Pilot Passport connects visitors to the region’s aviation history

AOPA is the largest organization for general aviation in the United States, Mackensie Wittmer, executive director of NAHA, said.

“This is the first time AOPA has had non airport sites in their passport and I believe that acknowledges the importance of the sites that we have here,” she said.

The National Aviation Heritage Area encompasses eight counties in Ohio including Montgomery, Greene, Miami, Clark, Warren, Champaign, Shelby and Auglaize counties.

Download AOPA’s free Pilot Passport app to check into a combination of airports, museums and other locations in the heritage area that have historical aviation significance and earn points that lead to badges.

Visit a combination of 10 museums and 10 airports and First Flight Airport in Kill Devil Hills, NC to earn a gold National Aviation Heritage Area badge.

Those who check in at eight each will earn a silver badge and four will earn a bronze badge.

The passport is not only for pilots or AOPA members. Any aviation enthusiast can visit the sites and use the passport to earn badges.

“They will find one of a kind experiences and sights that share the authentic story of the creation of aviation they cannot experience anywhere else in the world,” Wittmer said.

The free app can be downloaded here.

Visiting and checking in at these Dayton-area airports and sites will count toward the badges:

Landing facilities

Museums and historic sites