For Immediate Release

CONTACT:
Robin Petgrave
Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum
(310) 618-1155
cell (310) 938-2727
FAX (877) 999-2099
robin@tamuseum.org
www.tamuseum.org

15 YEAR-OLD GIRL COMPLETES “SEA TO SHINING SEA” FLIGHT

Compton, California – July 20, 2009 (TAM) Fifteen-year-old Kimberly Anyadike (on-ya-DEE-kay) has accomplished her dream by piloting a single-engine red-tail airplane from Compton, CA to Newport News, VA and back to Compton. Upon her departure on June 29th and garnering worldwide news coverage, Kimberly flew out over the Pacific Ocean before turning east to Newport News, where she flew out over the Atlantic on July 5th to truly complete her sea-to-shining sea voyage. Kimberly returned home to a cheering and adoring crowd on July 11.

About her motivation, Kimberly said “I wanted to honor the Tuskegee Airmen and their great legacy. Levi Thornhill has been a great mentor and a friend has and I also want to be an inspiration to other kids my age. And now I’ve fulfilled pretty much all my requirements to get my pilot’s license when I’m 17 all in one trip!”

The week after her return, Kimberly was honored with an award by County of Los Angeles Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and received a personal invitation to the California State Capitol from Governor Schwarzenegger. She will also be receiving a commendation from the City of Los Angeles presented by Councilwoman Janice Hahn. Expected to attend a benefit dinner honoring Kimberly and the Tuskegee Airmen is US Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who will present a commendation. Kimberly will also be receiving an award from the City of Los Angeles presented by Councilwoman Janice Hahn, and the city of Inglewood’s Mayor Roosevelt Dorn has a presentation in store for Kimberly as well.

Accompanied by safety pilot Ronell Norman and Tuskegee Airman Levi Thornhill after whom the airplane was named, the trio made stops in 23 cities including Phoenix, Tuscon, El Paso, Austin, Dallas, Little Rock, Tuskegee, Jackson, Atlanta, Goldsboro, Columbia, Lynchburg, Youngstown, Newport News, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Detroit, Milwaukee and Chicago. Tuskegee Airmen were on hand in every city to autograph the Cessna 172.

Stops of special note were in Washington, DC where Congresswoman Laura Richardson came to congratulate Kim and Tuskegee, Alabama Mayor Omar Neal officially proclaimed July 2 “Kimberly Anyadike Day”. Both Kimberly and her older sister Kelly, who in 2008 was the youngest African-American female to solo in four different fixed-wing aircraft on the same day, were offered full scholarships to Tuskegee University. Both girls were inspired to their accomplishments by the Tuskegee Airmen, the African American pilots who flew with distinction during World War II as the 332nd Fighter Group of the US Army Air Corps.

The 10-day trip is sponsored by Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum (TAM) which provides scholarships and after-school programs for young aspiring pilots and at-risk youth. Safety pilot Ronell Norman is a graduate of the program and currently an airline pilot. Kimberly has been a part of the Compton Airport–based program and has been flying since she was 12. Kimberly visited with members of the East Coast chapter of TAM in hopes of inspiring and motivating her fellow students by showing if she can do it, they can too.

Another major sponsor, Air Cargo Carriers, will honor Levi Thornhill buy presenting him with an American flag that has traveled the world and flown over all of our military bases in Iraq.

Besides being named after Thornhill, the red-tail Anyadike flew is autographed by him and a permanent placard is mounted in the cockpit to remind the students that when they fly, the Tuskegee Airmen fly with them. Through TAM’s flight program, Petgrave stresses the importance of history, heritage and legacy by educating children about the Airmen. Each of TAM’s airfleet is named after, dedicated to and autographed by different living Tuskegee Airmen who often visit the TAM center.

In addition to aviation, TAM offers after-school educational programs, gang and drug intervention, life skills, safe haven and many other activities designed as an alternative to self- destructive behaviors. TAM is noted for being the recipient of a unanimously passed United States Congressional Resolution 532 in recognition of the museum’s achievement and success in teaching aviation, engineering, and flying to “at-risk” and economically disadvantaged minority students.

A fundraising gala celebrating Anyadike’s accomplishment will follow, giving the public an opportunity to meet and greet heroes of the past, present and future including keynote speaker Mae Jemison, NASA’s first African-American female astronaut. The star-studded event will be hosted by LA Radio personality Josefa Salinas and will include dinner and an auction with many celebrity-donated items. The gala will be held in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen at the World War II aviation- themed restaurant the Proud Bird in Los Angeles on July 25.