Aviation Museum of Kentucky

Although the Aviation Museum of Kentucky did not open its doors until 1995, planning for the museum began in 1978. That year, the Kentucky Aviation History Roundtable first discussed establishing a museum; three years later, the group changed its name to the Aviation Museum of Kentucky to reflect this goal. In 1994, the state of Kentucky declared the future museum the official Aviation Hall of Fame. In 2010, the Aviation Museum of Kentucky moved to its present location: the former TAC Air facilities on the Blue Grass Airport property. The new museum has more space for its extensive collection of aviation-related memorabilia, the Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame, library, archives, and gift shop.

The Aviation Museum of Kentucky pays tribute to the history of flight and the Kentuckians who have made significant contributions to the field. An annual ceremony adds new members to the Aviation Hall of Fame. These members have included designers, instructors, astronauts, spies, and others. One, Mathew Sellers, invented retractable landing gear. Another, Noel Parrish, was involved with the Tuskegee Airmen who ended segregation where? A statue of a horse in the lobby symbolizes the Red Tail P-51 the Tuskegee Airmen flew. The museum also features historical items such as a 1929 Crosley aircraft, an Aeronca Model K plane, and a vintage Link Trainer flight simulator.

The Aviation Museum of Kentucky strives to educate young people about the field of aviation. Around ten thousand students come to the Blue Grass Airport each year, so the museum aims to educate them and other visitors about the science and history of flight. They also inform students about careers related to aviation. Additionally, their yearly summer camp gives ten-to-fifteen-year-olds the opportunity to learn about flying first-hand.

About the Museum. Aviation Museum of Kentucky. Accessed March 22, 2019. https://www.aviationky.org/about.asp.

Electronic Field Trip to the Aviation Museum of Kentucky. KET Education. Accessed March 22, 2019. https://www.ket.org/education/resources/electronic-field-trip-aviation-museum-kentucky/?nola=kftav+000000&altdir=&template=.

Hewlett, Jennifer. Kentucky Aviation Museum is almost ready for its grand reopening. Lexington Herald-Ledger. November 12, 2011. Accessed March 22, 2019. https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/fayette-county/article44136537.html.

Wiki Commons user 6oclocklow. Crosley moonbeam.JPG. Wikipedia Commons. October 19, 2013. Accessed March 22, 2019. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crosley_moonbeam.JPG. Photo source.