FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT:  Nancy Royer, 937-335-9226

The Wings and Dreams Campaign has been recently initiated by the local WACO non-profit organization to support the remaining construction for the partially-completed new education building located on WACO property next to the WACO Air Museum and WACO Airfield on the west side of Troy along State Route 25A.

In making the announcement, Nancy Royer, Executive Director, said “Since 1923, WACO has been a high-profile part of the local community, representing innovation, creativity and excellence.  President Clayton Brukner was an aviation pioneer and inventor, who started and led the WACO Aircraft company to prominence as the top manufacturer of civil aircraft in the US…which are still considered the best of their type ever built.”

Royer pointed out that current WACO education programs were developed years ago on that rich history to meet a significant need for STEM-related learning … and quickly filled.   (This year, there were 10,000 hours of instruction for 2000 participants.) Young people, pilots, and others have benefitted from WACO programs academically and professionally…with many going on to be engineers, pilots, cyber specialists, and other specialized careers. A unique benefit of the WACO programs is structured mentoring by the teaching professionals along with the education process.

Current STEM-related programs, which will significantly benefit from the new facility, include UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) instruction and operation, robotics courses and teams who compete, the Aviation Cadet program, young engineering opportunities, STEM summer camps, and other unique learning programming.     

Increased enrollment and limited space created the need for the new facility.   She said WACO was inspired by the original vision and generosity of Thom and Pat Robinson whose $1 million gift started the design and construction of the 17,000-square-foot building.   However, work was slowed, and then stopped due to a combination of original campaign shortfall, prolonged COVID closure issues, and increased construction costs.

But now, Royer emphasized, plans are being finalized for construction work to resume with the support from the Wings and Dreams Campaign which already has some funds pledged.  She pointed out that, over the past few weeks, a visible next step in the project, the water line hook-up between the building and the highway, was initiated and is now nearly complete.

Community members who are interested in more information about the WACO Wings and Dreams Campaign and the education facility project should stop by WACO, or contact Nancy Royer, Executive Director, at 937-335-9226 or at execdir@wacoairmuseum.org