With the Next Century of Flight pavilion already a centerpiece at the Farnborough show, Aviation Week and Disney are hoping this celebration of aviation achievement will act as the springboard to even bigger and better things. The two very different companies are discussing how to combine their own special skills and join with the rest of the aerospace industry to bring a major new event, dedicated to achievements in aviation, to life.

The Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida is Walt Disney World's international discovery and technology park. The center is renowned for its series of annual special events, which are two-week jamborees dotted around the center's regular program. With entertainment as its driving philosophy, each year Disney hosts the Holidays Around the World festival (during Christmas and New Year), Food and Wine festival (October/November) and Flower and Garden festival (May), all at Epcot.
Epcot is also the home of the ever-popular Space Week event, held in conjunction with NASA. Recent research indicates there is great public interest, indeed demand for more science and technology-based events.

Henry A. Robitaille Ph.D, Disney's manager of strategic partnerships, has seen the Aviation Week Next Century of Flight exhibition, and he likes what he sees. Disney and Aviation Week are discussing the launch of a major new event, perhaps by combining Space Week with the Century of Flight concept in 2001. This could lead to a dedicated event in 2002 and a full-scale extravaganza in 2003-the 100th anniversary of manned flight. The new event would be a dynamic, interactive, multimedia experience, focused on the exciting, emerging technology of the aerospace world, and what it brings to everyday life.

The aerospace industry itself would have a huge role to play in such an event, which would serve to underline its history and explore its future. Disney sees Aviation Week as an ideal partner, for not only does it bring a wealth of content and credibility, but it also provides a bridge to the industry at large. The Next Century of Flight already has major industry support and the new effort with Epcot would provide a great opportunity for to communicate their own individual visions.

"With the aerospace industry facing a shortfall in pilots and engineering talent, we need to bring people back to aviation and secure its future," said Aviation Week communications director Chris Meyer. "Disney can do this. They are the masters of excitement and innovation. They are the people who inspire tomorrow's leaders."