Media advisory: Socata to offer one-of-a-kind Trinidad GT for AOPA Air Safety Foundation auction

Media advisory: Socata to offer one-of-a-kind Trinidad GT for AOPA Air Safety Foundation auction

April 10, 2002, press conference to be held at Sun 'n Fun

View specially painted "Spirit of Liberty" aircraft at Socata's exhibit

At a press conference scheduled for Wednesday, April 10, EADS Socata will announce an auction to benefit AOPA's Air Safety Foundation. A specially painted and equipped "Spirit of Liberty" Trinidad GT will be offered for auction, with proceeds going to help fund AOPA Air Safety Foundation aviation safety and education programs. Aviation enthusiasts are invited to bid on the ASF Web site for this unique Trinidad GT painted by Oxford Aviation, from Oxford, Maine.

The on-line auction is available to all pilots and will open on the ASF Web site May 1 and close on August 31. The winning bidder will be announced and aircraft presented during AOPA Expo, October 24-26, 2002, in Palm Springs, California.

The special Trinidad GT features state-of-the-art avionics, a complete Honeywell Bendix/King avionics suite with KAP 150 three-axis autopilot, KMD 850 multifunction display, KLN 94 color GPS, KDR 510 weather information datalink receiver, and a Goodrich WX-500 Stormscope and Skywatch traffic advisory system. Avionics installation services have been donated by Banyan Aircraft Services of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The AOPA Air Safety Foundation is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to providing aviation education and safety programs for general aviation.

WHAT: Press conference to announce Socata Trinidad GT auction to benefit AOPA Air Safety Foundation

WHO: Philippe Debrun, EADS Socata president and CEO; Bruce Landsberg, AOPA Air Safety Foundation executive director

WHEN: Wednesday, April 10, 2002, 10 a.m.

WHERE: Socata Exhibit MD-022B at Sun 'n Fun, Lakeland Regional Airport, Lakeland, Florida

CONTACT: Keith Mordoff, AOPA, 301/695-2156, 301/639-4238 cell

02-2-007

April 3, 2002