Aviation Trail, Inc.
A non-profit corporation
in partnership with the
National Park Service
to promote Aviation Heritage
in the Dayton region
Home of the largest
private parachute collection.*
Events and Projects: 2017 Events
April 8, 2017 -
The Celebration of Wilbur Wright's 150th Birthday
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Sinclair Community College
UAS Indoor Flying Pavilion
Guest Speakers:
Dr. Andrew Shepherd and Dr. Ronald Storm
Sinclair National UAS Training and Certification Center
The event was held in the UAS Indoor Flying Pavilion at Sinclair Community College (Building 18) and the Sinclair National UAS Training and Certification Center (Building 13) was also open for viewing. The program featured two speakers from the Sinclair UAS program, Dr. Andrew shepherd and Dr. Ron Storm. See the event page for photos and a report.
ATI's Celebration of the 113th Anniversary of FIRST POWERED FLIGHT in 1903 honoring the Wright Brothers that was originally scheduled for December 17, 2016 had to be postponed due to unforseeable circustances. This April 8 event is the "rescheduling" of ATI's celebration, and since the date is close to the 150th anniversary of Wilbur Wright's birth (April 16, 1867) the theme is now a "Celebration of Wilbur Wright's Birthday" as well as a belated celebration of the first flight.
August 11, 2017 - Runway Fest
The 6th Annual Runway Fest was be held on Friday, August 11, 2017 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport. Attractions included music, food booths, fireworks, vendors, inflatables, and the Wright B Flyer. Admission and parking were free. The event started of a bit slowly after the rain but grew to what may have been the largest crowd ever. Aviation Trail's display was well attended and kept things very busy.
The slideshow at the left has some photos from the Aviation Trail display area, as well assorted photos from around the event.
Photos © Aviation Trail
August 19, 2017 - Celebration of Orville and Katharine Wright Birthdays
Saturday, April 19, 2017
Dayton Metro Library
1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
To celebrate the mutual birthdays of Orville and Katharine Wright on Saturday, Aug. 19, Aviation Trail, Inc. (ATI) toured the new $64 million Dayton Metro Library.
See slideshow of photos from the event at right.
The tour was free with free parking underneath the library with access from St. Clair Street.
The library's Dayton Room, where valuable artifacts related to Wilbur and Orville Wright are archived, was a highlight. Archivist Bill McIntire talked about the room and had on display various memorabilia from Wilbur and Orville Wright.
Everyone shared the Wright's birthday cake in one of the buildings many conference rooms.
The new library exists because of the generosity of Montgomery County taxpayers who voted "yes" to a $187 million levy to improve library facilities throughout the system. Thanks to all who came out to enjoy this jewel in the crown of the Dayton Metro Library system.
September 9, 2017 - AERO Carnival
The National Park Service's AERO CARNIVAL was held on Saturday, September 9, 2017. It took take place on Huffman Prairie Flying Field, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The event was free to all. 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of Wilbur Wright field and McCook Field. For a report on the event, and more picutres, click on the button above to go to the AERO CARNIVAL page.
November 8, 2017 - Aviation Trail Annual Meeting
At left: Photos from the 2017 ATI Annuial Meeting on November 8. The meeting featured a presentation of a proposal for the future development of the historic buildings which it acquired in 2016. The buildings, directly east of the of the current Aviation Heritage Building in the Hoover Block of West Third, will be repurposed as the ATI HANGAR (Fish Market) 1042 West Third St. and the AVIATION EXPERIENCE GALLERY (Pekin Theater) 1036-1038 West Third St.
Photo above: The Pekin Theatre is the building on the far left, and the Fish Market is the smaller building to its right.
CLICK HERE to see the "New Building Plans" page with more details.
December 16, 2017 -
Trailblazer Award and
114th Anniversary of the First Powered Flight
One evening = Two Celebrations!
114th Anniversary of Powered Flight
100th Anniversary of McCook Field
McCook Field was an airfield and aviation experimentation station in Dayton, Ohio, operated by the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps, and its successor the United States Army Air Service from 1917 to 1927. It was named for Alexander McDowell McCook, an American Civil War general and his brothers and cousins, who were collectively known as “The Fighting McCooks.” A huge sign painted across the front of McCook’s main hangar prominently warned arriving pilots: THIS FIELD IS SMALL - USE IT ALL.
Hope Hotel, WPAFB
December 16, 2017
Above photo: Major W. Schroeder set 30,900-foot, two-man altitude record in a Packard-Le Peré LUSAC-11 Biplane at McCook Field, 24 September 1919
See more details on the 2017 Trailblazer Award and the 114th Anniversary of Powered Flight celebration on the Event Page by clicking the button on the left.
See below for reports on events from 2016.
Events and Projects: 2016 Events
April 15, 2016 - ATI Trailblazer Award
The trail's annual Trailblazer Awards Banquet and Ceremony 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 greater Miami Valley. Held annually since 1983. This year's award luncheon was held at 11:30 a.m., Friday, April 15, at the Hope Hotel and Conference Center. Click the button above to see the report of the 2016 recipients.
August 12, 2016 - Runway Fest
See a slide show of photos from the 2015 Runway Fest. Click on the "Runway Fest" button under "2015 EVENTS" below.
The 5th Annual Runway Fest was held on Friday, August 12, 2016 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The free event was hosted by Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport, commander Aero, the Wright "B: Flyer, and Aviation Sales on Springboro Pike, Miamisburg. A variety of activities: band music, fireworks, balloon ascents (weather dependent), vendors, food booths, and more. See http://www.flydayton.com/events/
August 19, 2016 - ATI Celebration
Aviation Trail, Inc. traditionally hosts a social event for all of its members on Aug. 19, the mutual birthdays of Orville and Katharine Wright, and also the date of National Aviation Day. The event this year was a celebration at the Aviation Trail Visitor Center at 16 S. Williams Street. It l began at 1:00 PM with a brief press conference and the official announcement of the acquisition of the historic Pekin Theatre, followed by an ice cream social and tour of the facility. Click on the button above for more details.
.
September 10, 2016 - AERO Carnival
The National Park Service's AERO CARNIVAL was held at Huffman Prairie on Saturday, September 10, 2016. This free event will included a multitude of activities throughout the day, from 10:30 to 1:30. Click the button above to see photos from the event.
December 17, 2016 - Event Rescheduled
ATI's Celebration of the 113th Anniversary of FIRST POWERED FLIGHT in 1903 honoring the Wright Brothers was originally scheduled for December 17, 2016. Due to unforeseeable circumstances, the event had to be postponed, and is now scheduled for April 8, 2017. Since that date is close to the 150th anniversary of Wilbur Wright's birth (April 16, 1867) the theme will be a "Celebration of Wilbur Wright's Birthday", as well as a belated celebration of the anniversary of powered flight.
See the 2017 events list above for updates on the April 8, 2017 event.
See below for reports on events from 2015.
Events and Projects: 2015 Events
Click on the appropriate button to go to that page.
April 15, 2015 - ATI Trailblazer Award
August 7, 2015 - Runway Fest
August 16, 2015 - ATI Picnic Basket Event
September 12, 2015 - AERO Carnival
December 17, 2015 -
Celebration of the 112th Anniversary of First Powered Flight