Gaffney_tight

About me

I'm an aviation writer and children's author living in Miamisburg near Dayton, Ohio. This website is where you can find more information about my books, including supplemental resources for teachers and students. I'll also post some information about myself and my interests, especially aviation heritage, general aviation and aerospace technology in the Dayton region.

The dry details

Current positions
Trustee, United States Air and Trade Show
Trustee, Wright “B” Flyer Inc.
Marketing/Communications Council, Aviation Heritage Foundation
Volunteer, Five Rivers Metroparks

Professional experience
1985-2006: Aviation writer, Dayton Daily News, Ohio (retired December 2006)
1979-1985: Feature writer, Dayton Daily News
1978-1979: Writer/associate editor, Kettering-Oakwood Times, Ohio
1974-1978: Reporter, Piqua Daily Call, Ohio

Education
B.A. journalism, The Ohio State University, Columbus, 1974

Most recent book
Wee and the Wright Brothers, Henry Holt & Co., New York, NY, 2004

Most recent feature article
“A Magnificent Man and his Flying Machines,” p. 90, Private Air magazine, August/September 2007

Hobbies
Flying, backpacking, photography
Newspaper stories online
Most of my stories have disappeared from the Dayton Daily News website since I retired from the newspaper at the end of 2007, but copies of some linger elsewhere in cyberspace. Here's a few that I've found:

Cooperation vital for military, civilian experts
Dayton Daily News, 3/8/2006

Experts search for centers of ‘innovative thinking’
Dayton Daily News 2/20/2006

RFID shows off its technology
Dayton Daily News, 2/7/2006

Region to compete for billions
Dayton Daily News, 2/3/2006

General details lab chief’s exit
Dayton Daily News 12/6/2005

City one of first to offer Internet service free
Dayton Daily News 2/24/2005

Wright-Pat medics, others describe new kind of battle
Dayton Daily News 9/5/2005

Wright-Pat medics still shaken by Katrina trip
Dayton Daily News 8/29/2005

Nanotechnology moves from lab to marketplace
Dayton Daily News 2/27/2005

One last mission; Ex-POW flies MIA remains home
Dayton Daily News 5/22/2004

Wright flyer look-alike takes to air
Dayton Daily News 3/12/2003

Loitering EW killer may take flight
Dayton Daily News 2/4/2002

Feds close hill, prohibit peeking at ‘secret’ base
Dayton Daily News 4/11/95