The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on July 21 honored Charles Taylor as the first aviation mechanic by unveiling a bronze bust of his likeness for permanent display in the museum's Early Years Gallery.

Hired by the Wright brothers in 1896, Taylor was a gifted mechanic who worked from the Wright brothers' sketches and instructions to design and build the novel aluminum-block engine for the first Wright Flyer.

The Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Association (AMTA), a non-profit organization created in 2002 to promote Taylor for his contributions to aviation, commissioned Dayton artist Virginia Hess to create the bust for the museum.

AMTA Founder Ken MacTiernan unveiled the bust in a ceremony with Taylor's grandson Reuben and great-grandson Charles II.

Please read the museum's news release for more information.

Air Camp wrapped up the last of its three summer camps on July 18. The week-long camps inspired 127 students who came from 21 states across the U.S. and also Saudi Arabia and Switzerland. A fourth of the students were female and 18 percent were minorities, according to Executive Director Ken Curell.

Dayton International Airport is now an air camp supporter, and this year the camps added a behind-the-scenes tour of its baggage screening area in which the students were exposed to the engineering and technology involved in the handling, screening, sorting and delivery of passenger bags. They put an Air Camp decorated bag on the belt behind the passenger counter and were able to track it from the counter area to the baggage cart. (The bag was not loaded onto an aircraft.) 
 
"We had three absolutely beautiful days to fly our students and everyone of them left the airplane wanting to do more, despite some trepidations beforehand," Curell added.

Please visit aircampusa.com for more information.

See Dayton the way the Wright brothers did--from the seat of a bicycle. Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park offers Bike-with-a-Ranger tours. Here are the dates for upcoming rides:


Hawthorn Hill Tour
8 miles 
10:00 a.m. - noon
July 27, August 17
 
Visit the post-1914 home of Orville, Milton, and Katharine Wright. Learn about life with the Wright family, and Orville's experiences in this historic home. Moderate hills.

Paul Laurence Dunbar Tour
10 miles
10:00 a.m. - noon
August 10
 
Tour the final home of the famous poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar, where Paul lived with his mother Matilda until his death in 1906. Explore the Wolf Creek Trail and sections of the Great Miami River Trail.
 
Huffman Prairie/Mad River Tour
14 miles
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
August 31
 
The ride will start out from the Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center along the Huffman Prairie Trail (parking/restrooms available) to Deed's Point and McCook Field and back along the Mad River Trail. This 14 mile round trip will also include a stop for a picnic, so make sure to pack a lunch.
 
Important Information
- To register for a tour, call 937-225-7705 or email    ryan_qualls@nps.gov.
- Registration is required at least seven days prior to each tour.
- Arrive 20 minutes before each tour for sign-in and orientation.
- Riders should be in good physical condition and feel comfortable shifting gears.
- Inclement weather may cause tour cancellation.
- Huffman Prairie Flying Field can close without warning because it is located on an active military installation.
- Participants must bring their own bicycles and personal gear, including snacks or lunch. Proper wear of helmets is required.
- Bicycles must be in good operating condition and are subject to safety inspections.

NATIONAL AVIATION HERITAGE AREA

www.leaderinflight.org

Wright-Patt ties for No. 1 base in U.S. (Dayton Daily News)

Air Force Museum honors Charles Taylor with bronze bust (WDTN)

Barnstorming Carnival draws a crowd in Springfield (WYSO)

Apollo 11, 45 years later: What's the mission? (Wired)

Col. Cassie Barlow says farewell (Xenia Gazette)

GE Aviation joint venture sees record for jet engines (Cincinnati Enquirer)