Aviation
Our Aviation Heritage
Home of the Wright brothers and long known as the Birthplace of Aviation, the Dayton, OH region is now recognized as the
National Aviation Heritage Area (NAHA) in honor of the region’s leadership in our nation’s aviation history. Highlighted at their excellent and informative website at www.aviationheritagearea.org, there is a lot of great information about our abundant local aviation heritage - in fact, upon visiting NAHA, you can grasp the significance of the region and come away with a new appreciation of one of America’s greatest stories. Today, it continues that heritage as one of the most significant regions in the world for aviation advancement.
Some Tipp-Area historical aviation sites:
WACO Museum and Airfield
Whether the sky was filled with the drone of biplanes or the silent shadow of gliders, this aircraft company figured largely in the history of Troy as it made history in the world. And now the museum, once located in downtown Troy, has been moved to the historic Airfield, expanding and modernizing in the process. Find out who, how and what was involved, and see where the WACO planes return to their birthplace in a colorful display of historic flying machines every August. WACO field serves as their landing site on its grass flying field. Also located at the field is a reproduction of a vintage barn hanger and an antique aircraft restoration facility that will transport you back to the days of the biplane. For more information on the Weaver Aircraft Corporation of Ohio, see the Wikipedia entry.• Located 5 miles from Tipp City at 1865 South County Road 25-A, Troy, OH 45373. Phone: (937) 335-9226. www.wacoairmuseum.org. Hours: May-October Sat-Sun 1-5.
Grimes Flying Lab
Armstrong Air and Space Museum
Wright Flyers 1899-1905 at Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company
National Museum of the Air Force and National Aviation Hall of Fame
Get a sweeping view of Air Force and military aviation progress at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the largest and oldest museum of its kind in the world. You’ll discover more than 300 aircraft and aerospace vehicles on display, many rare and one-of-a-kind. In addition, you’ll find thousands of historical aviation artifacts, along with powerful sensory exhibits that bring military aviation history to life. • Located 20 miles from Tipp City at 1100 Spaatz Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433. (937) 255-3286. www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.
Huffman Prairie Flying Field
Wright B Flyer
Wright Cycle Company
Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park
This site commemorates the work of Orville and Wilbur Wright. These former bicycle shop owners may have flown their first plane in North Carolina (”First in Flight”!), but they created it in their hometown of Dayton, Ohio.
Distance: 14 miles. Google Map. More Information: www.nps.gov/daav
Leave a Reply