WEST CHESTER, PA — Helicopters, hands-on STEM activities and conversations with aviation professionals will give young people a closer look at careers in flight and aerospace during Girls in Aviation Day at the American Helicopter Museum & Education Center.
The museum’s annual event returns Sept. 19 as part of its GIST — Girls in Science and Technology — program, with a day designed to introduce students to the wide range of opportunities available in aviation, aerospace engineering and related technical fields.
Participants will be able to explore aircraft displays, take part in STEM activities and meet representatives from organizations, companies and institutions connected to the aviation industry.
A panel discussion with industry professionals will also give students the chance to hear how people working in aviation built their careers, what drew them to the field, and what steps young people can take if they want to follow a similar path.
The museum describes the event as an opportunity to “celebrate, empower, and inspire the future generation of aviators.”
Event Details
- What: Girls in Aviation Day
- When: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Where: American Helicopter Museum & Education Center, 1220 American Blvd., West Chester, PA 19380
- Cost/Tickets: $15 per person; free for museum members. Admission includes general museum admission for the day.
- More Info: https://www.helicoptermuseum.org/event-details/girls-in-aviation-day-2
For students who have wondered what it takes to become a pilot, engineer or other aviation professional, the event offers something more tangible than simply reading about those careers.
By putting young people face to face with professionals and giving them opportunities to experiment through hands-on activities, Girls in Aviation Day is intended to make the industry feel more accessible and its career paths easier to imagine.
The setting adds another layer to the experience. Visitors can spend the day surrounded by the American Helicopter Museum’s aircraft collection while learning about the science, engineering and people behind aviation.
For families, the event offers an educational Saturday outing with a larger purpose: helping young people see that careers in aviation and aerospace are not distant possibilities, but fields they can begin exploring now.
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