Senators Stevens (R-Alaska) and Mikulski (D-Maryland) cut the ribbon inside the American exhibition space.

The U.S. pavilion kicked off the air show in grand fashion, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, speeches by industry officials, and a few words from Senator Ted Stevens, who is attending the show on behalf of President Bush. In the audience were Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition Claude Bolton, Marine Corps Commandant General James Conway, and NASA Administrator Michael Griffin.