What Aerospace Center for Excellence does

Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit aerospace education organization founded in 2014 and headquartered on a 200+ acre campus at Lakeland Linder International Airport (KLAL) in Lakeland, Florida, on the I-4 High-Tech Corridor between Tampa and Orlando. ACE was introduced as a separate entity by SUN 'n FUN (a 50-plus-year aviation fly-in) to operate a 14-building aerospace STEM campus anchored by the Central Florida Aerospace Academy (a Polk County public high school career academy opened in 2008) and the Florida Air Museum (Florida's official aviation museum, established 2005). The organization engages, educates, and accelerates the next generation of aerospace professionals, serving 30,000+ students annually through age-tiered programs spanning Pre-K through career technical training.

ACE's educational portfolio includes STEM Sprouts (ages 3–11 enrichment), STEMwrx (middle and high school, including Simulated Flight School and SIM Air), summer camps ($350–$800/week), field trips ($15/student), after-school programs, free Middle School Aerospace Curriculum aligned to NGSS/ITEEA, and the ACEs High Achievement Program for underserved Polk County students. Distinctive facilities include the Redbird Flight Simulation Laboratory with 22 Jay Velocity simulators, the Jeff Kincart Drone and Robotics Laboratory (30+ drones), an Engineering Laboratory maker space, the Piedmont 727 Experience (a FedEx-donated Boeing 727 classroom), the only Science on a Sphere worldwide that can be raised to the ceiling to convert to hangar space, the Buehler Restoration Skills Center, and the Tom Davis Education Center. James C. Ray scholarships fund pilot certificates, advanced ratings, industry certifications, and aviation degrees.

Revenue is generated through five primary streams: educational program fees (camps, STEM programs, field trips), facility and venue rentals (Aerospace Pavilion at $5,000/event, Skylight Hangar at $6,200/event, Piedmont 727 at $375/event), donations and fundraising including the James C. Ray Legacy Society endowment, the annual SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo (April 14–19, 2026; ~200,000 expected attendees) acting as the main fundraiser for year-round programming, and RV campsite rentals ($35–$52.50/night plus monthly rates). Customer segments include children/youth (primary), schools and homeschool groups (primary), aviation career aspirants (primary), event planners and corporate clients (secondary), and RVers/campers (secondary). Distribution is regional within Central Florida through direct online registration via Ultracamp, school partnerships, and the annual Expo. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; ACE is governed by a board of directors and led by President & CEO Gene Conrad, VP Eric Crump, and CFO Julie Ehnle.

Name

Aerospace Center for Excellence

Legal name

Aerospace Center for Excellence

Website

https://aceedu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aerospace Center for Excellence is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that delivers hands-on aerospace and STEM education to 30,000+ K-12 students annually on a 200-acre airport campus in Lakeland, Florida, through summer camps, flight simulation, drone labs, scholarships, and a free middle school curriculum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace STEM Education

NAICS

Flight Training (611512), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB), Training & Light Sport Fixed-Wing Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAE)

Keywords

• Aerospace education programs
• STEM summer camps
• Aviation workforce pipeline
• Flight simulation training
• Aviation museum experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Lakeland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Educational Programs and Camps: Revenue from summer camps ($350-$800/week), STEM programs ($300-$500/student), field trips ($15/student), and after-school programs.
2. Facility and Venue Rentals: Revenue from renting event spaces on the 200+ acre campus including the Aerospace Pavilion, Skylight Hangar, Cessna Textron Center, and outdoor areas for events, weddings, corporate functions, and community gatherings.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting educational programming, scholarships, and campus improvements. Includes James C. Ray Legacy Society for estate gifts.
4. SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo: Annual aerospace expo (April 14-19, 2026) serves as the main fundraiser for year-round educational programming, generating revenue through event tickets, exhibitor fees, and related activities.
5. Camping Fees: RV campsite rentals ranging from $35/night (primitive) to $52.50/night (full hookup), plus monthly rates of $1,035-$1,125. Revenue from camping during SUN 'n FUN events and seasonal camping.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aerospace Center for Excellence operates a 14-building aerospace STEM education campus on nearly 200 acres at Lakeland Linder International Airport, delivering year-round programs from Pre-K through career technical training. Its core offerings are fee-based summer camps, STEM Sprouts early-childhood enrichment, STEMwrx programs (Simulated Flight School and SIM Air), K-12 field trips, and a free Middle School Aerospace Curriculum licensed to schools. The organization also runs the Florida Air Museum, hosts the annual SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo as its primary fundraiser, and rents out on-campus venues and RV campsites for events.

