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Lindbergh Foundation Announces First
Aviation Green_® Alliance Founder

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (April 4, 2011) — The Lindbergh Foundation announced that Hawker Beechcraft Corporation has become its first Aviation Green Alliance founding member.

Recognizing that the aviation industry, including corporate operators and individuals, has come under intense pressure to address aviation emissions, noise, efficiency and other environmental concerns, the Lindbergh Foundation launched the Aviation Green Alliance on February 3, to support those who are committed to proactively addressing aviation and environmental challenges. “Having just launched the Aviation Green Alliance program a few weeks ago, we are thrilled to already have a major corporation such as Hawker Beechcraft step up and support this program,” said Foundation Chairman, President and CEO Larry Williams.  “It’s exciting that we have a number of other OEMs and groups at various stages of the commitment process.”

“Founder membership in the Aviation Green Alliance comes with some added benefits that we found to be particularly valuable,” said Bill Plucker, Advanced Design Program Manager, at Hawker Beechcraft Corp.  “We believe being part of the Lindbergh Foundation’s Advisory ‘Spirit’ Committee will provide us with a greater opportunity to advance our own aviation-environmental initiatives with the support of the Lindbergh Foundation and the influence of the members of the Aviation Green Alliance.”

The Aviation Green Alliance was established to create multiple platforms for members to share strategies, findings, progress, and ideas related to aviation’s environmental challenges.  “With the Lindbergh Foundation’s mission and history deeply rooted in aviation, we felt it was the Foundation’s responsibility to step forward and lead a grassroots rally to support tangible, measurable, and sustainable environmental progress by the aviation industry,” said Williams. “We hope other like-minded individuals and companies, like Hawker Beechcraft, will come forward and help us lead the way.”

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About The Lindbergh Foundation

The Lindbergh Foundation is a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, based in Anoka, Minnesota, which focuses on technological breakthroughs to address significant aviation-environmental issues. The Lindbergh Foundation also values individual initiative and accomplishments.  Its programs are devoted to supporting, honoring, and educating individuals, through three major programs:  the annual Lindbergh Award, presented to individuals for significant contributions toward balancing nature and scientific innovation in their work; the Lindbergh Grants program, which provides grants in amounts up to $10,580 (the cost of building the Spirit of St. Louis in 1927) for research or education projects that will make important contributions to the technology/environment balance; and a variety of educational events and publications centered on the balance theme.