The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum, based in Atchison, Kansas, has announced that Boeing and Bombardier are teaming up on a new museum. The new facility, named after aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart will focus on teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics or STEM and will have the support of other luminary aviation firms such as FedEx, Garmin, and the firm that built most of Amelia's airplanes - Lockheed Martin.

“Our vision is to inspire future generations in the pursuit of flight”

3-AmeliaEarhartStatue in Front of Museum
Graphic: Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum

The new Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum in Atchison, Kansas – the birthplace of Amelia Earhart – is not just intended to honor Amelia's many contributions to aviation, but also educate visitors on potential aviation careers. In the words of Karen Seaberg, founder and president of the Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation,

It’s a tremendous honor to have the support of aviation leaders like Boeing and Bombardier who continue Amelia’s enduring legacy of innovation and share our vision to inspire future generations in the pursuit of flight.

To that end, the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum intends to allow guests to:

  • See Muriel — the world’s last remaining Lockheed Electra 10-E and identical to the airplane used in Amelia Earhart’s circumnavigation attempt.
  • Enter a full-scale replica of Muriel’s cockpit to experience what it was like to be inside the aircraft described as Earhart’s “flying laboratory”
  • Explore a digitized version of Amelia’s mechanic logbook
  • Try on Amelia’s various careers (via augmented reality) as a mechanic, nurse, pilot, and fashion designer
  • Go “above the clouds” to explore celestial navigation, radio waves, and atmospheric conditions
  • Trace 3D holograms to explore technological advances in aviation
  • Pilot a virtual reality flight in Earhart’s Lockheed Vega 5B to try navigating the same challenges Earhart faced during her 1932 transatlantic flight
  • Vote on theories about what happened to Earhart on her attempt to fly around the world

The exhibits were created to meet National Curriculum Standards, Kansas Curriculum Content Standards, and Missouri Standards of Learning. Professionally developed Teacher Guides will be available to support field trips.

The museum will also offer, at $100+tax, the ability to take an hour-long virtual tour. These virtual tours will allow visitors to virtually connect with a member of our staff to hear stories about Amelia Earhart, see exhibits, answer questions, and more.

Support from the aviation industry

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Graphic: Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum

Aviation industry partners spoke about how their investment would grow the pool of future aviation workers. As Tonya Sudduth, Head of US Strategy, Bombardier, explained;

“We are thrilled to support the new Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum and believe it will have a great impact on the community through its innovative and educational exhibits — inspiring young people to explore the many exciting possibilities and future career paths available in aviation and aerospace.”

Cheri Carter, vice president of Boeing Global Engagement, expounded on the benefit the partnership with Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum would bring. For Carter, this is about connecting courageous history with future opportunities, as she explains below:

“Amelia’s courage and spirit of adventure will inspire the next generation of aviators, explorers and innovators to continue breaking new boundaries in aerospace. Through this exciting partnership with the new Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum, we are proud to be part of sharing this incredible story and supporting and developing the innovators of the future.”

What are your expectations for the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum? Please share with civility in the comments.

Sources: Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum