United Airlines Flight "Oscar 1."

United Airlines Flight "Oscar 1", "The Flight of the Oscars®," arrived in Los Angeles on February 2, 2006, carrying a cargo of 50 Oscar® statuettes for the 78th Academy Awards®. The statuettes were manufactured at the Chicago-based R.S. Owens Company.

Accompanying the statuettes on the flight were master chef Wolfgang Puck and Academy Executive Director Bruce Davis. Academy President Sid Ganis was on hand to greet the 50 Oscar® statuettes.

Prior to being placed in the excited hands of Oscar winners at the 78th Academy Awards, this year’s crop of coveted Oscar statuettes will be showcased in a public display, "Meet the Oscars," at the Hollywood & Highland Center® beginning on Friday, February 10.

(Left to right): Wolfgang Puck, United Airlines Captain Dennis Taylor, Academy President Sid Ganis and United Co-Pilot Halli Mulei.

After the close of the exhibition on March 3, the Oscars, under heavy security, will march down the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard to the Kodak Theatre where they will be handed out during the Awards Presentation on Sunday, March 5.

The Academy will not know how many statuettes will be awarded until the envelopes are opened on Oscar Night® because there can be ties as well as variable numbers of winners in some categories.