The parachute museum was initially opened in 2003. It was completed recently with the help of a $95,000 federal grant obtained in 2009 through the Washington-based Institute of Museum and Library Services. The grant supported new or improved exhibits about McCook Field, the former military aviation research site in Dayton; Wright Field, a former center of Air Force parachute research; NASA’s use of parachutes, and the late Dave Gold, who compiled an extensive collection of parachutes and related materials that was donated to Aviation Trail.
Aviation Trail placed Gold’s papers, photographs and films with Wright State University, which maintains them in archives open to the public.
For more information, contact Aviation Trail president Marvin Christian at (937) 275-5271 or go online to www.aviationtrailinc.org.