SCULPTURE GIVEN NEW LANDING SPOT

Wright Brothers will go into storage until new landing place is ready.

The Wright Flyer III sculpture across the street from RiverScape MetroPark, a destination for tourist photos and locals honoring Dayton’s contribution to flight, is being moved to a new location.

Steve Brown, a partner at Brown and Bills Architects, designed and installed the monument back in the early 2000s and was on hand Friday for the first part of its move. The sculpture will eventually be placed near the Third Street Bridge, but, for now, the plan is to keep it at an undisclosed storage location.

Brown said a new owner of the land where the sculpture’s been for years plans to build a six-story apartment complex there.

The sculpture is of Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first flight with the Wright Flyer III. Brown said the aircraft was described as the first practical airplane and was flown in the first extended flight by the pair.

While the sculpture may lose some foot traffic because of the move, Brown said there’s a parking lot next to where the sculpture will be located, and other monuments will be in the area with it.

“There are opportunities for people to get out and walk up to it and do photographs and enjoy it,” Brown said.

Brown said it was important to him to be personally involved in the move. He wanted to make sure that it was being taken care of properly and that it is still something that people will be able to appreciate for the years to come because it is important to recognize Dayton’s contribution to aviation.

PHOTOS BY JIM NOELKER / STAFF On Friday, workers for Schumacher Crane moved the Wright Brothers lll sculpture that has been on Monument Avenue across from RiverScape Metro Park for 19 years. The sculpture is moving to the west end of the Third Street bridge to make room for a six story apartment building.

Wilbur Wight looks up for his brother, Orville Wright but the Wright Flyer lll was gone. Actually, the famous sculpture is moving from Monument Ave. to a spot near the Third Street bridge in the future.