NATIONAL AVIATION HERITAGE AREA

Newsletter

February 20, 2014

NAHA to study Wright factory campaign

Concept illustration of restored Wright Company factory buildings with visitors outside

Wright factory buildings as they might look when restored (Image: NAHA)

The National Aviation Heritage Alliance (NAHA) will commission a feasibility study to evaluate the potential for a national fundraising campaign for the Wright Company factory site.

The funds would secure the historic Wright Company buildings for future use as a unit of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and identify compatible uses for the surrounding 20-acre historic parcel, which includes three attached structures that match the architectural style of the original Wright buildings.

The study also will evaluate the feasibility of acquiring the remaining 34 acres that make up the former Delphi Home Avenue automotive plant for commercial or industrial development.

"These adjacent parcels would be especially suited to an aviation or aerospace manufacturer that sees value in tying its brand to the birthplace of America's aerospace industry," said Tony Sculimbrene, NAHA's executive director. Read the news release for more details.

NAHA adopts new 5-year strategic plan

The Wright factory feasibility study (see article above) follows a new, five-year strategic plan NAHA's board of trustees approved at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

"The new strategic plan restates the commitment of our heritage partners to work together to preserve and promote our individual sites as well as the national treasures in the Heritage Area overall," said Frank Winslow, chair of NAHA's board of trustees.

The plan's four strategic goals are to preserve and develop NAHA heritage assets, promote aviation heritage assets, preserve and redevelop the Wright Company factory site, and develop a sustainable organization to assure continuation of NAHA activities beyond 2019, when its authorization for federal matching funds is scheduled to end.

'Wright Company' author to speak Feb. 27

National Park Service Historian Edward Roach will speak about his new book, The Wright Company: From Invention to Industry, at the Engineers Club of Dayton at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27. The event is free and open to the public.

Wilbur and Orville Wright formed the Wright Company in 1909 with New York investors and built two factory buildings in Dayton in 1910 and 1911-the first American factory built for the purpose of producing airplanes.

The company was only modestly successful, for reasons Roach's book examines in unprecedented detail. Wilbur died in 1912 and Orville sold the company in 1915. But the buildings still stand, and NAHA is working the the National Park Service and others to restore them as a national park unit.

National Museum's shuttle exhibit to open

Photo: USAF

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force will open its new Space Shuttle Exhibit to the public on Wednesday, Feb. 26, officials have announced.

Built around NASA's first Crew Compartment Trainer, the exhibit will allow visitors to experience the size and shape of an actual space shuttle orbiter by entering the payload bay and looking into the trainer's flight deck and mid deck. The exhibit includes a 60-seat Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) learning node. Read more about the new exhibit here.

Wright Dunbar seeks Walk of Fame names

Who has had a great impact on the Dayton region? And who would YOU like to see get a paver on the Walk of Fame?

The Wright Dunbar Walk of Fame was established as a part of Dayton's bicentennial celebration in 1996. The legacy of this community is rich with individuals who have made their mark regionally, nationally and often, internationally. The Walk of Fame exists to recognize and celebrate their accomplishments and to share our pride with the rest of the world.

Individual granite pavers line the sidewalks throughout the Wright Dunbar Business district with descriptions of inductees and their unique contributions to the Dayton landscape. New inductees are welcomed into the Walk of Fame family at a celebration each fall.

Nominations open now through April 2. Download the nomination form here, and go here for a list of people already in the walk of fame.

WACO sets Grand Re-Opening open house

The WACO Air Museum will mark its Grand Re-Opening for the 2014 season with its

annual "Grand Open House" from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28. The event is open to the public. The museum is located at 1865 S Co Rd 25A in Troy.

A highlight of the evening will be the photography of Dan Patterson. Dan is a professional artist, photographer and graphic designer and a private pilot. He has published a number of aviation books and has had his work featured in numerous exhibits around the country.

Another featured attraction will be the WACO Lego Contest entries. The entries and Dan's photos will be on display through March.

WACO also will introduce a new audio tour. Museum visitors can use a headset and MP3 player to hear the stories and history of the largest manufacturer of civil aircraft in the country during the Golden Age of Aviation.

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Home School Days at WACO will offer four lessons for 4th through 6th grade children on the theme "Water, Water Everywhere" from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., March 17-20. Go here for more information or to register online.

NATIONAL AVIATION HERITAGE AREA

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. www.visitNAHA.org

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

info@aviationheritagearea.org * 937-443-0165

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