The West Milton-based Birth of Aviation Pavilion, now on display at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, finds itself hitting both a high point and a low one in the early months of 2006.
On one hand, the Baltimore venue offers wide exposure for the entire exhibit. The center attracts more than 600,000 visitors annually, and between now and April, a fair chunk of them will have a chance to view replicas of the earliest Wright brothers' aircraft and take a spin on flight simulators.
On the other hand, the exhibit comes during a year when the Wright Brothers Aeroplane Co., which crafted the replicas, is struggling with costs and disappointed by the news that the full exhibit won't be part of the 2006 air show in Dayton.
Air show organizers, citing costs, have declined to put up a 20,000-square-foot, air-conditioned tent to house the exhibit. The air show's Mike Emoff, however, said the show is working on plans to put "key components" of it in the Expo Center with the children's programs.
Nick Engler, director of the Wright Brothers Aeroplane Co., views his pavilion as an ambassadorial project aimed at helping Dayton claim its title as the "Birthplace of Aviation."
But he worries that the fact the air show won't exhibit the display in total is an indication "Dayton doesn't seem very interested in keeping it," he said.
Dayton Daily News
On one hand, the Baltimore venue offers wide exposure for the entire exhibit. The center attracts more than 600,000 visitors annually, and between now and April, a fair chunk of them will have a chance to view replicas of the earliest Wright brothers' aircraft and take a spin on flight simulators.
On the other hand, the exhibit comes during a year when the Wright Brothers Aeroplane Co., which crafted the replicas, is struggling with costs and disappointed by the news that the full exhibit won't be part of the 2006 air show in Dayton.
Air show organizers, citing costs, have declined to put up a 20,000-square-foot, air-conditioned tent to house the exhibit. The air show's Mike Emoff, however, said the show is working on plans to put "key components" of it in the Expo Center with the children's programs.
Nick Engler, director of the Wright Brothers Aeroplane Co., views his pavilion as an ambassadorial project aimed at helping Dayton claim its title as the "Birthplace of Aviation."
But he worries that the fact the air show won't exhibit the display in total is an indication "Dayton doesn't seem very interested in keeping it," he said.
Dayton Daily News
