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On the radar
April 25: WACO Air Museum, Volunteer Recruitment Night

April 27: Armstrong Air & Space Museum, Star Wars Day

May 11: Woodland Cemetery, bird watching tour
Air history
on the air
Dan Patterson's antique camera
Hear Dan Patterson's latest aviation heritage commentary on WYSO Public Radio, 91.3 FM.
 
Our partners

National Park Service arrowhead graphic
The National Aviation Heritage Area is a part of the National Park Service's National Heritage Areas program.
National Park anounces photo, poetry contests for Aero Carnival
Photo of Wilbear Wright with camera
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park has announced what is to become an annual photo contest.

Contest entries will be on exhibit at the Great Wright Brothers Aero Carnival at Huffman Prairie Flying Field on Saturday, Oct. 5. The photo contest is open to those over the age of 6.
 
The park, a NAHA partner, is also holding a poetry contest to coincide with the carnival for youths in grades 1 through 12.

Visit aerocarnival.com for contest rules, deadlines and entry forms.
Work progresses on 'iconic' Wright Flyer sculpture in Montgomery AL
Photo of Wright Flyer sculpture in Montgomery, AL
A fullsize Wright Flyer sculpture will dominate the landscape in Montgomery, Ala. when it goes on display in July, according to an article in the Prattville Progress.

After the Wright brothers formed the Wright Company in 1909, Orville established a flight school in Montgomery to train the company's first pilots. Today, Montgomery is home to Maxwell Air Force Base.

A local company, Burt Steel, is building the stainless steel sculpture at no charge.

"We really wanted that wow factor" for motorists entering the city, Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange told reporter Brad Harper.

Visit progress.montgomeryadvertiser.com to read the story and view a video.
WACO recruiting volunteers
WACO biplane

 

WACO Museum & Learning Center in Troy will host a Volunteer Recruitment Night Thursday, April 25, at 7 p.m.  WACO has opportunities for all ages and skill levels to help showcase this Miami County gem and NAHA partner. 

 

To volunteer or learn more, call (937) 335-9226 or visit wacoairmuseum.org.

Woodland plans bird-watching tour
Photo of sunbeams at Woodland Cemetery

 

Woodland Historic Cemetery and Arboretum will hold its first bird watching tour on Saturday, May 11. Whether you're looking for a Carolina wren, back and white warbler or a cardinal, bring your binoculars, take a stroll and search the beautiful grounds of this NAHA partner.

The tour is set to begin at 9 a.m. Reservations are required, so please contact Debra Mescher at (937) 228-3221 or email debra@woodlandcemetery.org.

Wright "B" Flyer: best-kept secret?
Aerial photo of Wright

 

Wright "B" Flyer Inc. calls itself "possibly one of Dayton's best kept secrets." While this NAHA partner's flying lookalike of a 1911 Wright Model B is a familiar sight in the sky over the Dayton area, few people are aware that its hangar-museum on Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport in Miami Twp. is open to the public with free admission.

 

Wright "B" volunteers are working to change that. They give a free presentation to schools and civic clubs with a slideshow tailored to fit from 15 minutes to one hour. It provides the audience with some history of the Wright brothers, as well as a visual display of what transpires at the Wright B Flyer Museum.

 

Volunteers have found middle school youngsters grasp the information and civic clubs are pleased with the show. These presentations have drawn visitors and recruited volunteers. If you belong to a group or club that's looking for programs, consider a presentation that will entertain your members and educate them about the Wright "B" story. Contact the hangar at (937) 885-2327 or through its website at wright-b-flyer.org.

Star Wars Day at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum

Saturday, April 27, will be Star Wars Day at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta. Experience your favorite characters for Star Wars live at the museum. Rebel leaders will pose for pictures and sign autographs from 4-5 p.m.

 

A NAHA partner, the Armstrong museum honors Wapakoneta native Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, and is a monument to Ohio's contributions to aviation and space exploration. Its hours from April to September are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Visit armstrongmuseum.org for admission fees and other information.


The National Aviation Heritage Alliance (NAHA) is a private, not-for-profit corporation designated by Congress as the management entity of the National Aviation Heritage Area. The Heritage Area encompasses an eight-county area in Ohio (Montgomery, Greene, Miami, Clark, Warren, Champaign, Shelby and Auglaize counties.) NAHA's vision is to sustain the legacy of the Wright brothers and make the Dayton region the recognized global center of aviation heritage and premier destination for aviation heritage tourism.

PO Box 414 * Wright Brothers Station * Dayton, OH 45409