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For everything you need to know about Purdue Aviation Day 2024.

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 Parking and Transportation

No Ticket Necessary 

Driving to the event?

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to read about our parking and shuttle options.

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Flying to the event?

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to read about our GA Fly-In.

Purdue Aviation Day is a free-to-the-public event, put on by student leaders within Purdue University's School of Aviation and Transportation Technology. 

More questions?
Click below to visit our FAQ page  

Prohibited Items 

The following items are prohibited on event premises: -Weapons -Alcoholic beverages -Tobacco products and E-cigarettes -Noisemakers and irritants - Folding chairs - Glass bottles - Shakers or strobe lights - Pets (except registered service animals) - Bicycles

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Event

Schedule

Time
Event
Location
9:00 AM
Event Gates Open
Entrance sponsored by Purdue Aviation LLC
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Panel: Young Professionals in Aviation
NISW 149
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Panel: Celebrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Aviation
NISW 149
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Purdue Pete & Boilermaker Special Appearance
Ramp
11:30 AM - 12:10 PM
Welcoming Ceremony
Main Stage
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
Heather "Lucky" Penney: My Aviation Journey
Ramp
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
A-10 Demo Team Aerial Demonstration
Ramp for best viewing
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Aerial Demonstrations
Ramp for best viewing
2:10 PM - 2:50 PM
JET BOSS: Captain Laura Savino, from Purdue to United Airlines
NISW 149
3:00 PM - 3:40 PM
FAA Fireside Chat: Your Dream Job Awaits
NISW 149

Activities

Youth

Event
Location
Coloring, Photo Booth, Cloud in a Jar Experiment
NISW 184
Guest Panel: Heather "Lucky" Penney and Captain Laura Savino
NISW 184
Coloring, Foam Airplane Making Crafts, Temporary Tattoos, Gift Bags
NISW 157

Aircraft

Static Displays*

- A-10 Thunderbolt II

- T6 Texan II

- P-51 Mustang

- MH - 60 Seahawk

- UH - 60 Black Hawk

- F/A-18 Super Hornet

- Embraer E175

- CRJ 550

- CRJ 200

- C-26 Metroliner

- Piper Archer Tx

- Piper Warrior

- Piper Seminole

- Cessna 172

- Citation CJ3

- PT-26

- Windracers Ultra UAS

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*This list is subject to change. Last updated April 12th.

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Purdue Aviation Day 2024 will proudly host the A-10 Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team.

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In collaboration with the A-10 Demo Team:

- P-51-D Mustang, Heritage Flight

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Aerial Refueling Demonstration:

- KC-135, Grissom Reserves

- F-16, 169th Fighter Wing

Speakers

Guest

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Heather

Penney

Heather "Lucky" Penney: My Aviation Journey

NISW 149, 12:15 PM

A Purdue Alumna, Heather Penney graduated with a Bachelor's in Literature and a Master's in American Studies. While studying at Purdue the United States Air Force opened combat aviation to women. Penney was selected to go to the 121st Fighter Squadron and became one of the first women in combat aviation. She is widely recognized for her service on September 11th, 2001. With little time to react, she was one of two F-16s dispatched to take down the hijacked plane. With no time to load weapons, they left with the intent to ram into the B757 to prevent it from hitting its target. As she recounts her experiences on the fateful day she is a powerful, resonant, uplifting speaker. Currently, Penney is a Senior Resident Fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. “She is a recognized expert on defense policy areas such as the defense industrial base, autonomous systems, force structure, acquisition reform, and future operational concepts.”

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Laura

Savino

JET BOSS: Captain Laura Savino, From Purdue to United Airlines

NISW 149, 2:00 PM

Captain Laura Savino is a Purdue alumna, with a BS in Aviation Technology. After a journey filled with diverse experiences to build her hours, Savino became a pilot for United Airlines by age 25. She has since piloted the B777, B767, B757, B747, B737, A319, and A320 aircraft as an international pilot for United. Laura has continued to give back to the aviation community through her participation in organizations such as Women in Aviation Organization International and the International Society of Women Airline Pilots. Now as an award-winning author and motivational speaker, she is enthusiastic about helping others find their place in aviation and STEM. You can purchase her memoir JET BOSS: A Female Pilot on Taking Risks and Flying High at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and anywhere else books are sold.

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Shannetta

Griffin

FAA Fireside Chat: Your Dream Job Awaits

NISW 149, 3:00 PM

As the Associate Administrator for Airports, Shannetta Griffin is responsible for ensuring our nation's airports' safe use and development. Griffin has more than 35 years of experience as a professional engineer and is an advocate for small businesses in the public and private sectors of transportation, with a special emphasis on aviation. She currently leads a team of over 600 employees and manages a budget of $3.35 billion. Not only does she excel within the FAA but her community involvement and advocacy efforts are unparalleled in their excellence and commitment, specifically noting her participation in professional and social organizations.

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Sean

FAA Fireside Chat: Your Dream Job Awaits

NISW 149, 3:00 PM

Doyle

Sean Doyle began serving as Deputy Regional Administrator for the Great Lakes Region in July, 2022 where he supports the Regional Administrator in providing cross-organizational leadership. In his previous role as an Senior Aviation Noise Specialist, he advised division, office and agency leadership on aviation noise policy and noise research efforts. Throughout his career Doyle has conducted assessments for all major U.S. Federal environmental noise evaluation programs, making him an expert National Environmental Policy Act practitioner as well as an expert on the policies and practices for airport and airspace noise compatibility planning.

Panels

Guest

Young Professionals in Aviation
NISW 149, 9:30 AM
Panelists:
  • Nathan Wong – Analyst, United Airlines
  • Ellie Forgeng – Gulfstream Co-op, Purdue SATT Student
  • Dutch Byrd – Purdue SATT Student, Owner, AeroView LLC
  • Nicolas Shelton – Lecturer and CFI/CFII/MEI, Purdue SATT
  • Sean O'Dell – Air Service Development, Indianapolis Int'l Airport
Celebrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Aviation
NISW 149, 10:30 AM
Panelists:
  • Administrator Shannetta Griffin – FAA Airports Administrator
  • Colonel Kathy Barrington – U.S. Air Force
  • Brandon Ray – Senior Manager, Boeing Engineering
  • Karliya Holsey – Flight Attendant, Delta Airlines
  • Kelsey Montemayor – Operations, Hartsfield-Jackson Int'l Airport

Vendors

  • Travelin' Toms Coffee
  • Famous Frank's
  • Rollin' in Dough Pizza
  • Liftoff Creamery
  • On the Go

We Value Your Feedback

Our Executive Team of 21 dedicated student leaders and 200+ passionate volunteers have worked hard to create a safe, fun, and informative environment for you to explore all that aviation has to offer! Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us. Please take a minute to fill out our Guest Experience Survey and help shape the future of Purdue Aviation Day.

Event Guide

Sponsored by:

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