Aviation Student Day 2026 is a free, high-energy day of industry and innovation created exclusively for Oklahoma aviation high school students. This one-of-a-kind experience brings together the past, present, and future of flight in an immersive, full-day event designed to inspire the next generation of aerospace leaders.
Students will explore aerospace history, hear directly from representatives of NASA, and engage with today’s aerospace professionals who are shaping the future of aviation and space exploration. Industry speakers will share real-world insights on career pathways, emerging technologies, and the critical role young innovators will play in advancing flight.
Throughout the day, students will connect with aerospace companies, vendors, and organizations actively seeking new talent, offering a unique opportunity to build relationships, ask questions, and discover future career possibilities.
Aviation Student Day 2026 is more than an event. It is a launchpad for Oklahoma’s future in aerospace.
Event Itinerary
| Time | Group A | Group B | Group C |
| 9am | Display Aircraft | Career Fair | Exhibit Hall Speaker |
| 10am | Planetarium Speaker | Display Aircraft | Career Fair |
| 11am | Lunch | Planetarium Speaker | Display Aircraft |
| Noon | Classroom Speaker | Lunch | Planetarium Speaker |
| 1pm | Beyond Boundaries | Classroom Speaker | Lunch |
| 2pm | Exhibit Hall Speaker | Beyond Boundaries | Classroom Speaker |
| 3pm | Career Fair | Exhibit Hall Speaker | Beyond Boundaries |
| Group D | Group E | Group F | |
| 9am | Beyond Boundaries | Classroom Speaker | Planetarium Speaker |
| 10am | Exhibit Hall Speaker | Beyond Boundaries | Classroom Speaker |
| 11am | Lunch | Exhibit Hall Speaker | Beyond Boundaries |
| Noon | Career Fair | Lunch | Exhibit Hall Speaker |
| 1pm | Display Aircraft | Career Fair | Lunch |
| 2pm | Planetarium Speaker | Display Aircraft | Career Fair |
| 3pm | Classroom Speaker | Planetarium Speaker | Display Aircraft |
Guests Speakers
John Aaron
NASA Engineer – “Steely-Eyed Missile Man”
Known as the “Steely-Eyed Missile Man,” John Aaron is celebrated for his critical problem-solving during the Apollo 12 and Apollo 13 missions. As a NASA flight controller and electrical systems expert, his quick thinking helped save lives and missions, making him one of the most respected engineers in NASA history.
Tom Hanchett
NASA Flight Systems Engineer, Apollo Era
Tom Hanchett is recognized for his role as an INCO (Integrated Communications Officer) during the Apollo era — responsible for managing communications links between the spacecraft and Mission Control. His experience in mission operations and flight systems adds a crucial layer of insight into how NASA coordinated unprecedented space-flight challenges.
Jim Kelly
NASA Engineer – Apollo 13 Power Systems
Jim Kelly served in NASA’s Mission Control as the Vehicle Systems Staff Support Room (SSR) engineer specializing in electrical power systems. Alongside John Aaron, he sketched the critical power-up timeline when the Apollo 13 spacecraft suffered a systems failure — helping pave the way for the crew’s safe return.
Bill Peters
Lead TELMU Engineer, Apollo 13
Bill Peters served as the Lead TELMU (Telemetry, Electrical & EVA Mobility Unit) engineer during the Apollo 13 mission. His oversight of the lunar module’s electrical and life-support systems was essential when the LM became a lifeboat after the service module explosion. Peters’ discipline under pressure and technical acumen were key elements in the mission’s ultimate success.
Steve Smith
Director of Flight Systems, Blue Origin
Steve Smith serves as the Director of Flight Systems at Blue Origin, where he leads efforts in developing next-generation launch systems and flight technologies. A key figure in commercial spaceflight innovation, Smith’s leadership helps drive Blue Origin’s mission to expand humanity’s access to space.
important information
- Limited Availability
- First come-First Registered (Must complete all forms to reserve spot)
- No cost
- Bring sack lunches
- Additional adults that are not school employees (parents, etc.) must pay full admission and cannot be included in the free admission for the girls and teachers per grant expenditure guidelines. Parents are encouraged to purchase tickets online to expedite check in process.
Event Sign up Request Form
Before your visit...
WAIVERS
Every student that comes on a trip to TASM needs to have a signed liability waiver on file. This waiver includes a section on our photography policy. Waivers will be part of the registration packet you receive following your Availability Request Form submission.
LUNCH
Unfortunately, TASM does not have any sort of cafe on site to purchase a meal. You are more than welcome to pack lunches and eat on site, though!
SUPERVISION
Students must remain under the supervision of a chaperoning adult at all times. TASM staff is available to help facilitate your visit, but we cannot provide supervision for you.
ARRIVAL + CHECK-IN
Please arrive no more than 10 minutes before your scheduled trip time. Remaining paperwork is due upon check-in.
More Information about our Offerings
Museum Tour
Booking a group trip at TASM is the only way to get a personal guided tour with one of our experienced docents, who share their stories of their time in the aviation industry as they explain exhibits, help the students with our interactive exhibits, and take the students through our American Airlines MD-80!
Teachers can also choose to have their students do a self-guided tour complete with a scavenger hunt designed to get those students reading and learning from the exhibits.
Most groups spend about 45 minutes in the museum, but there is no time limit for your group! Tours can last anywhere from 15-60 minutes depending on age group and interest level.
Planetarium Show
The James E. Bertelsmeyer Planetarium provides an exciting educational experience by pairing stunning high-definition visuals with state of the art technology in a fully-immersive theater atmosphere. In addition to daily screenings of full-dome videos, we also present interactive programs ranging from basic astronomy to earth science. TASM’s planetarium inspires curiosity seekers to explore our universe and discover the wonders of Earth.
For more information about our planetarium group and educational offerings, please fill out the Field Trip Request form found above.
Shows range from 35-50 minutes. The show descriptions linked above will offer more insight to each specific show.
