Dr. Paul MacCready to Conduct Special Session at Aviation Industry Week

March 04, 2004

Las Vegas, NV (March 4, 2004) - Aviation Industry Week, the premier event for the business of aviation, announced today that Dr. Paul B. MacCready will speak at the upcoming show, to be held May 18-20, 2004, in Las Vegas, NV. Dr. MacCready is the founder and chairman of AeroVironment, Inc. He has been pioneering the use of alternate energy sources in aviation for over 50 years, developing vehicles and devices for both military and commercial use that strike a balance between nature and technology.

"Dr. MacCready's innovations have changed the course of aviation," says Jill Hilgenberg, Aviation Industry Week Show Director. "The impact of his visionary designs and the technologies he has developed will be felt far into the future. Given Dr. MacCready's vast contribution to this industry, we are delighted that he will share his insight on the challenges facing aviation over the next few decades."

Dr. MacCready will be giving a special session on Monday, May 17, for all attendees and exhibitors at Aviation Industry Week, entitled Commercial Aviation Challenges. This session will examine the major changes that can be expected in aviation over the next 15-30 years, including the use of electric ground vehicles, the increased role of Unoccupied Air Vehicles (UAVs), increased security of passenger aircraft, higher fuel prices, fewer normal airports, and more passengers.

Dr. MacCready earned his doctorate in aeronautics at Caltech and began his career flying sailplanes and powered aircraft. He pioneered high altitude wave soaring and in-cloud ventures with sailplanes, winning three National Championships and the International Championship in France. In 1971, he founded AeroVironment, Inc., focusing on aeronautics, the environment and alternate sources of energy. He is known as the "father of human-powered flight," having won the Kremer Prize for both his Gossamer Condor and Gossamer Albatross. Today, his work focuses on the challenge of combining nature and technology to meet the unique needs of both current and future markets.

AeroVironment Inc. was the primary developer, for GM/Hughes, of the Sunraycer, winner of the first solar car race across Australia in 1987. The company also developed the battery-powered Impact car in 1988-89, which became the EV-1 for GM's commercial introduction of a rechargeable battery-powered car. The company is currently developing both battery packs and fuel cell systems for powering a number of efficient planes, land and water vehicles.

Aviation Industry Week is host to the GSE International Expo, AS3 - the Aviation Services and Suppliers Supershow, the National Air Transportation Association's (NATA) 2004 Annual Convention, and the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association's (PAMA) 33rd Annual Aviation Maintenance Symposium. The event showcases ground support equipment and solutions, aviation maintenance training and education, and general aviation aftermarket services for aviation companies, aircraft manufacturers, and airport-based businesses. The show is sponsored by the leading industry publications Ground Support Magazine, Aircraft Maintenance Technology, and Airport Business.




About AeroVironment, Inc. (AV)

AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) is a global leader in intelligent multi-domain robotic systems, uncrewed aircraft and ground systems, sensors, software analytics, and connectivity. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, AeroVironment delivers actionable intelligence so our customers can proceed with certainty. For more information, visit www.avinc.com.


Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our ability to perform under existing contracts and obtain additional contracts; changes in the regulatory environment; the activities of competitors; failure of the markets in which we operate to grow; failure to expand into new markets; failure to develop new products or integrate new technology with current products; and general economic and business conditions in the United States and elsewhere in the world. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.



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