On Saturday, March 16th, 2013 from 10am to 5pm, the Kansas Aviation Museum opened the new Boeing: Science, Math and History Learning Center, an interactive center that features flight simulators, a weather station, educational learning stations, each with a wide array of education related software, play area, a mock control tower with live radio connection to a Cessna 210 simulator and much, much more. Support for the center also came from the Lattner Family Foundation and the City of Wichita.
Visitors to the center can use a computer aided design system to design an air foil and then test the air foil in a virtual wind tunnel. Or they might actually build the air foil and test it in a real wind tunnel. With a focus on aviation education but also S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), this center will be the place for learning and fun. Fly an RC helicopter or sit in the cockpit of an iconic Wichita plane.
Perfect for school tours, scout campins, home school visits and much more, the center will also be home to new Kansas Aviation Museum Director of Education, Cory Fuqua. Mr. Fuqua has worked with the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama and the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, helping to build thriving education programs for visitors to both museums.
"This is an incredible milestone for our organization," stated Lon Smith, KAM executive director. "With the opening of this center we’ll be able to deliver a much more robust educational product across a wide range of ages."
Over the next year, the Kansas Aviation Museum will launch a new kids club, merit badge programs, home school initiatives, senior programs and a host of other activities intended to advance aviation and S.T.E.M. learning. Along the way, regular visitors to the museum can utilize the center for both play and learning.
During the March 16th opening, annual family memberships were available at a ten dollar discount or $55 per membership. Such a membership entitles parents and all children living in their household and/or grandparents and all grandchildren to complimentary admission for one full year including access to the new Boeing: Science, Math and History Learning Center.
The Kansas Aviation Museum is located at 3350 S. George Washington Blvd., Wichita,KS 67210.