Wright State to celebrate namesakes

Wright State University will honor the “innovative spirit” of its namesakes Monday during the third annual Wright Brothers Day celebration.

The student-organized event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the student union atrium marks the anniversary of Wilbur’s 39-minute flight on Huffman Prairie in 1905, according to the university.

The program will include historical and technology displays, food and an 11 a.m. keynote address by retired Lt. Gen. Jack Hudson, director of the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Wright brother impersonators Tom Benson and Roger Storm, who work at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, will also attend.

Innovative projects from Wright State researchers and organizations will also be on display, including: the Living Laboratory from the College of Nursing and Health; Calamityville, the National Center for Medical Readiness; a smartphone app that reads an individual’s health, designed by Kno.e.sis, an Ohio Center of Excellence; and examples of aerial surveillance technology.

The Wright State Research Institute will highlight its neuromedical imaging program, and attendees can explore WSRI’s groundbreaking work with the help of the Wright State Brain Scan app, an augmented reality program that features a 3D virtual brain, according to Wright State.

Students also can fly like Wilbur and Orville by trying out the Wright “B” Flyer Simulator, supplied by the National Aviation Heritage Alliance, a local nonprofit organization, according to Wright State.

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