VIRGIN ATLANTIC is to commemorate the 100th anniversary of manned flight with the sponsorship of a replica of Sir George Cayley”s glider, the first man carrying aircraft to actually fly, and 50 years before the Wright brothers. Cayley identified the relationship of weight, lift, drag and thrust to design and build his glider, a fact acknowledged by the Dayton, Ihio bicycle makers. 5 July 2003 has been recognized as the 150th anniversary of the flight, the replica, built with modern design techniques but staying true to the original, due to get airborne over Brompton Vale, Yorkshire. Cayley coerced his reluctant coachman to pilot the machine. Branson, a mean aviator himself, has expressed an interest in perhaps flying the contraption. Virgin is also sponsoring the ”Bognor Birdman” this year, the man-powered challenge to fly to France from the end of the pier. Branson is not so keen to take part in this event! http://www.virgin.com