National Aviation Heritage Area plans major events in 2009
Here is a copy of the NAHA press release.
Dayton, Ohio (17 Dec 08)—The National Aviation Heritage Alliance (NAHA) and its partners will celebrate the Dayton Region’s rich history of aviation and the Wright brothers in 2009 with several special events and programs. The upcoming year marks the 100th anniversary of the Wrights’ Homecoming Parade in Dayton Ohio, where in June 1909 the brothers returned from a very successful trip in Europe to be recognized as hometown heroes. To help commemorate that event, a number of NAHA events will be connected to that “Homecoming” theme. In 2009 NAHA will recognize the 100th anniversary of the Wrights’ sale of their first airplane to the US Signal Corps, establishing aviation as part of the United States military arsenal. The year will see NAHA members participating in a number of air shows both here and abroad, and hosting special programs throughout the Dayton Region.
NAHA partners range from the National Park Service’s Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park to smaller groups like the Experimental Aircraft Association’s chapters located throughout the National Aviation Heritage Area. The broad scope of the activities planned is a reflection of the deep roots of aviation in the area. While the Wrights were responsible for inventing the airplane, many other aviation and aerospace developments were led by pioneers who called the Dayton Region home, such as Warren Grimes, creator of the first aircraft landing light to the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong.
Some of the year’s highlights will include the launching of new Wright brothers replica aircraft and simulators, the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s 2nd Annual REEL STUFF Film Festival of Aviation in March 2009, and a greatly expanded Dayton air show, with United States Air, Trade and Technology Expo taking place in July. In addition, there will be NAHA partners in Europe participating in Wright brother centennial events in the Netherlands. Later in 2009, the Huffman Prairie will come alive with a celebration of the Wright brothers most successful flight of October 5th 1905, when they flew at will over the Prairie and were convinced they had truly perfected the airplane.
A comprehensive list of activities and programs is attached.
The National Aviation Heritage Alliance (NAHA) is a private, not for profit corporation operating as the management entity of the Congressionally designated National Aviation Heritage Area, one of 40 national heritage areas in the United States. NAHA’s vision is for Dayton to become the recognized global center of aviation heritage and premier destination for aviation heritage tourism, sustaining the legacy of the Wright brothers. The National Aviation Heritage Area encompasses an eight county area (Montgomery, Greene, Miami, Clark, Warren, Champaign, Shelby, and Auglaize counties.)
National Aviation Heritage Alliance
Partner Activities and Programs
2009
National Aviation Hall of
Fame
• 2nd Annual Reel Stuff Film Festival, March
12-15, 2009-Four action-packed days of classics,
documentaries and new feature films celebrating the
cinematic people, wonder and joy of flight.
• 48th Annual Enshrinement Ceremony, July 17-18,
2009-Two days of activities associated with the
recognition of the most important individuals in
aviation. Includes the WOW Conference (Wings of
Women) for high school age girls, the President’s
Reception and Dinner and the formal Enshrinement
Ceremony.
Vectren Dayton Air
Show
• 35th Anniversary of Dayton’s premier summer
event, July 18-19, 2009-The USAF Thunderbirds, Tora
Tora Tora, and Patty Wagstaff will headline the
Dayton Air Show in 2009. The Thunderbird appearance
in Dayton will be a “homecoming” as team lead, Lt Col
Greg Thomas, is a Wright State graduate.
• SOAR/A2 will move to a new location in 2009 (the
NAHA Pavilion) and with additional NAHA partners
helping to create a unique educational experience for
children at the Vectren Dayton Air Show.
Wright B Flyer,
Inc.
• Test flight program for “Silver Bird” will
begin in 2009-Wright B Flyer will conduct extensive
tests of its newest Wright replica with plans to have
the new plane certified for flying by mid-summer
2009. The Silver Bird was designed to be
dis-assembled and placed into a standard shipping
container to allow for transportation throughout the
world.
• Wright Simulators-Three new Wright Simulators are
being constructed by Wright B Flyer for use by NAHA
partners. The simulators will complement the existing
simulator located at Dayton Aviation Heritage
National Historical Park’s Huffman Prairie Flying
Field Interpretive Center. The simulators will be
owned by the Alliance and made available to community
groups when requested. It is anticipated the
simulators will be used by NAHA convention and
visitor bureaus at various travel and trade shows to
attract more visitors to the Dayton Region.
