Every February, Black History Month evokes a few iconic names in aviation, most notably the Tuskegee Airmen of  World War II fame and Bessie Coleman, the first black woman pilot. This year, the Frontiers of Flight Museum, the Texas Eagles for Aviation and Claude R. Platte DFW Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen have partnered to bring a special Black History celebration to the North Texas community that highlights the achievements of these and other extraordinary African Americans aviation heroes past and present.   

This two-day event will be held at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, 6911 Lemmon Ave., and begin with engaging educational activities for more than 300 area middle school students on Friday, Feb. 22. Following on Saturday, Feb. 23 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. museum guests will enjoy a presentation on the “State of Aviation” featuring a panel of distinguished African American aviators, historians and aviation administrators. This event is open to the general public with paid admission to the museum. 

The Black History Month Celebration at the Frontiers of Flight Museum will feature pioneers, modern aviators and space age pilots. Special guests and presenters include documented Tuskegee Airmen, an artist who paints African American aviators, and a pilot trained by Chief Alfred Anderson, widely considered to be the Father of Black Aviation. The event will also include an array of military and corporate, aviation pilots, as well as representatives from the Aerospace industry.

Following Saturday’s panel discussion on Feb. 23, attendees may also participate in a special drawing for a $250 certificate for a Discovery Flight and Discovery Briefing. The raffle prize will be presented by Major Alejandro House, a distinguished Marine pilot who now serves as a corporate pilot for Bell Helicopter and flies the world’s fastest corporate jet – the Cessna Citation.

The Frontiers of Flight Museum, a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate, is a gem in our North Texas community that attracts over 100,000 visitors annually including 30,000 students. The Museum is a learning laboratory using aviation and space flight to encourage and promote student excellence in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).  Educational classes for all ages are offered throughout the year, designed to excite the imagination in STEM through spacecraft design, aerodynamics, model-building, space science, and other disciplines.

Hours of operation: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Admission: Adults $8; Seniors (65+) $6; Youths/Students (3-17) $5 and children under 3 are free. 

For more information, click here or call Inez Clark at (214) 364-1103.