Helping the Next Generation Take Flight

Wichita is known as the Air Capital of the World, and the Kansas Aviation Museum helps preserve the history behind that title. Located in Wichita’s original municipal airport terminal, the museum connects visitors with the people, innovations, and stories that helped shape Kansas aviation.

But preserving history is only part of the mission. The museum is also investing in the future, helping young people discover the science, creativity, and possibilities behind flight. Through its exhibits and expanding educational programs, the Kansas Aviation Museum is making aviation history accessible to a new generation.

Preserving Our Aviation Heritage

The Kansas Aviation Museum does more than display historic aircraft. It preserves the stories and achievements that have made aviation such an important part of our community. Visitors can explore aircraft and aviation artifacts, discover the contributions of aviation pioneers, and learn about the people who helped establish Wichita as a leader in the industry.

The museum also maintains historical records, including photographs, original documents, drawings, and aircraft blueprints. These archives help researchers and future generations understand how aviation has evolved and the role Kansas has played in that history.

For a community with such deep roots in aircraft manufacturing, preserving this history means keeping an important part of Wichita’s identity alive.

Inspiring the Next Generation

That commitment to the future is especially visible in the museum’s growing educational programs.

In October 2026, the Kansas Aviation Museum opened Runway to Innovation Powered by Bombardier, a new interactive learning space designed to help children explore aviation through hands-on activities.

Young visitors can experiment with paper airplane designs, explore flight simulators, create their own aircraft designs, and learn about concepts such as aerodynamics and aircraft weight and balance. Rather than simply reading about how airplanes work, children have opportunities to experiment, build, and discover for themselves.

These activities introduce students to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) in an engaging, approachable way. They also encourage skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

The new space is part of the museum’s broader Where Dreams Take Flight education wing initiative, which is being developed in phases to expand educational opportunities for learners of different ages.

The goal is bigger than teaching children about airplanes. By giving young people opportunities to explore new interests and develop practical skills, the museum can help them discover possibilities they may never have considered, including future careers in aviation, aerospace, and engineering.

Learning Through Play

The museum also offers Little Aviators, a recurring program that gives younger children opportunities to explore aviation through stories, crafts, themed activities, and creative play.

Designed for preschool and elementary-age children, the program makes learning accessible to families while encouraging curiosity from an early age. Children can begin exploring the world of flight long before they are old enough to think seriously about a career.

Programs like these demonstrate how museums can serve as more than places to preserve the past. They can also create experiences that help children understand the world around them, ask questions, and imagine what they might accomplish in the future.

A Community Effort

Keeping history alive and creating new learning opportunities takes a community. Volunteers contribute their time and skills to help preserve historic aircraft, welcome visitors, and support the museum’s work. Donors and community partners also play an important role in making educational initiatives possible.

There are several ways to support the Kansas Aviation Museum’s mission. Community members can visit the museum, become members, make a donation, or volunteer their time. Families can explore the exhibits together, while educators and school groups can take advantage of opportunities to bring aviation learning into the classroom and beyond.

The Kansas Aviation Museum reminds us that preserving our history is also an investment in our future. By celebrating the achievements of those who came before us and giving the next generation opportunities to explore, create, and learn, the museum is helping Wichita’s aviation legacy continue to take flight.

Learn more about the Kansas Aviation Museum, plan a visit, or discover ways to support its mission at kansasaviationmuseum.org.