February Open Kids Labs: Ready to Soar
February’s Open Kids Labs will be buzzing with hands-on, drone-inspired STEM activities that spark curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving:
- exploring electronic circuits
- building a 3D Mars Ingenuity helicopter model
- assembling a drone tangram puzzle
- creating and experimenting with different drone models in the lab’s wind tunnel
- completing drone activity sheets
Each activity is inspired by these NAHF Enshrinees, who have shaped unmanned and autonomous flight:
- Eileen Collins: Helped deploy SPARTAN satellites and autonomous payloads that collected data independently, early examples of space-based drones
- Dr. Min Kao: Advanced autonomous flight through Garmin innovations such as Autoland, influencing modern drone and UAV technologies
- Sam Barlow Williams: Pioneered miniature jet engines for drones and unmanned aircraft
- Carl Lukas Norden: Developed precise aircraft control systems that laid the foundation for unmanned and remotely controlled flight
- Paul B. MacCready, Jr.: Supported NASA research using unmanned aircraft for atmospheric science, communications, and high-altitude flight
- John Goglia: International aviation safety authority who analyzed drone incidents and shared airspace safety considerations
- Charlie Bolden: Expanded NASA research in unmanned and autonomous flight, helping integrate drones safely with piloted aircraft.
Can’t make it to the Lab this month? You can still explore with us from home. The National Aviation Hall of Fame’s “Discovering Flight” at-home activities make it easy for families to stay curious, creative, and engaged wherever learning happens.
This month, kids can explore drone-inspired challenges, build and experiment with hands-on projects, and dive into interactive games from the NAHF Aviation Adventure Collection:
- “Drone Science” from Curious Crew and PBS Kids
- Build a drone at home with the help of a grownup
- Build and fly a drone paper airplane with an inverted V-tail fin
- NAHF & PBS Kids Aviation Adventure Collection February Science Saturday: Taking Flight!
February Science Saturday: Taking Flight!
Join us at the Joe Clark Innovation Lab on Saturday, February 21, for an exciting, hands-on adventure the whole family will love. We’re welcoming a special guest from Sinclair College’s Unmanned Aerial Systems Department, giving kids the opportunity to see drones up close, ask questions, and watch a live demonstration.
Throughout the day, visitors can take on drone-inspired challenges, build and experiment with hands-on projects, and play interactive games from the NAHF Aviation Adventure Collection.
Join us in the Discovering Flight Theatre
We’ll watch an NAHF short film featuring Teddy Tzanetos, NASA Martian Helicopter Pilot, as he explains what it’s like to fly drones on another planet. Shows at various times throughout the day.