• Wright B Flyer will maintain a busy flying and
static display schedule-In 2009 Wright B will be at
Dayton Air Show, Air Force Material Command’s Tattoo
and the USAF Marathon along with numerous other
community events.
Dayton Aviation Heritage National
Historical Park
• 104th Anniversary of Practical Flight,
October 5, 2009-A Wright Flyer replica returns to fly
at Huffman Prairie Flying located at Wright Patterson
AFB, Ohio. Piloted by Mark Dusenberry, the public
will once again have a chance to see first hand what
the Wright brothers experienced when flying in 1905.
In addition to the flight, there will be educational
activities for school children throughout the day,
including edible Wright Flyers, paper helicopters and
model hot air balloons.
• Wright Brothers Homecoming in Wright-Dunbar
Village, June 20, 2009-Join others for music,
ice-cream and a home tour in the neighborhood of the
Wrights’ to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the
Wright Brothers Homecoming in Dayton.
• Aviation Heritage Speaker Series will see a number
of noted speakers from the world of aviation make
presentations at the Engineers Club of Dayton
throughout the year.
Wright Family Foundation
• Landmark of the Wright, 100th
Anniversary of the Dutch Centennial of Flight, June
18-19, 2009-Wright family members will participate in
commemoration of the centennial of the first flight
in the Netherlands with the formal dedication of the
sculpture of a Wright Flyer. The following day, the
Wright family will attend an air show conducted under
the auspices of the Dutch Air Force.
United States Air, Trade and
Technology Expo
• A trade show and technical conference
(Wright Dialogue with Industry) will take place in
the Dayton Region, July 13-18, 2009-The United States
Air, Trade and Technology Expo brings together
leaders in the military, civilian government,
academia, and industry to address challenges and
highlight successes across the aerospace industry
with a keen focus on second and third tier companies.
Historic WACO
Field
• 2009 WACO Homecoming Fly-In, September
18-19, 2009-WACOS and other vintage airplanes are
expected to return to Historic WACO Field from all
parts of the United States.
Ohio Historical Society-Armstrong
Air & Space Museum
• 40th Anniversary of Moon Landing, July 19-
20, 2009-Ohio Historical Society’s Armstrong Air and
Space Museum will celebrate the landing of Wapakoneta
native, Neil Armstrong on the moon. The Summer Moon
Festival on the 19th will take place on the grounds
of the museum with a number of activities planned
including an evening concert. On July 20th, the 40th
anniversary of the landing, the museum will be
selling commemorative covers with special
cancellation by the Wapakoneta Post Office. Special
admission policies will be in effect for the museum
that day.
Aviation Trail
Inc.
• Trailblazer Awards Banquet and Ceremony,
April 2009-Honors the birthday of Wilbur Wright
(April 16, 1867) and presents the Trailblazer Award
to an individual or organization that has furthered
aviation in the Dayton Region.
• National Aviation Day, August 19, 2009-commemorates
both Orville and Katharine Wright’s birthday with a
picnic luncheon.
• First Flight Dinner, December 17, 2009-Annual
dinner celebrates the Wright brothers first flight at
Kittyhawk NC in 1903.
Greene County Historical Society
• 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing,
July, 2009-The Greene County Historical Society will
commemorate the historic landing on the moon with
exhibits at the Society’s headquarters.
Grimes Flying Lab
Foundation
• Mid-Eastern Regional Fly-In, September 12-13
2009-Grimes Flying Lab Foundation will host the
Fly-In at Grimes Field in Urbana, Ohio.
Experimental Aircraft Association
Chapter 284
• Red Stewart Field, Waynesville, Ohio Open
House and Tail Dragger Fly-In, September 5-6,
2009-Chapter 284 will host the public and present an
air show on the evening of the 5th and on September
6, the Tail Dragger Fly-In will commence. A Young
Eagles Rally will take place on the 6th.
Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 36
• Wings and Wheels Fly-In, June 6-7,
2009 at WACO Field, Troy, Ohio
National WACO Club 50th Anniversary Fly-In, June
24-28, 2009 at Wynkoop Airport at Mt. Vernon,
Ohio