Cleared for Takeoff

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When students come to the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center in Horseheads, NY, the word is WOW! That's because the mission control classroom looks like something right out of the space program. Working with the Government Services Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration, Wings of Eagles was able to acquire excess air traffic control consoles when the consolidated Potomac Approach Control was formed. The cabinetry literally looks "out of this world" and the scopes have been replaced by flat screen monitors. Now when students sit in this high tech control center, they are working with networked computers that reach across the world and beyond.

It's all about STEM education. Wings of Eagles leverages its extensive collection of aircraft and this unique "mission control" to present exciting, realistic aerospace problems for students to solve. This recently caught the attention of Dr. John King, Commissioner of Education for New York State, who visited to observe "Summer of Innovation", a six week STEM program that has attracted over 400 students to Wings of Eagles this summer. Wings of Eagles President, Mike Hall, remarks that "it's amazing how excited to learn our students are. The FAA surplus air traffic control stations have added an unprecedented degree of realism that is very engaging. They really facilitate inquiry based learning! Hats off to the FAA for their support of our mission!"

Dr. John King, Commissioner of Education for New York State, visits “Summer of Innovation