Product overview

The Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE) is an educational nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of aerospace and STEM education programs. The core offerings include STEM Sprouts (early childhood enrichment ages 3-11), STEMwrx (middle/high school programs including Simulated Flight School and SIM Air), summer camps, field trips, and the ACEs High Achievement Program. Educational facilities include the Skylab Innovation Center, Florida Air Museum, Piedmont 727 Experience, and Central Florida Aerospace Academy. The organization also provides venue rentals, scholarships, and community outreach programs. The Middle School Aerospace Curriculum is available free to schools. All programs are designed to engage, educate, and accelerate the next generation of aerospace professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Florida Air Museum: Florida's Official Aviation Museum and Education Center featuring dynamic displays of unique aircraft designs, classics, ultra-lights, antiques, and warbirds.
• Piedmont 727 Experience
• Skylab Innovation Center
• Middle School Aerospace Curriculum
• STEM Sprouts
• STEMwrx
• ACEs High Achievement Program
• Central Florida Aerospace Academy

Products and services

• STEM Sprouts Educational enrichment program for children ages 3-11 held on Monday afternoons at the Skylab Innovation Center, featuring hands-on STEM learning through aviation-themed activities.
• STEMwrx Learning opportunities for middle and high school students focused on connecting STEM concepts with career opportunities, running September through March.
• Simulated Flight School Hands-on course for ages 11-18 teaching how airplanes fly and pilot skills using professional-grade flight simulation in the Redbird Flight Simulation Lab, progressing toward FAA Private Pilot Practical Test skills.
• SIM Air Team-based airline simulation competition for students ages 11-14, exploring non-pilot careers through the TransportEd Challenge including aircraft mechanic, flight dispatcher, flight scheduler, and HR roles.
• Summer Camps Day camps for young people featuring hands-on STEM learning through aviation activities. Includes STEMtastic, Destination Aviation, Air Power, She Can Fly, Take Flight, and Future Engineer camps with weekly fees ranging from $350-$800.
• Field Trips K-12 experiential enrichment including three immersive educational programs lasting 45 minutes each, with free museum exploration afterwards. Priced at $15/student and $10/chaperone.
• Florida Air Museum Florida's official aviation museum featuring dynamic displays of unique aircraft designs, classics, ultra-lights, antiques, and warbirds, plus educational experiences including camps, tours, workshops, and StoryTime events.
• Middle School Aerospace Curriculum Free two-year curriculum for middle schools including Introduction to Technology and Aerospace Technology courses, with turn-key instructional resources aligned to NGSS and ITEEA standards.
• ACEs High Achievement Program Achievement program for Polk County students aged 11-17 with family income $75,000 or less, offering phased rewards including free discovery flights, iFLY trips, flight suits, Kennedy Space Center visits, and expo passes.
• Scholarship Programs Annual scholarship opportunities including James C. Ray Continuing Education and Flight Training scholarships for pilot certificates, advanced ratings, industry certifications, and aviation-related degrees.
• Venue Rental Event venue rental on nearly 200 acres at the SUN 'n FUN Expo Campus with multiple event spaces including Aerospace Pavilion, Skylight Hangar, Cessna Textron Center, and outdoor areas.
• RV Campsites RV campsite rentals on campus ranging from $35/night primitive to $52.50/night full hookup, plus monthly rates of $1,035-$1,125, available seasonally and during SUN 'n FUN events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000+ students served annually through aviation and STEM programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supportive.

