AVIATION WEEK'S Next Century of Flight and U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission Announce Alliance.

Business Editors/Aviation Reporters

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 24, 2001

Joint Memorandum Outlines Partnership to Raise Global Awareness

of Centennial Activities

AVIATION WEEK'S The Next Century of Flight (NCF) education campaign and the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission (COFC) today announced their partnership to promote upcoming activities and events that will celebrate the 100th anniversary of powered, controlled flight in 2003 as well as the history and future of aviation.

The partnership will capitalize on AVIATION WEEK'S global multimedia leadership and the Commission's mandate to serve as a national and international source of information about activities to commemorate the centennial of the Wright Brothers' first powered flight on the sands at Kitty Hawk, NC, on December 17, 1903.

"We are proud to have this unique opportunity to work with the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission to help raise global awareness of the extraordinary accomplishments that 100 years ago set the stage for the 20th Century," said AVIATION WEEK Executive Vice President/Publisher Kenneth E. Gazzola. "This alliance will help us to deliver on our commitment to educate audiences around the world about aviation's incredible history and its exciting vision for the Next Century of Flight."

"We are extremely pleased to be able to work so closely with AVIATION WEEK'S Next Century of Flight. This is a tremendous opportunity for us to work together to educate and inspire the public in the celebration of the achievements of the Wright Brothers and a century of powered flight," said U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission Chair General Jack Dailey. "More importantly, the celebration represents an opportunity to stimulate a new generation of inventors, innovators and dreamers. Our desire is to engage the American public and the world in a renewed appreciation of the technological marvel known as powered flight."

The Next Century of Flight education campaign was launched in 1998, and integrates print, online, event and broadcast media to add perspective and insight to the story of flight's past and the promise of its future. Most recently, the campaign successfully launched a dynamic new education channel on the Internet at www.AviationNow.com/NextCentury.

The NCF Channel spotlights the people and airplanes of aviation's past, present and future in unique interactive features and forums. It is also a source for information about NCF program developments such as the NCF Legends and Leaders initiative and NCF Scholarship program and for links to NCF program partners: Inventing Flight: Dayton 2003, The Centennial Celebration, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Computer Sciences Corporation, GIFAS -- the French aerospace industries association, the Society of British Aerospace Companies, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, plus ongoing collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission was created by the U.S. Congress to advise the President, Congress and Federal agencies on the most effective ways to encourage national and international commemoration of the achievements of Orville and Wilbur Wright and the centennial of powered flight. The Commission hopes to generate enthusiasm for the commemoration by publicizing and fostering programs and events that will involve, educate, and inspire the maximum number of people.

The six members of the Centennial of Flight Commission represent the First Flight Centennial Foundation of North Carolina; Inventing Flight: Dayton 2003 of Ohio; aeronautical societies, foundations and organizations outside of Ohio and North Carolina are represented by the President of the Experimental Aircraft Association; the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum; the Federal Aviation Administration; and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Web site of the Centennial of Flight Commission is: http://www.centennialofflight.gov

About AVIATION WEEK

With nearly 50 products and services and a core audience of some one million professionals and enthusiasts, AVIATION WEEK, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is the world's premier multimedia information and service provider to the aviation and aerospace market. The cornerstone of the AVIATION WEEK portfolio is Aviation Week & Space Technology, the world's leading aviation and aerospace industry magazine, covering technology, business and operations in the commercial, military and space markets for more than 100,000 paid subscribers (360,000 readers) in 130 countries. The portal www.AviationNow.com expands the company's extensive web presence by delivering the most comprehensive real-time news, professional information and e-business Internet portal in the global aviation/aerospace industry.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in financial services, education and business-to-business information through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, BusinessWeek and McGraw-Hill Education. The Corporation has more than 300 offices in 32 countries. Sales in 2000 were $4.3 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.