dayton trip

Dayton Day Trip

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UNDER CONSTRUCTION 6Jan2024 Feedback welcome.

On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, we will be visiting various historical and educational sites in Dayton, Ohio.

This morning, we travel to Dayton, Ohio

Please note that there is considerable walking and standing on solid, level surfaces at the 19-acre museum. Benches are located throughout the museum. Complimentary wheelchairs and battery-power scooters are available. There is moderate walking and standing at the interpretive center and cycle company.

1️⃣ Visit the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the world's oldest and largest military aviation museum.

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The museum started in 1923 when technical artifacts were collected. Over the years, the museum has been housed in four different buildings until 1971 when the first hangar was built.

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The second hangar was opened in 1988, the third hangar opened in 2003, and the fourth hangar opened in 2016.

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The museum has more than 360 aircraft and missiles on display. Among the items on display are the Apollo 15 Command Module, which orbited the moon 74 times in 1971, one of four surviving Convair B-36 Peacemakers, the only surviving North American XB-70 Valkyrie, and the Boeing B-29 Superfortress that dropped the Fat Man atomic bomb on Nagasaki during the last days of World War II.

📍 Main Entrance:

Maps of the museum are available.
Free guided tour schedules for each building as well as the schedule for the Air Force Museum Theater.
Complimentary wheelchairs and battery-power scooters are available on a first come-first served basis.
The museum gift shop.
The Valkyrie Café on the mezzanine level above the gait shop is available for lunch. Elevator service is available.

📍 Air Force Museum Theater (not far away from the Main entrance)

Shows 45-minute videos on a 6-story screen.

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There is a $10 charge for the theater presentations.

📍 Each of the four buildings houses specific galleries, as follows:

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Experts recommend ten exhibits you must see at the museum. You'll find them in the descriptions of each building below.

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Building 1:

Early War Years Gallery and World War II Gallery.

Wright 1909 Military Flyer Early Years Gallery This is a reproduction of the Wright Brothers' military aircraft.
Boeing B-29 Superfortress World War II Gallery This is the aircraft that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki during World War II.
North American P-51D Mustang World War II Gallery This was one of WWII's most iconic flight planes, with engines made by the Allison Engine Company in Speedway.
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (Memphis Belle) World War Gallery This heavy bomber was used during WWII and was one of the first bombers to complete 25 combat missions in Europe.

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Building 2

Korean War Gallery and Southeast Asia War Gallery.

Sikorsky HH-3E Jolly Green Giant Southeast Asia War Gallery This helicopter was used for combat search and rescue missions during the Vietnam War.

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Building 3

Cold War Gallery.

Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird Cold War Gallery Building Three This is a legendary reconnaissance aircraft that held several speed and altitude records.
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit Cold War Gallery Building Three This aircraft is a stealth bomber known for its unique flying wing design.

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Building 4

Missile Gallery, Space Gallery, Presidential Gallery, Research and Development Gallery, and Global Reach Gallery.

North American X-15A-2 Space Gallery Building Four This manned rocket-powered aircraft set several altitude and speed records in the 1960s.
Boeing VC-137C Air Force One Presidential Gallery Building Four This aircraft was Air Force One from 1962 to 1972, carrying Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. This is also the aircraft where President Johnson was sworn in as President and transported the body of President Kennedy following his assassination in 1963.
Bell X-1B Research and Development Gallery Building Four This aircraft was the first to break the sound barrier in level flight in 1947 and was piloted by Chuck Yeager.

2️⃣ Visit the Wright-Dunbar Interpretative Center.

The Center’s exhibits provide insight into the lives of the Wright brothers. The brothers started their careers as job printers and operated their print shop at this location. Paul Dunbar wrote the Dayton Tattler, and it was printed here.

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Right next to the Interpretative Center is the Wright Cycle Company.

They worked in downtown Dayton from 1892 to 1909. They used this location, their fifth, from 1895 to 1897. The Wright brothers made their own bicycles here. This experience helped them learn about mechanics and earn the money they needed to experiment with powered flight.
Of the six Wright Cycle Company locations, only this one and another one in Dearborn, MI are still around. The other four have been torn down.

3️⃣ Enjoy dinner at the Olde Richmond Inn.

We travel from Dayton to Richmond and enjoy dinner at the Olde Richmond Inn. This restaurant, which has been in operation for 30 years, is located in a house built in 1892.

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Return Journey Details and Expected Arrival Time at Hoosier Village

We plan to arrive at Hoosier Village around 7:30pm.

Cost of the tour: $159.00 per person

This includes round-trip luxury motorcoach transportation, visits to the mentioned locations, dinner at the Olde Richmond Inn, appropriate gratuities including the driver, and Avion Tours escort throughout the trip.

Reservations

We need a minimum of twenty-five reservations for this tour to operate.

Payments

You can pay by credit card by calling Cathi at Avion Tours (317-459-7634) or by check mailed to Avion Tours, 1421 Cherry Tree Road, Avon, IN, 46123.

The final payment date is Friday, November 1, 2024. For reservations received after this date, a $10.00 service fee will be added to cover the cost of updating the reservations at the various locations.

Please note that there will be no refunds after the final payment date.