The new EAA Education Center opened earlier this month in Oshkosh. Located at the EAA Aviation Museum’s Eagle Hangar, the 30,000-sq-ft facility is designed to further develop aviation education and training, and it is the first addition to the EAA Aviation Center in more than 20 years. The $6.2 million project was funded via a dedicated capital campaign and features the Pilot Proficiency Center, a youth education center, and the EAA conference center.
“Part of EAA’s mission is to grow aviation participation by promoting the spirit of aviation, and I think we are doing just that with the educational and technological advancements that we now have available in this new facility,” said Jack Pelton, EAA chairman and CEO.
The Pilot Proficiency Center features 16 Redbird flight simulators and will help bring new pilots into aviation and allow pilots to work on improving their aeronautical decision-making skills. The 15,000-sq-ft youth education center provides children, parents, and teachers access to interactive and project-based activities designed to inspire the next generation of aviators. It has five hands-on tech labs and four modifiable classrooms.
Primary support for the EAA Education Center expansion is from the Ray Foundation, David C. Lau Estate, and an anonymous donor. Additional support came from the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust, The Brown Family, Hank Menke, Jim Gorman, Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation, Juan Rodriguez, The JEK Foundation, Global Aerospace, Henry and Louise Timken Foundation, The Ward J. and Joy A. Timken Foundation, William Knighton, Richard VanGrunsven, JT Grainger, Emily Sensenbrenner, John Lee, and Kathleen Lowrance. Through July 31, additional gifts of support for the center will be matched up to $600,000 from an unnamed sponsor.