Beyond the post-flight journalism just described, this revised proposal now also includes the PRE-FLIGHT promotion which (following my initial submission) I was made to understand by Warren AFB public affairs is, in fact, the primary metric used by Thunderbirds PA to determine the media flight candidate. This proposal thus includes pre-flight promotion of the Thunderbird's visit to Cheyenne, to be aired on Denver's premier AM talk radio station, KNCR and also two NBC TV stations: KNCY, Casper and their holding company's newest station (which will begin broadcasting for NBC in Cheyenne in June.) This additional pre-flight promotion is on top of the dedicated advertising that most of the interested newspapers in Wyoming have agreed to give the story as an "upcoming event" in their entertainment sections.

Finally, this revised proposal includes the (backup) proposal of my producing a backup documentary production for radio and TV broadcast and as a print feature story, describing, "A Day in the life of the Thunderbirds".

The need for this (backup) documentary is because I will not be named alternate candidate to a celebrity flight. Unless a second media flight is scheduled, I'd be alternate to a singer and forced to string-out 30 news organizations for what most consider a non-story (i.e. celebrity gets free ride at taxpayer expense in a publicity stunt that runs counter to March 29-released Gallup Poll, in which 66% of those interviewed said they were fed up with celebrities being treated as "special"). And unless a second media flight is scheduled... as the alternate, I'd be forcing the news organizations to provide pre-flight publicity to the main story (ie the Thunderbirds in Cheyenne) with nothing more than the prospect of a big "maybe" (as in "maybe I'd have a story to output, but only if the celebrity can't fly or doesn't want to fly that day").

The backup documentary would ensure that, in good faith, I can get my interested news outlets (also in good faith) to provide pre-flight promotion... day-of-flight production facility and personel scheduling... post-production facility scheduling... and post-flight air time and column-inch reporting of the event.

FYI: Not a single news outlet that I've spoken to is really interested in the "celebrity flight" angle. Responses have ranged from cynical "Money must have changed hands" to "so what?" I am not interested in being turned into celebrity paparazzi, reporting on a celebrity's "free ride" when the nation is at war.

NOTE on "letters of support" and contact phone numbers for news personel, interested in my possible story: Because of the current interest of the Thunderbirds in flying a celebrity at CFD-- instead of a journalist-- a number of (my) news organizations have now taken a "let's see" attitude to the possibility of providing-- any-- coverage to the Thunderbirds at CFD.

And while I have received a number of emails and letters in support of my flight candidacy, I have had more phone conversations that expressed support for my submission of a story. In those cases where I have no letter of support, I am providing the phone numbers (below) of the contacts for those interested news organizations.

PRE-FLIGHT PROMOTION OF EVENT:
I used to associate produce ABC TV network promotions in Los Angeles for Sullivan and Associates. My job was that of a production element coordinator, assembling all production elements: Audio, video, music, narration and associated clearances. Within a week of learning that pre-flight promotion was the fundamental metric, guiding Thunderbird PA's decision of media flight candidates, I put together this promotion package:

KCWY13, NBC-TV, Casper (total audience 100,000+) (and their company's new Cheyenne NBC station, starting operations in June) Executive producer Shauna Bales and News Director Joey Parker 307-577-0013

KNRC News Radio, Denver (total audience 1million +) Doug Kellett, Program Director and Bill Thorp, Asst. program Director (303) 296-7025

:Internet (total audience: unlimited, worldwide, via regional search engines)

Interested Wyoming newspapers: Paid advertising and "coming soon" entertainment section mentions. (total audience: ~100,000)

Wyoming Public Radio and Television ("coming soon" promos) (total audience ~60,000)
=============================================== POST-FLIGHT JOURNALISM
I still believe that the journalism outlined in my March 1 proposal was the most comprehensive of any that the Thunderbirds have ever received for any media orientation flight.... anywhere... with journalistic output to print, broadcast and internet. And I'm still confident that you will find my military-related journalism background and aerospace-related video/broadcast production credits superior to those of any other candidate that you are now considering for the 2004 CFD media flight.

As a journalist who has been accredited with the Wyoming Press Association for many years, I have now put together publisher/ editor/ news director interest in my candidacy for this flight from the following news organizations (with the following contact numbers or internet links for you to confirm):

PRINT
1. Aviation Week Magazine "Contrails" feature story about layman--me-- along for ride with pilot who demonstrates situational awareness and pilot workload during high-g (missile-evasion and/or Thunderbird performance) maneuvers. Pre-submitted interview questions would focus on mission of Thunderbirds, pilot workload and the mission of latest production-block F-16 in current unified command force-planning and the anticipated future role of this 30 year old manned aircraft in an increasingly-hostile, multi-spectral-sensor missile threat environment. (Av Week Rocky Mtn Editor Bill Scott 719-594-4353, worldwide circulation 105,000)

I worked with Aviation Week magazine at the 1987 Paris Air Show. My production credits can be viewed here

2. Newspapers of the Wyoming Press Association (circulation ~100,000) I have now verbally contacted and emailed virtually all of the newspapers (daily and weekly) that are members of the WPA, I have obtained positive feedback (verbally or in writing) from 95% of them: Indicating their editorial interest in a feature story about my flight experience. Here's a typical email that I've received:

From: Publisher, Gillette News-Record.
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2004 11:19 AM
To: John Guthrie
Subject: Re: Thunderbirds story
John:
I would love to consider your story non the USAF Thunderbirds for the Gillette News-Record.
Our Sunday circulation is 8,500, which is likely when such a story would run.
Thanks,
Ann Franscell
Editor

I now have positive interest in my story from the newspapers in virtually all major Wyoming markets and also most of the smaller market weeklies.

