New One-Off Mustang for Auction Salutes 100 Years of Naval Aviation

Build #1 of 1 Ford Blue Angels Mustang Salutes 100 Years of U.S. Navy Aviation, Supports Education Program for Young Aviators One-of-a-kind 2012 Ford Mustang design inspired by the acclaimed Blue Angels naval aviation demonstration team to be sold at charity auction July 28, at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

DEARBORN, MI,--July 7, 2011: The Engineering and Design teams at Ford Motor Company have produced a truly unique one-off Blue Angels edition 2012 Ford Mustang GT. This one-of-a-kind vehicle will be sold at the Gathering of Eagles charity auction Thursday, July 28, 2011 during the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) 2011 AirVenture Oshkosh, the worldıs greatest aviation celebration.

All proceeds from the vehicle donation and sale will benefit the EAA Young Eagles organization, which has provided free introductory flights to more than 1.6 million young people since 1992, while also teaching the value of hard work, personal responsibility and enhanced math and science skills. To participate in the auction, pre-qualify by contacting Matt Miller in the EAA Development Office at (800) 236-1025 or email mmiller@eaa.org by Monday, July 25. Visit www.airventure.org/gathering for more information. Ford is the exclusive automotive partner of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, held from July 25 to 31, 2011 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis.

The Ford Blue Angels Mustang pays tribute to 100 years of naval aviation, which will be celebrated all week at AirVenture 2011 as part of the showıs Tier 1 event status from the U.S. Navy for the year-long Centennial of Naval Aviation festivities. The vehicle will be on display inside the Ford Hangar onsite throughout EAA AirVenture. The exterior of Fordıs Blue Angels Mustang GT was inspired by the acclaimed naval aviation performance demonstration team and the F-18 Hornet aircraft they fly. The custom rear spoilerıs vertical tail fins, the "screaming yellow" gloss accents, inclusion of the Blue Angels script and crest all are drawn from the Navy aircraft. The unique chrome blue paint, courtesy of Creations n' Chrome, is unlike anything available on a production vehicle anywhere in the world and makes this car spectacular.

With the Blue Angels crest stitched into its leather Recaro racing seats, the vehicleıs interior also features offset stripes, inspired by the pilot flight suits. Many unique additional details to the Blue Angels Mustang include: cluster graphics, performance gauges, navigation screen images, seat belt fabric, instrument panel appliqués, rear seat delete and cross-brace, Blue Angels script in the illuminated sill plates, and puddle lamps that project jet images when the doors open.

Under the hood, the Blue Angels Mustang is all performance with a Ford Racing super-charged 5.0L V8 engine producing 624 horsepower. The Ford Racing components also include a handling pack, performance exhaust and race track brakes. Mustang Chief Designer Darrell Behmer, Design Manager Melvin Betancourt and Mustang Chief Nameplate Engineer Dave Pericak lead the design and engineering team that developed the Blue Angels Mustang.

The Young Eagles Auction is part of the EAA Gathering of Eagles on Thursday, July 28, at the EAA AirVenture Museum. The Gathering of Eagles annually draws more than 1,000 aviation enthusiasts in support of Young Eagles and other EAA programs that inspire young people to become engineers, aviators, astronauts, scientists and innovators ­ the aviation pioneers of tomorrow.

Ford is a long-time supporter of EAA and our mission to showcase the finest innovation and technology in flight, said Tom Poberezny, EAA chairman/president and AirVenture chairman. The high interest among aviators in the U.S. Navy and the ŒBlue Angelsı Mustang team will make this a very sought-after item and ensure EAAıs ability to do some amazing things for our future aviation enthusiasts.

The Blue Angels edition joins the three other one-of-a-kind Mustangs created by the Ford Design and Engineering teams for the EAA Young Eagles Auction in recent years, each generating excitement among aviation and automotive enthusiasts alike. Ford vehicles sold at auction during past EAA AirVenture events have collectively raised more than $1.3 million to support the Young Eagles.

The precision, discipline and excitement that define the U.S. Navyıs Blue Angels flight team are qualities we celebrate at Ford, said Edsel B Ford II, a member of Fordıs Board of Directors. With this yearıs beautiful ŒBlue Angelsı edition Mustang GT, weıve captured those qualities and paired them with the innovation Ford Design and Engineering team members build into all of our vehicles. Through this project, we take great pride in continuing our support for EAA and the Young Eagles organization.

Other unique vehicles produced by Ford in support of EAA Young Eagles include the Mustang AV8R, with cues from the F-22 Raptor, which in 2008 helped introduce the glass-roof canopy and delivered a record auction contribution of $500,000. In 2009, Fordıs AV-X10 Dearborn Doll Mustang was crafted in honor of WWII aircraft. In 2010, two automotive icons ­ Carroll Shelby, formerly a U.S. Air Force flight instructor, and Jack Roush, a long-time P-51 pilot ­ collaborated for the first time to create the SR-71 Blackbird Mustang inspired by the legendary reconnaissance jet.

During EAA AirVenture, Ford also will offer attendees access to the latest advances in automobile technology at the Ford Hangar, as well as many of the industryıs most revered classics at the popular Cruisin' Legends area on the grounds of Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. Ford activities include top-tier entertainment and interactive components that will add excitement for the hundreds thousands of aviation fans in attendance. To stay connected to all Ford EAA AirVenture news, connect with the Ford EAA AirVenture team Ford Air Adventure and Air Venture.