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‘Aviation Day’ Celebration Takes Off At
The State Capitol
April 20 -
OKLAHOMA CITY –
“Aviation Day” took off Tuesday the 19th on the fourth floor rotunda of
the State Capitol in Oklahoma City. Aviation Day’s
objective is to put aviation and aerospace
businesses front-and-center while emphasizing to legislators and other
elected officials the importance of our multi-billion dollar industry to
the state and in the lives of Oklahomans.
Oklahoma
Aeronautics Commission Director Victor Bird said Aviation Day celebrates
the state’s largest industry – aviation and aerospace. 
“Aviation brings
in more than 146,000 jobs, a $5 billion payroll and $12 billion in
industrial output for Oklahoma,” Bird said, “One in 10 Oklahomans derive
their income from the aerospace industry. It’s a sure bet that aviation
is good for our state.”
Aviation Day will
feature booths and exhibits by aviation-related organizations and
industries. This year, a special highlight of Aviation Day will include
a book signing by the authors of “The Oklahoma Aviation Story,” a new
historical retrospective sponsored by the Oklahoma Aeronautics
Commission and produced by the Oklahoma Heritage Association. OAC
commissioned the book last spring in an effort to celebrate the 100th
year of powered flight (which occurred in 2003) and to promote awareness
of Oklahoma’s rich aviation heritage.
Authors of the
book include Keith Tolman, Kim Jones, Carl Gregory and Bill Moore. Gini
Moore Campbell served as the series editor and Bob Blackburn served as
associate editor. Bird said the Commission is in the process of
distributing 295 complimentary copies of “The Oklahoma Aviation Story”
to Oklahoma’s libraries, public universities and colleges across the
state.
“Aviation Day’s purpose is
to recognize the industry as a vital economic engine for our state,”
Bird said. “It is also a unique opportunity for companies to meet
one-on-one with state legislators, airport operators,
airport-engineering consultants and representatives from some of
Oklahoma’s most significant aviation companies.”
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