NATIONAL AVIATION HERITAGE AREA

Newsletter

March 20, 2014

Wright factory in Ohio state capital budget

Artist rendering of how Wright factory might look as a National Park unit

Efforts to secure and restore the historic Wright brothers' airplane factory have taken an important step forward with the inclusion of funding in Ohio's capital budget bill.

The budget bill for fiscal years 2015 and 2016 includes $250,000 to acquire and secure the two Wright Company buildings for eventual use by the National Park Service. Ohio Gov. John Kasich introduced the bill Tuesday to the state legislature.

The Dayton Development Coalition included the Wright Company factory in a list of projects it recommended to the state for capital funding after evaluating and ranking their importance to the Dayton region. Tony Sculimbrene, NAHA executive director, said the project's rank-16th out of 32-showed the coalition considers the project important, and its inclusion in the budget showed the state agrees.

The recognition comes as NAHA prepares to launch a feasibility study for a major fundraising campaign to acquire, preserve and restore the buildings. NAHA estimates it will need to raise between $3 million and $5 million to carry out this work.

The Wright Company buildings stand on a 20-acre historic parcel that's part of the 54-acre, former Delphi auto parts manufacturing plant. Home Avenue Redevelopment LLC (HAR) owns the site and is completing the demolition of all but the two Wright Company buildings and four attached buildings that were added later.

NAHA is working with HAR, the National Park Service, the city of Dayton and the coalition to preserve the factory buildings and redevelop the site for historical and commercial uses. More

DP&L sponsor of WACO Learning Center

Dayton Power and Light has become corporate sponsor of the WACO Learning Center, according to a WACO Air Museum announcement. WACO received a $30,000 grant from DP&L for 2014.

The WACO Aircraft Company was America's largest manufacturer of civil aircraft in the late 1920s and early 30s. The WACO Historical Society preserves the company's history and celebrates the Golden Age of Aviation with its authentic grass airfield and the WACO Air Museum.

In addition, the WACO Learning Center works to nurture aviation's future with a variety of programs and activities.

Women in Aviation receives NAHF award

The National Aviation Hall of Fame on March 7 presented its Milton Caniff Spirit of Flight Award to Women in Aviation International. NAHF Enshrinement Director Ron Kaplan, accompanied by Chairman William R. Harris and Trustee Betty Darst. presented the award to WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian during WAI's annual convention at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Read more about the award here.

WAI is a NAHA neighbor, with its headquarters in West Alexandria. Read more about WAI here.

Carillon Park the topic at Mound Museum

Brady Kress, president and chief executive of Dayton History, will present an update on activities at Carillon Historical Park at 7 p.m. on March 26 at the Mound Science and Energy Museum in Miamisburg. The meeting is free and open to the public. Read the PDF file for more information.

The Mound Museum Association preserves the history of the former Department of Energy plant and is located in a former Mound building at 1075 Mound Road, across from the Adena Indian Mound.

Wright Dunbar seeks Walk of Fame names

Nominations for the Wright Dunbar Walk of Fame are open through April 2. The program honors local individuals who have had a positive impact locally, nationally or even internationally with granite pavers in the sidewalks of the Wright Dunbar Business District. A celebration each fall welcomes new inductees.

Download the nomination form here, and go here for a list of people already in the walk of fame.

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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