Volunteer

Opportunities at the Museum

Passion & Participation

Our Guiding Principles

Passion & Participation are among the Museum’s guiding principles, and we believe in creating volunteer opportunities to give members of our community a way to share their passion for aviation history, by participating in its preservation! We are honored to count a large number of veterans among our volunteers, but we also welcome those with no prior service experience to join our ranks.

Hours our Volunteers have logged since the Museum’s founding

Most Hours Logged by a Single Volunteer

Currently active volunteers

New Volunteers have joined the Museum this year

Interested in Volunteering?

We appreciate your interest in volunteering at the Military Aviation Museum. Volunteers are the backbone of many of our programs, and help to ensure that our guests enjoy their experience at the Museum. Volunteers support the safe operation of our aircraft collection, provide tours, and work regularly with our education department. Volunteering at the Museum can be a great way to meet people with similar interests, to share your love of history, and to serve one of our community’s most visited attractions.

Complete and submit an application to receive an invitation to the next monthly volunteer orientation class.

Complete the volunteer application here

Youth Volunteers

The Museum accepts youth aged 16 to 17 years as volunteers working on guest briefings, hangar security, assisting with tours, and supporting the museum's hands-on educational STEM programs. Complete the application and receive an invitation to the next available monthly volunteer orientation class. An adult guardian must accompany the youth applicant to the orientation class.

Shelagh Erskine

Shelagh Erskine, the museum's 2023 'Volunteer of the Year,' is an indispensable member of the Monday and Sunday shifts. Her contagious smile and charm greets visitors in the Army Hangar where she loves to tell the story of the Night Witches during WWII.

Brooks Boatwright

Shift Supervisor on Wednesdays, Brooks has drawn together a wonderful group of volunteers that regularly support tour groups at the Museum. A steadfast leader, Brooks also co-chairs the Volunteer Advisory Committee at the Museum, and edits a newsletter for his fellow volunteers.

Bob Finley

Bob can regularly be found providing guided tours of the Museum to our visitors, but he also works hard to support youth activities and educational events. Throughout the years he has built props and teaching aids, as well as run activity stations during Planes, Trains and Santa, our annual Christmas event.

Red Calkin

Indispensable to the museum over the years, Red and Dennis have provided a great deal of support through their Woodshop - Meeting museum case-building needs, constructing a link trainer, developing new exhibit areas, and helping to repair the doors on our WWII control tower!

Dennis Evans

Volunteer Benefits & Responsibilities

Museum Volunteers staff the Museum floor and its hangars and galleries; their primary role is answering questions, and directing visitors. Additionally, volunteers also serve as:

Ambassadors for the Museum, whether as Greeters to welcome guests, or by answering the phone and guest questions at the Information Desk.
Docents and Tour Guides, trained to give guided tours through the Museum to visitors, as well as visiting school groups and scheduled tour groups.
Aircraft Handlers, work with the collection and provide ground crew functions for operating Museum aircraft.
Occasionally other departments at the Museum will have opportunities for volunteers, in administrative or educational capacities.

Please note that although Museum Pilots are volunteers, applications are not handled through the Volunteer department.

Volunteers receive recognition based on the number of volunteer hours provided to the Museum, as well as being eligible for special departmental awards once a year at the volunteer dinner. Volunteers are eligible to take flights in Museum aircraft as part of an hours-based reward structure.

Volunteer Portal

Already a Volunteer and need to access training materials?

Go To The Volunteer Portal