SCIENCE

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -- SGI (NYSE: SGI) today announced that the House Appropriations Committee approved $5 million in additional funding for U.S. Air Force F-16 flight simulators powered by SGI(TM) Onyx® family high-performance graphics systems. The funding is part of the Fiscal 2002 Defense Appropriations bill. As senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Dave Obey of Wisconsin's Seventh District ensured that funds for F-16 flight simulators were included in the bill. The $5 million increase in funding Obey helped secure would allow the U.S. Air Force to train pilots in computerized simulators linked from remote sites across the country, making joint training possible without the expense of bringing pilots and machines together. These distributed training units are powered by SGI Onyx family visualization systems manufactured in Chippewa Falls, Wis. ``This defense work can play an important role in helping to maintain the best-in-the-world status of our armed forces, and I am proud to see SGI workers in Chippewa Falls, whom I represent, are contributing to our military's safety, effectiveness, and preparedness,'' said Obey. The SGI(TM) Onyx® 3000 series is designed to meet the most demanding and changing needs of customers like the U.S. Air Force, who require a high-end image generator for photo-realistic, out-the-window visual scenes to support air-to-air and air-to-ground scenarios in a full-scene (360-degree) environment. The SGI Onyx 3000 series is the world's most powerful visualization system providing breathtaking performance. ``Our visualization technology powering these F-16 simulators will enable U.S. Air Force pilots to train like they fight,'' said John Burwell, senior director of government industry, SGI. ``The SGI Onyx 3000 series graphics systems will allow the simulators to realistically operate in the same multirole function the F-16 plays in actual combat missions.'' For more information visit www.sgi.com