The interest of Wyoming's newspaper editors and publishers is based on the following story outline:

NEWSPAPER STORY OUTLINE
My story for each Wyoming community newspaper (and I'll extend this to all northern Colorado and western Nebraska newspapers if I am selected for the flight) would be written with a local town-specific lead (ie, "Looking down the runway at Cheyenne's airport, I could imagine the takeoff runway ahead of us, running right through Lusk, starting on Main

Street at 11th and running north. By the time we reach Griffith St, we'll be off the ground and climbing (on afterburner?) at 190 mph and a 60 degree angle. In that fantasy, I imagine Lusk and Dailey Street to the right dropping away from us at the rate of nearly a football field a second... or 50,000 feet-per-minute!")

Second paragraph would be "my preflight experience in Cheyenne". Paragraph two would focus on pre-flight preparations for this media orientation flight and the mission of the USAF Thunderbirds and what their appearances at 51 consecutive Cheyenne Frontier Days has meant to CFD and to Wyoming. Quotes from squadron leader, Lt. Col Mike Chandler on the mission of USAF Thunderbirds and its appearances at CFD. Additional interviews with Ms Nicole Gant, CFD marketing director and Colonel Evan Hoapili, commander 90th Space Wing, Warren AFB or Col. Barry Kistler, 90th vice commander.

Paragraph Three would describe the in-air experiences of the orientation flight and interview quotes from the pilot of my orientation flight.
If the orientation flight pilot is Major Randy Redell, the quotes would focus on his observations of the flight team experience from the POV of the squadron's second in command and and his thoughts about the F-16C/D aircraft, based on his previous assignment as an F-16 instructor in Arizona.

And if Captain Dave Haworth is the orientation flight's pilot, the interview questions would focus on his thoughts as the team's advance man: Regarding the planning needed for the 120 member team's success at 43 air shows this summer.

Closing paragraphs of the newspaper story would detail my flight experiences of the actual orientation flight (the sense of acceleration, forces of high-g maneuvers, the view during extreme maneuvers, etc) and a general description of the F-16's place in the world's air forces today, as a non-stealthy, 30 year old aircraft design-- up against multi-spectral-sensing missile threats that can pull 70-g's.

As I've indicated to the newspapers and to the other news organizations,
I'm a third-generation Wyoming journalist. My grandfather, Dave Richardson started the Rock Spring Rocket Miner. And my background in military journalism is proven in the 37 published stories that I have written:

BROADCAST
1. Wyoming Public Radio is interested in my story and has 56,400 listeners, statewide. After March 1, 2004, a confirming letter from Mr Roger Adams, program director, can be viewed here

2. Wyoming Public Television (also ~60,000 viewers) is likewise interested. I've discussed producing a 26 minute (half hour) program with them, based on the print outline (above). That program would also feature input on the mission of Warren AFB and Cheyenne Frontier Days. Contact: Mr Dan Schiedel, News Director and/or Ms Ruby Calvert, program director. 307- 856-6944

My broadcast and video production background--besides Aviation Week-- includes programming which has been aired on The Discovery Channel (USA and Japan):
This video clip also shows some of my production of EARTHWALK, which Orson Welles narrated for free because, according to Welles' sound engineer, Mr Welles considered it the best script he'd ever read. The interest in my production by Discovery Channel Wings is pending.

INTERNET
Finally, my coverage of this experience will be in text, still photo and motion picture-- in five languages-- on the internet. For the past two years, I've had a web page about the Thunderbirds at Cheyenne on my company web site in five languages, showing my photos that were taken by me on the flight line in 2002.
The page gets regular hits from all over the world, particularly from Spanish search engines for some reason.
========================================
Backup Documentary Proposal:
"A Day in the Life of the Thunderbirds"

Whether I am named primary or alternate candidate for the media flight, I would like to produce a half hour TV documentary (with audio output to radio and quote output to print) showing a typical day on the road, for Thunderbird pilot/officers and enlisted personel. Having this standbye production is the only way that I, in good faith, can be an "alternate"; Because with this backup production, I'll at least be able to output to my news organizations in the event that, as alternate, I don't fly. Otherwise, the whole exercise is a big "Maybe", and for a "celebrity" story that most editors and producers in the currently conservative news climate don't consider truly newsworthy.

The "Day in the Life" program would be shot two camera, with a two-man video team (camera/sound and producer) following a pilot/officer and another two-man team following a representative enlisted person... from the time they leave their motel rooms in the morning... to breakfasts... to pre-flight briefings... aircraft prep... runway inspection... engine startup and flightline checks... media/celebrity orientation flight and venue performance by team (including cockpit Elmo camera footage)... post flight debriefings... local meet-and-greets... free time... night show, etc. Closing/ credits sequence would be the departure of the team for their next show at Greenfield, Indiana.

This production would also provide output, suitable for print feature story. It could also be configured for both audio output of interviews to public and commercial radio and broadcast in video by both Wyoming Public Television and Discovery Communications Wings Channel. Discovery's interest is pending.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

It's been my honor to make these proposal submissions for your consideration, as an expression of my continuing journalistic service to my nation and its place in the world.

I have recently encouraged Laramie journalist, Tim Chesnut, to apply for the media ride. He's a great photographer.

Best regards,
John A. Guthrie III
307- 742-7117

My mailing address is P.O. Box 7474, Laramie, WY 82073.