Dayton to host aviation writers

A dozen aviation media professionals with national or international audiences will get an exclusive, in-depth look at many of the Greater Dayton region’s nationally important aviation heritage sites, during the Aviation Writers Summit, Sept. 30-Oct. 2.

The first National Aviation Heritage Alliance (NAHA) Aviation Writers Summit Presented by Dayton International Airport will feature exclusive tours of 12 aviation heritage sites in the eight-county National Aviation Heritage Area.

The summit will include a welcome program and dinner in the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force and the adjoining National Aviation Hall of Fame Learning Center. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Tom D. Crouch, senior curator of aeronautics at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., a Dayton-area native and a NAHA trustee; a reception and tour at Hawthorn Hill, Orville Wright’s mansion in Oakwood, hosted by descendants of the Wright brothers; orientation flights in the Champaign Aviation Museum’s B-25 Mitchell bomber Champaign Gal at Grimes Field Airport in Urbana and on the Wright B Flyer at Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport in Miami Township.

“We believe Dayton should be a must-see destination for all aviation enthusiasts, and we hope these writers and editors will spread the word about our aviation heritage treasures worldwide,” said Susan Richardson, a NAHA trustee and summit chairwoman.

According to Jacquelyn Y. Powell, president and CEO of the Dayton Convention & Visitors Bureau, “The Dayton CVB is excited to support and be a part of this cooperative effort to host aviation writers from esteemed aviation publications and outlets. We believe the articles they produce will help generate more aviation related convention and leisure business for our community. Not only will this help define Dayton as an aviation mecca on the world map, it will help drive tourism and convention dollars into our community.”

The event is timed to coincide with the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s annual enshrinement ceremony on Oct. 2, and several summit participants have elected to extend their visits to cover the enshrinement.

“This is exactly the kind of interest in NAHA partner sites and events that we hoped this summit would spark when we began planning it nearly a year ago,” said Ron Kaplan, Hall of Fame enshrinement director.