Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center

10/13/2026

✈️ From WWII Bombers to the Space Shuttle! 🚀

What connects a WWII B-17 pilot and a NASA astronaut? A remarkable father-daughter story spanning two generations of aviation history.

Join us this week on CAF Warbird Tube as astronaut and author Dr. Jan Davis discusses her book Air Born: Two Generations in Flight.

Discover how her experiences in space connect to the story of her father, B-17 pilot Ben Smotherman, who was shot down over Holland in 1943 and spent 21 months as a prisoner of war.

📅 Wednesday, October 14
⏰ 7 p.m. Central
💻 FREE Live Webinar

Don't miss this fascinating conversation about courage, discovery, and a shared passion for flight!

👉 Register to watch LIVE: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8587662359640740441

10/10/2026

We’re still thinking about Girls in Aviation Day last weekend! ✈️💙 One of our favorite events of the year, filled with inspiration, hands-on fun, and the next generation of aviation enthusiasts!

Next up: Aviation Discovery Fest, November 6–7! We hope to see you there! ✨

📸 David Loi

10/02/2026

Reminder: Girls In Aviation Day is rain or shine! We hope to see you all tomorrow! 👩‍✈️

✈️✨ GIAD IS IN 2 DAYS! ✨✈️

Rain or shine, Girls in Aviation Day 2026 is ON! 🌧️☀️ We’re keeping the fun going no matter what the weather has in store. 💙

While weather conditions may affect our static aircraft display, there is still SO much to look forward to! 🎉

📚 Book Nook

🛩️ Flight Simulators

🎨 Hands-on activities

👩‍✈️ Aviation activities & experiences

💫 And so much more!

So grab your rain jacket, bring your excitement, and come spend the day with us! We can’t wait to see you Saturday, October 3rd! ✈️💙

Rain or shine, the adventure continues! 🌧️✈️✨

10/01/2026

The NAEC is fun for all ages! ✈️ We welcome groups of every generation for a day of history, discovery, and fun!

This week, we had a wonderful time hosting a senior group! Thanks for spending the day with us and reminding us that curiosity has no age limit. 💙

Bring your group along for an aviation adventure!

09/24/2026

✈️ Only 9 days until Girls in Aviation Day!

Join Women in Aviation, Intl - North Texas Chapter on Saturday, October 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the NAEC for a FREE day of aviation fun!

Try flight simulators, tackle an aviation scavenger hunt, and meet women working as pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, airport managers, and more. High school girls can also take part in advanced activities and career workshops.

Free registration is still open!💗 https://flynaec.org/event/girls-in-aviation-day-2026-dallas/

09/14/2026

Every artifact, aircraft, and exhibit at the NAEC connects us to the people who lived this history. 🇺🇸

Today, we remember World War II veteran Robert “Bob” Hickman, who recently passed away at 101. Bob served as a B-24 Liberator tail gunner with the 831st Bomb Squadron, 485th Bomb Group, flying 53 combat missions aboard “Flak Shak.”

During a mission over Romania, Bob was seriously wounded when the aircraft was attacked by German fighters. Despite his injuries, he returned to his gun position and helped fight a fire aboard the aircraft. All 10 crew members survived.

We’re grateful to Bob’s family for sharing his story with us and helping us honor the people behind the history we preserve.

09/04/2026

During World War II, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) flew military aircraft, ferried bombers, and helped prove that women belonged in the cockpit.

That legacy continues today. This week, a female flight engineer crewed our B-24, carrying forward the trailblazing spirit of the women who took to the skies more than 80 years ago.

From the WASP of WWII to the women keeping historic aircraft flying today, aviation history continues to inspire the next generation. ✈️

08/26/2026

In honor of National Dog Day, we're throwing it back to this shoot we did with Hounds and Heroes! Paws and planes make a pretty cute combo! 🐾✈

08/22/2026

🚁 The future of aviation is landing at the NAEC!

Join us Wednesday, September 16 from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. for North Texas Drone Demonstration Day—a FREE, interactive event featuring live drone operations, an eVTOL demonstration, flight simulators, FPV racing, hands-on STEM activities, career connections and more!

Come see the technology, meet the professionals and experience what’s next in aviation. ✈️

🎟️ FREE admission!
Learn more & register here, https://flynaec.org/event/north-texas-drone-demonstration-day/

08/19/2026

It's National Aviation Day! ✈️

From the Wright Flyer to today’s skies, more than a century of innovation has changed the way we travel, connect, and explore.

Today we celebrate the pioneers who got us off the ground—and the next generation who will take aviation even further. 💙

Swipe through for a quick flight through aviation history!