Aim High: Soaring with the Tuskegee Airmen

Inspired by the tools and tasks connected to airplanes and flying, the interactive exhibits explore STEM concepts through the lens of the pioneering airmen’s Six Guiding Principles Aim High: Soaring with the Tuskegee Airmen features the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) exhibition Black Wings: American Dreams in Flight. Together, the tour represents a unique opportunity to gain insight into WWII and the history of aviation through interactive, playful experiences.

Included in the exhibit:

• COCKPIT FLIGHT TRAINER: Get an up-close view of the inside of a Cock Pit Flight Trainer. Watch videos of the plane taking off and landing from the captain’s seat advantage point. This life-size Cock Pit Flight Trainer is perfect for dramatic play and also includes a row of actual airplane seats.
• DRESS-UP, LIGHT-UP PHOTO-OP MIRROR: Choose the outfit of one of the many jobs necessary in the aviation and aeronautics industries. See yourself as a pilot, a mechanic, engineer, ground-crew or flight attendant. Be whoever you want to be.
• LAND THE PLANE RADAR MAZE: Tilt the table to roll the ball through the maze while avoiding other aircraft in the sky, like an Air Trac Controller. Take a breath, concentrate and see how long it takes you to land your airplane.
• FLYING MACHINES IN MOTION: Bring drawings of flying machines to life using this praxinoscope, an early form of animation. From DaVinci’s flying machine to hot air balloons and rockets, this creative and interactive device lets users spin pre-made illustrations and view them in motion on the mirrored display above.
• WEARABLE WINGS & RUNWAY RUN: Assemble your own pair of wearable wings and then try them on for size before racing down the runway. Learn what the numbers and letters on the runway mean and imagine where you will go.
• AIRPLANE HANGAR TABLE: Assemble a P51 Mustang using Discovery Cards to learn facts about the iconic airplane and how to create your own mini-version.
• MAGNETIC TANGRAMS: Explore the six principles of the Tuskegee Airmen through tangrams. These seven piece geometric puzzles make shapes representing these principles and share the stories behind each one.
• VIEW FINDER: Scroll through an interactive slide show featuring the historical images of the Tuskegee Airmen and their airplanes, as well as the generations of men and women who followed in their footsteps.
• AIRPLANE LAUNCHER: Using just paper and tape, design and build your own custom airplane. Then, take it to the flight table and use a plunger launcher to propel the plane into the air
• ARTIFACT DISPLAYS: Dive into aviation history by exploring historical artifacts and information panels on display. Learn about the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and their influence on the future of the aviation

Exhibit is recommended for ages 4-14. All ages welcome.