What’s New: Aerospace Center for Excellence

Aerospace Center for Excellence

by: Carol Cali

The Lakeland, Florida-based Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE) is on course for a stellar 2021. Having to make a hard pivot as did many non-profits in 2020, the organization is focused on completing its new facility, Project SkyLab, and rolling out its spring and summer programs immediately following the annual SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo in April. ACE has maintained its leadership position in creating teenage private pilots of which 121 have earned their wings through the ACE Scholarship program to date.

In keeping with ACE’s mission to Engage, Educate, and Accelerate the Next Generation of Aerospace Professionals, there are STEM learning opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Destination Aviation Summer Camp returns as an on-campus program for 11-18-year olds. This innovative flightcentric activity is an immersive one-week experience that features a robust hands-on aerospace lineup including meteorology, aircraft restoration projects, ground school, field trips and flight opportunities (as available) for campers. The camps are designed to build upon themselves, starting with a basic understanding of the aerospace industry and moving towards more in-depth and focused aviation curriculum. What campers learn and experience in one camp helps them further their knowledge in the next. Details and dates for Camp Charlie, Bravo and Alpha are on the ACE website, ACEedu.aero. SUN ‘n FUN’s youth camps have a track-record of engaging students that go on to become the pilots, engineers, and maintainers of tomorrow.

ACE will be offering 50% discounts to attend Destination Aviation during the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo. Be sure to visit the STEMFusion tent onsite for more information.

STEMTastic Day Camp for younger aviationadventurers will return in 2022. Check the website, ACEedu.aero in the future for more information about this program for younger aspiring aerospace candidates.

Can’t wait for the summer? ACE has educational videos available on its website for anyone to enjoy. Checkout last year’s Virtual Destination Aviation 18part series. Produced in conjunction with GLEIM, this virtual series delivered the of basics flight instruction, aviation-based field trips, and interviews with various aviation professionals. These videos are available on the website at ACEedu.aero/summer-camps/virtualdestination-aviation/ or YouTube. Students can also check out STEMChats, an educational video series created by ACE’s own instructors. The lineup includes hands-on activities, understanding the world of flight, and a “day in the job” segment showcasing various aviation-based careers. This video series is available at ACEedu.aero/stem-chats.

As 2021 progresses, many of the 20-30 unique ACE programs will be restarted including workshops for educators, first flight opportunities for students, museum programs, and more. Keep an eye on ACE’s social sites and website for the latest updates.

Project SkyLab, the 22,000 sq. ft. expansion that increases the Florida Air Museum’s footprint to 60,000 sq. ft., is targeted for completion this summer and will feature a state-of-the-art STEM Innovation Center. SkyLab will be a gathering hub of emerging technologies that includes 5 classrooms to accommodate daily, multiple school field trips. The new facility will add exciting opportunities for student engagements using evolving technology such as holographic projection, real-world laboratory learning experiences, and more. Be sure to schedule a visit to the Florida Air Museum located on the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus to see for yourself the exciting learning tools that have been added via SkyLab. Engaging over 50,000 students a year through onsite activities and outreach programs, the addition of SkyLab will enable the ACE staff to increase the quality of its programming for even more students in a dynamic learning laboratory environment. You can donate to SkyLab and other ACE initiatives by visiting ACEedu.aero/donate/.

For those with physical disabilities and a passion of flight, the Spirit of Lakeland, a specially designed student-built Zenith 750 Cruzer experimental aircraft will enable them to take to the skies. This new ACE program was slowed during COVID, but the commitment to complete the custom-built aircraft in order to continue the joint-venture with ABLE Flight remains intact. The aircraft is in the certification phase and is expected to be flying very soon. The program will be taking on student pilots later in 2021.

The aerospace industry’s growth hasn’t slowed and neither has ACE. The organization is committed to providing educational programming and scholarships that prepare tomorrow’s aerospace professionals as well as provide aviation experiences for all individuals including those with challenges. A complete overview of all of the ACE programs are listed on their website. At the Aerospace Center for Excellence, the sky is just the beginning!

About Aerospace Center for Excellence, Inc.: The Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, has emerged as a nationally recognized leader in STEM-related and aerospace education through its various learning centers, outreach programs, summer camps and scholarships aimed at preparing students for tomorrow’s aerospace challenges. Located on the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus in Lakeland, Florida, the organization is known for its annual SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo fundraising event as well as the Florida Air Museum, which is Florida’s Official Aviation Museum and Education Center. ACE is the world’s leader in producing licensed teenage private pilots and delivers youth programs that engage over 50,000 students a year. For more information, ACEedu.aero.