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Be an Ohio Leader in Flight! Show your pride in Ohio's aerospace industry and support aviation heritage. Your registration provides $15 to support NAHA's activities. |
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On the radar
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NAHA partners: Want your event listed here? Post it on our Events Calendar!
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Aviation history
on the air
Hear Dan Patterson's aviation heritage commentaries on WYSO Public Radio, 91.3 FM.
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Walt Hoy with Tim Gaffney (left) and Tony Perfilio (right)
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NAHA awards honor volunteers, partners at 2013 annual meeting
NAHA named Air Force veteran, engineer, entrepreneur and community volunteer Walter S. "Walt" Hoy as the winner of the Ivonette Wright Miller Award at its 2013 annual meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
NAHA also awarded its Wick Wright Award to Phillip L. "Phil" Parker, president and chief executive officer of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, and its PROPS (Partner Recognition of Outstanding Support) Award to Wright "B" Flyer, Inc.
Hoy received the Ivonette Wright Miller Award, named for the niece of Wilbur and Orville Wright, for a broad range of volunteerism, from cooking and serving meals at heritage organization functions to designing and building one-of-a-kind aircraft and equipment for those same organizations. He is a founding member and current chair of the Wright Image Group Inc. and a trustee for Wright "B" Flyer Inc., both NAHA partners.
Besides his aviation heritage activities, Hoy also serves in leadership positions and does hands-on volunteer work for the Gospel Mission, the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation and the K-12 Gallery for Young People. Hoy's Air Force career, from 1958 to 1978, included combat duty in Vietnam and aeronautical research at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He also founded two local companies that were later merged to form Fox Lite Inc.
"The range and depth of his volunteerism is simply stunning and extends far beyond aviation heritage," said Tim Gaffney, NAHA communications director, who presented the award as chair of the nominating committee.
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Phil Parker with Tony Perfilio (left), Amanda Wright Lane and Betty Darst
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Phil Parker received the Wick Wright Award, named for the grandnephew of the Wright brothers, for outstanding support of the National Aviation Hall of Fame in early 2012 when the future of its annual enshrinement ceremony in Dayton was in doubt.
"Upon hearing the news, Phil enthusiastically agreed to convene a committee of community leaders to ensure the event did not leave the Birthplace of Aviation. Over the next eight months, Phil personally engaged several individuals, businesses and organizations, obtaining sponsorships and financial support for the event, with the end result another successful enshrinement ceremony in Dayton," said Tony Perfilio, NAHA chair.
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Tony Perfilio, John Bosch, Phil Beaudoin
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Wright "B" Flyer, an all-volunteer organization, received the PROPS award for supporting a number of NAHA partners, including exhibiting a full-size replica of a Wright "B" Flyer at the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago in September 2012, which promoted the entire heritage area
"They were one of the most popular exhibits at the largest manufacturing technology show in North America," Perfilio said.
Also at the annual meeting, NAHA Executive Director Tony Sculimbrene reviewed the organization's execution of its strategic plan since 2007 and briefed partners on the beginning of a new strategic planning process.
The planning process will address the Wright Company factory buildings, which are being preserved at the former Delphi Home Avenue automotive manufacturing plant, a 54-acre site in West Dayton that is being developed for new commercial use. Congress has designated the two buildings for addition to the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. NAHA will study what role it should play in the restoration and future use of the buildings and three adjacent, historic factory buildings.
About the awards
The Ivonette Wright Miller Award is named for the niece of Wilbur and Orville Wright. She knew them well and preserved an extensive collection of their writings and photos. The award was established in 1998 by Inventing Flight to honor a living individual who demonstrates leadership in preserving and promoting the region's aviation heritage. Wilkinson "Wick" Wright, grandnephew of the Wright brothers, received the first award. NAHA succeeded Inventing Flight in 2004 and has continued the award program.
The Wick Wright Award is named for Wilkinson "Wick" Wright, grandnephew of the Wright brothers, who served as an ambassador of Dayton's aviation heritage. It was established in 2012 to honor an individual or an organization that has provided outstanding support to a NAHA partner. The first recipient was the Paul G. Duke Foundation for its ongoing support of Historic WACO Field in Troy, Ohio.
The PROPS Award was established in 2012 to honor a NAHA partner that has provided outstanding effort in advancing NAHA's vision to make the Dayton region the global center of aviation and aviation heritage. The first award was shared by Historic Grimes Field in Urbana, Ohio, the Champaign Aviation Museum and Grimes Flying Lab Foundation for their work associated with the gathering of B-25s and the 70th Doolittle Raiders Reunion at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
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Mid Eastern Regional Fly-in taking place Aug. 23-25 at Grimes Field
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The Mid Eastern Regional Fly-in (MERFI) is scheduled to descend on historic Grimes Field in Urbana on Friday, Aug. 23 and run through Sunday, Aug. 25. An air race, fly-in camping, static displays, forums, workshops and more are scheduled. MERFI is not a NAHA partner but takes place on Grimes Field, a NAHA partner site. Visit merfiurbana.com for more details, including fees, registrations, hours and directions. |
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Bomb group vets visit, support Champaign Aviation Museum's B-17
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Okey DeRaimo, 91, a B-17 bombardier who was shot down on his 6th mission and spent 16 months as a prisoner of war in Germany, stands by B-17 "Champaign Lady". (Photo: Tony Sculimbrene)
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On Saturday, August 17th, 2013, the Champaign Aviation Museum hosted the 401st Bomb Group Association, whose members include World War II veterans who flew B-17s. The veterans got a first-hand look at "Champaign Lady," a B-17 that museum volunteers are building from parts of other B-17s and many new parts made by the volunteers. The museum recently added a tail section that bears the 401st's symbol.
The museum, a NAHA partner, originally contacted the bomb group for historical information, and the query developed into a lasting relationship. The 401st has contributed financial support to the project.
Last weekend, 16 veterans accompanied by family and friends toured the museum and the airplane. U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan and Mayor Bill Bean of Urbana greeted the group and thanked them for their service in World War II.
Bomb Group Association President Dale Anderson and Treasurer Josie Navarro presented a check for more than $23,000 to Dave Shiffer, whose family foundation established the museum, to help it complete the project. "We hope this donation will help put the Champaign Lady in the air soon. Our members really want to take a ride," Anderson said.
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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
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