Virginia Air & Space Center Welcomes AirTran Airways' Ship 903, a DC-9, Into Permanent Collection; Aircraft Donation to be Featured in Aviation Exhibit Hall Opening Summer 2003.Business & Travel Editors/Aviation Writers AirTran Airways AirTran Airways is a low-cost airline that is a Delaware corporation with headquarters in Orlando, Florida, USA and is a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings. AirTran operates over 750 daily flights throughout the eastern USA and the Midwest, including over 270 daily departures from , a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings AirTran Holdings (NYSE: AAI) is a Nevada corporation that operates as an airline holding company. Its primary asset is AirTran Airways. History After the large amount of negative publicity surrounding the Flight 592 incident, ValuJet Airlines suffered serious , Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :AAI AAI American Association of Immunologists. ), today announced a partnership with the Virginia Air & Space Center which will consist of the donation of AirTran Airways' retiring Ship 903, a McDonnell Douglas McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It merged with Boeing in 1997 to form The Boeing Company. DC-9, to be used in the Center's Aviation Exhibit Hall. The exhibit, which opens in the summer of 2003, will focus on commercial and civil aviation, from mass transportation to private travel. The gallery will feature AirTran Airways' Aircraft 903's fuselage, cockpit and wing section in interactive displays focusing on the principles of flight and aviation safety. "As AirTran Airways bids a fond farewell to Ship 903 we are thrilled to donate it to the Virginia Air & Space Center's Aviation Exhibit Hall where it will become a part of history," said Steve Kolski, AirTran Airways' senior vice president of operations. "We are honored to be part of such a sophisticated exhibit that not only celebrates aviation technology, but also educates visitors on the dynamics of flight." Aircraft 903 has been a part of the AirTran Airways' jet fleet for the past four years, has flown over 80,000 hours and covered about 45 million miles since being built in 1968. Currently, there are 24 DC-9 and 40 new Boeing 717 aircraft in the AirTran Airways' fleet. AirTran Airways' DC-9 fleet was designed specifically to operate short to medium-range routes so that the speed, comfort and reliability of jet transportation could be extended to hundreds of communities previously served by propeller-driven aircraft only. "We are thrilled to be the only museum in the country to display an AirTran Airways' DC-9. It will be the centerpiece of our new Aviation Exhibit Hall, which will provide a unique environment for our visitors to explore aviation. Visitors will be able to tour the plane that features interactive exhibits and showcases NASA's glass cockpit A glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit that features electronic instrument displays. A relatively recent development, glass cockpits are highly sought-after upgrades from traditional cockpits. technology," said Executive Director/CEO of the Virginia Air & Space Center Todd Bridgford. The new 15,000 square foot Aviation Exhibit Hall is one of the most exciting expansions in the museum's history. In culmination with the historic centennial anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight, the gallery is scheduled to open in 2003. The expansion allows the Center to strengthen its mission, improve its core aviation and space galleries and provide new educational opportunities for children and adult visitors. Visitors will enjoy hands-on experience as they learn about simulated flight, airplane propulsion systems, air transport systems and turbofan engines. Visitors will be able to "wing walk" on a recreated Jenny, see a replica of the Wright Flyer, take off and land on a US Navy carrier, ride in a World War II bomber, become an air traffic controller, build an airplane, sit inside a F-22 or test their flying skills with a variety of simulators. About the Virginia Air & Space Center As the official visitor center for NASA NASA: see National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA in full National Aeronautics and Space Administration Independent U.S. Langley Research Center Langley Research Center (LaRC) Oldest of NASA's field centers, LaRC is located in Hampton, Virginia and directly borders Poquoson, Virginia and Langley Air Force Base. LaRC focuses primarily on aeronautical research, though the Lunar Lander was flight-tested at this facility and a , the Virginia Air & Space Center is a leading source for informal science education and a place where families can explore the realms of aviation, space and science through interactive exhibits and an IMAX IMAX Noun a film projection process that produces an image ten times larger than standard Theater. Conveniently located in Downtown Hampton, between Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, the Center serves more than 400,000 admissions a year. About AirTran Airways AirTran Airways provides affordable air travel with 388 flights a day to 38 cities throughout the eastern United States. The airline's hub is at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport World's busiest airport is a claim that is fiercely fought over by the owners of the world's largest airports. The definition of "busiest" is debated as well, with claims being staked on the basis of aircraft operations, cargo traffic or total passengers. (by passenger volume), where it is the second largest carrier operating 151 flights a day. AirTran Airways is a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AAI). Unlike other airlines, AirTran Airways never requires a roundtrip purchase or Saturday night stay. The airline offers a Business Class any business can afford, all-assigned seating, a generous frequent flier program, and a corporate program called A2B A2B Anti-Two-Block A2B Administration-to-Broker A2B Administration to Business . For more information and reservations, visit http://www.airtran.com (America Online Keyword: AirTran), call your travel agent or AirTran Airways at 1-800-AIRTRAN (800-247-8726) or 770-994-8258 in Atlanta. En espanol, 1-877-581-9842. |
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