An effort to preserve the original Wright Brothers airplane factory got a boost Wednesday when Governor John Kasich signed the state’s 2014 capital budget. The historic site could become part of Dayton’s national aviation park system.
Demolition has already started at the former Delphi plant on Home Avenue where the Wright Factory is located. The National Aviation Heritage Alliance hopes to purchase the historic buildings and 20 surrounding acres. A private developer owns the land now.
Tony Sculimbrini with the Heritage Alliance says the $250,000 dollar earmark from the state moves the project in the right direction, but there’s a lot more money to raise.
The executive director said, "It's immensely helpful when you can tell a potential donor that this is important to the state, it'll clearly help our private and philanthropic fundraising efforts as well."
The Heritage Alliance also thinks the world’s first airplane factory could be a draw for a modern day aerospace company in search of land to develop.
After the old Delphi buildings are demolished, the 34 acre property next to the Wright Factory will be looking for a new tenant.
