive Director Al Jones announced the 1996 honorees for the First Flight Shrine at the Wright Memorial. Chicago native Lawrence B. Sperry, whose work with gyrostabilizers and gyroscopes led to the development of the automatic pilot, will be inducted posthumously. Joining Sperry will be Paul Probrezny, founder of the Experimental Aircraft Association and the Oshkosh Air Show. The Wisconsin event is one of the largest aviation events in the world, attracting 1 million visitors annually.
The commission also got an overview of educational programs planned in conjunction with the First Flight Centennial. Beginning this year, teams of middle and high school students from North Carolina will compete for the Kitty Hawk Cup, honoring research on local aviation history. by CNB