{{For|the organization operated by the National Park Service|Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park}} {{Use American English|date=May 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox organization | name = Aviation Trail | logo = | image = | image_alt = <!-- see WP:ALT --> | caption = | map = | established = {{start date|1981|8|3|df=y}} | founders = {{Unbulleted list|Mary Ann Johnson|Jerry Sharkey}} | defunct = <!-- use {{end date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | type = Nonprofit | purpose = <!-- humanitarian, activism, peacekeeping, etc. --> | coordinates = {{coord|39.7560|-84.2117|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Ohio | owner = <!-- or |owners = --> | leader_title = <!-- defaults to "Leader" --> | leader_name = | website = {{URL|http://www.aviationtrailinc.org}} | former_name = }}
The '''Aviation Trail''' is a non-profit organization and heritage trail located in Dayton, Ohio focused on Ohio aviation history.
== History == The Aviation Trail was founded by a group of individuals including Jerry Sharkey and Mary Ann Johnson on 3 August 1981. The organization acquired one of the Wright Brothers' bicycle shops located at 22 South Williams Street and the nearby Hoover Block, where they operated a print shop, in 1982. A booklet of 45 sites was published in 1986 and, following restoration, the bicycle shop opened to the public in 1988. After the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park was established in 1992, the Hoover Block was sold to the National Park Service and opened in 2003 as its visitors center.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Martel |first1=Mark |title=Mary Ann Johnson—On the Aviation Trail |url=http://www.daytoninnovationlegacy.org/maryannjohnson.html |website=Dayton Innovation Legacy |access-date=22 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=Mary Ann |title=The First Fifteen Years: 1981-1996 |date=October 1996 |publisher=Aviation Trail, Inc. |location=Dayton, Ohio |pages=7–8 |url=http://www.aviationtrailinc.org/_files/ugd/0d9eb3_7aa97e33c620409bafd116f6ff00f4c3.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Langer |first1=Emily |title=Gerald S. Sharkey, protector of Wright brothers history, dies at 71 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/gerald-s-sharkey-protector-of-wright-brothers-history-dies-at-71/2014/04/11/ae5b3b6a-c0be-11e3-bcec-b71ee10e9bc3_story.html |access-date=22 May 2025 |work=Washington Post |date=11 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413082512/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/gerald-s-sharkey-protector-of-wright-brothers-history-dies-at-71/2014/04/11/ae5b3b6a-c0be-11e3-bcec-b71ee10e9bc3_story.html |archive-date=13 April 2014}}</ref>
== Exhibits == The organization also operates the '''Parachute Museum''' located on the second floor of the visitor center. The museum acquired two adjacent buildings in 2016 and announced plans for its expansion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parachute Museum |url=http://www.aviationtrailinc.org/parachute-museum |website=Aviation Trail, Inc. |access-date=22 May 2025}}</ref>
== Programs == The Aviation Trail provides a brochure with a list of 16 sites. Visiting 8 of the sites on the trail allows visitors to exchange their brochure for a "Wilbear Wright" teddy bear.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trail Sites & Wilbear Wright |url=http://www.aviationtrailinc.org/trail-sites |website=Aviation Trail, Inc. |access-date=22 May 2025}}</ref>
=== Sites === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Number ! Name |- | 1a | Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center and Aviation Trail Visitor Center |- | 1b | Parachute Museum |- | 1c | Wright Cycle Company |- | 2 | Paul Laurence Dunbar House |- | 3a | Wright Brothers Memorial |- | 3b | Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center |- | 3c | Huffman Prairie Flying Field |- | 4 | Carillon Historical Park |- | 5 | National Museum of the United States Air Force |- | 6 | National Aviation Hall of Fame |- | 7 | Hawthorn Hill |- | 8 | Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum |- | 9 | Wright "B" Flyer |- | 10 | Wright State University |- | 11 | WACO Air Museum |- | 12 | Armstrong Air & Space Museum |- | 13 | Champaign Aviation Museum |- | 14 | Grimes Flying Lab |- | 15 | Tri-State Warbird Museum |- | 16 | Butler County Warbirds |}
== See also == * Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.aviationtrailinc.org}} * [http://www.archive.org/details/fieldguidetoflig0000john A Field Guide to Flight: On the Aviation Trail in Dayton, Ohio] on Internet Archive
Category:1981 establishments in Ohio Category:Aviation organizations based in the United States Category:Heritage trails Category:Non-profit organizations based in Ohio