Embry-Riddle Collaborates with Museum of Arts & Sciences for Aviation Exhibition

Since 1903, when the Wright brothers embarked on their inaugural flight, leaps and bounds have been made in our ability to conquer the skies, propelling ourselves to new heights while continuing to push the boundaries of aeronautical development.

The new exhibition highlights selected artifacts through the presentation of various propeller designs, an array of engine types, and even an entire next-generation aircraft —  the Embry-Riddle Eco Eagle, the world’s first direct-drive, hybrid-gas/electric aircraft — altogether representing many eras in aviation history. This display has been made possible through the extensive collection on loan from Embry-Riddle, the world’s largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace.

Embry-Riddle students, faculty, and staff are admitted free to the Milestones in Aviation exhibit, tours, and lectures with Eagle ID card, and always receive free museum admission.

Through the years, MOAS and Embry-Riddle have shared many fruitful collaborations, including students volunteering during museum events, professors delivering thought-provoking lectures in the Planetarium, and the development of a three-dimensional poster exhibition of celestial objects with the university’s Physical Sciences Department.

“As an alumnus and trained pilot from Embry-Riddle, I feel extremely privileged to be curating this exciting exhibit for MOAS,” said MOAS Curator of Astronomy, Seth Mayo. “We hope to inspire children and adults alike on the wonders of aviation technology through the amazing collection we have chosen from my alma mater. This is truly a passion project for me.”

The curation of the Milestones in Aviation exhibition is the most ambitious partnership to date, striving to expand on the rich history of aviation that has made flight ubiquitous in everyday life. The artifacts on loan not only help tell an interesting aviation story, but also serve as a reminder of the influence that Embry-Riddle has on aviation advancement through its cutting-edge research and in training pilots, aviation maintenance technicians, engineers, and professionals working in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

“As the world’s largest and most respected university specializing in aviation and aerospace, we are proud to be able to share our historic artifacts with the community and inspire the next generation of innovators,” said Embry-Riddle President Dr. P. Barry Butler. “We hope museum visitors enjoy the journey through aviation’s past and are riveted by the ground-breaking research we are pioneering through the engineering of environmentally sustainable aviation and unmanned aerial vehicles.”

Milestones in Aviation: From the Collection of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will be on display in the Museum’s Ford Gallery through March 4, 2018.

Special Lectures and Tours

Throughout the span of the Milestones in Aviation exhibit, a variety of tours and lectures will explore various aspects of aviation and the exhibit itself. They are free for MOAS members or are included with paid museum admission.

Wednesday, Jan. 10
3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Milestones in Aviation Presentation Alpha: A First Look
Join Curator of Astronomy, Seth Mayo, as he takes you on an inaugural tour of the Milestones in Aviation exhibit in the Ford Gallery. Learn how certain significant inventions and technologies propelled aviation to a new frontier through the fascinating objects on loan from Embry-Riddle and other private collectors. You will get a chance to view the Eco Eagle, developed by Embry-Riddle, on display inside the gallery and learn how it became the world’s first direct-drive, hybrid-gas/electric aircraft. Along the way, you will encounter jet and radial engines, propellers, vintage aircraft paintings, and the "Oktocopter" – all part of Embry-Riddle’s vast collection of aeronautical artifacts.

Thursday, Jan. 18
4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Milestones in Aviation Presentation Bravo: Exploring Embry-Riddle’s Research and Development
Learn how Embry-Riddle is taking aviation to new frontiers. Join Dr. Richard “Pat” Anderson, Director of the Embry-Riddle Eagle Flight Research Center and Professor of Aerospace Engineering, as he discusses environmentally sustainable aviation and the cutting-edge research his department is involved with, especially the Eco Eagle aircraft, on display in the Milestones in Aviation exhibit. After his lecture in the Planetarium, Dr. Anderson will conduct a short tour through the gallery to discuss the objects.

Saturday, Jan. 27
4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Milestones in Aviation Presentation Charlie: Aircraft Engines and Airframes Through Time
Explore the rich history of aircraft engine and airframe development through the fascinating objects found in the Milestones in Aviation exhibition. Charles Horning, Associate Professor and Chair of the Aviation Maintenance Science Department at Embry-Riddle, will conduct a tour through the gallery as he discusses the various engine designs, propeller types, and aircraft wings on display.

Saturday, Feb. 3
3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Milestones in Aviation Presentation Delta: A Second Look
Join Curator of Astronomy, Seth Mayo, as he takes you on an interactive tour of the Milestones in Aviation exhibit in the Ford Gallery. Learn how certain significant inventions and technologies propelled aviation to a new frontier through the fascinating objects on loan from Embry-Riddle and other private collectors.

Thursday, Feb. 15
4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Milestones in Aviation Presentation Echo: Aircraft Engines and Airframes Through Time
Explore the rich history of aircraft engine and airframe development through the fascinating objects found in the Milestones in Aviation exhibition. Charles Horning, Associate Professor and Chair of the Aviation Maintenance Science Department at Embry-Riddle, will conduct a tour through the gallery as he discusses the various engine designs, propeller types, and aircraft wings on display.

Saturday, March 3
3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Milestones in Aviation Presentation Golf: A Last Look
Join Curator of Astronomy, Seth Mayo, as he takes you on the last interactive tour of the Milestones in Aviation exhibit in the Ford Gallery. Learn how certain significant inventions and technologies propelled aviation into a new frontier through the fascinating objects on loan from Embry-Riddle and other private collections.