• Redbird Flight SimulationscoreTechnology or IntegrationGenerous donation of 22 Jay Velocity simulators enabled the Redbird Flight Simulation Laboratory, providing students hands-on cockpit experience. Partnership focuses on making aviation accessible through modern technology and careful engineering.
• Piedmont AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirline partner supporting ACE's mission to inspire future aviation professionals. Partnership plays critical role in aspiring future generations through access to resources and opportunities while identifying diverse talent pipeline.
• FedExmajorTechnology or IntegrationGenerously donated the Boeing 727 aircraft that was converted into the Piedmont 727 Experience - a fully functioning airplane serving as state-of-the-art classroom and learning laboratory.
• Polk County Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost the Central Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA), a Polk County Public High School Career Academy, on the ACE campus at Lakeland Linder International Airport. Partnership enables dual enrollment college credit and industry certifications.
• Zenith AircraftsupportiveTechnology or IntegrationAircraft manufacturer community partner supporting ACE's educational mission and aviation training programs.
• Lakeland Aero ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's largest high school flying club operates on the ACE campus. Club members own and maintain aircraft, fly to events like AirVenture in Oshkosh, and have access to Redbird Full Motion simulator.
• BosesupportiveTechnology or IntegrationAudio equipment provider for Skylight Hangar (Hangar A) venue, featuring Bose House Sound system for events.
• NOAAsupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience on a Sphere presentations include NOAA data, featuring content like 'Tales of a Fighter Jet Pilot' by 'Kentucky' at the Skylab Innovation Center.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cosmosphere: Cosmosphere is a space-and-aerospace education complex in Kansas with STEM camps, a planetarium, flight simulators, and curriculum — a close peer in mission, audience, and facility mix (planetarium + simulators + camps + curriculum).
• Museum of Flight (Seattle): Museum of Flight is an independent aviation museum offering hands-on STEM/aerospace education programs, school field trips, and youth aviation camps — directly comparable mission and audience to ACE's Florida Air Museum and Skylab Innovation Center.
• Challenger Center: Challenger Center is a non-profit STEM education organization running space-and-aerospace simulations and curriculum for K-12 students, with similar mission, audience, and program structure; it competes for school field-trip and curriculum budgets against ACE.
• Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum: Wings Over the Rockies is a regional aviation museum offering youth STEM programs, summer camps, and flight simulation experiences in Denver — directly comparable to ACE's Florida Air Museum, summer camps, and Skylab Innovation Center.
• Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA): EAA is the most direct peer: a large aviation membership organization that runs the annual AirVenture fly-in (ACE runs SUN 'n FUN), operates youth aviation programs (Young Eagles), and hosts one of the world's largest aviation museums — directly comparable mission and event-driven model.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum is a much larger incumbent aviation museum and STEM education institution; it offers overlapping educational programming, exhibits, and field-trip experiences, but at a national scale and without ACE's flight-simulation and pilot-training pipeline.

Regional players

• Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: Intrepid Museum is a major metropolitan aviation/space museum with extensive youth STEM programming and a converted aircraft (Enterprise space shuttle) exhibit — similar facility concept to ACE's Piedmont 727 Experience, but operating in a different (Northeast) geography.

Others

• Redbird Flight Simulations: Redbird is a key technology partner (donated 22 Jay Velocity simulators) and an industry peer in flight simulation training; also a supplier of similar STEM/flight training products sold to schools and flight academies.

Emerging players

• AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) High School Aviation STEM Curriculum: AOPA offers a free high school aviation STEM curriculum and You Can Fly program targeting the same high school pipeline as ACE's middle school curriculum and CFAA partnership; partial overlap in mission and target audience.
• Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program: Civil Air Patrol's cadet program is a youth aviation education and leadership pipeline with aerospace education, orientation flights, and STEM modules — competes for the same aspiring young aviation audience as ACE's camps and STEMwrx programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aerospace Center for Excellence