NATIONAL AVIATION HERITAGE ALLIANCE

For Immediate Release
Contact: Tony Sculimbrene, (937) 475-7627, afs@aviationheritagearea.org

Dayton’s aviation heritage partners plan for 2009.

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 follow in a seperate post.

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.)