The Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center (NAEC) is the flagship of the American Airpower Heritage Museum (AAHM), an affiliate of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). The AAHM and CAF are two of four organizations that comprise the American Airpower Heritage Group; the CAF is often used as shorthand.
With more than 175 aircraft spread amongst 78 units in 28 U.S. states and four countries, the CAF owns and operates the world's largest collection of flying vintage military aircraft. Our combined educational outreach impacts millions of Americans annually through school presentations, airshows, flight demonstrations, living history reenactments, community events, and other activities.
The CAF’s mission is to Educate, Inspire, and Honor through flight and living history experiences, which the NAEC complements with its parallel mission to Honor the past, Empower the future.
Opened in November 2021, the NAEC is a 47,000-square-foot facility home to the Charles McGee and Don Hinz Theater, the Arsenal of Democracy Hall, the world’s largest collection of authentic aviation Nose Art from World War II, and more historical artifacts. There is also a wood and metal workshop, a state-of-the-art meeting space, and classroom space in the James C. Ray Education Wing.
As part of our mission, we create and deliver much-needed hands-on educational opportunities for students of all ages to succeed in a competitive global environment. The focus is to provide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education programs emphasizing critical 21st-century skill sets so students can become the next generation of innovators, aviators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.