Texas Air and Space Museum

What Texas Air and Space Museum does

The Texas Air and Space Museum (TASM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aviation and aerospace museum founded in 1995 and located at 10001 American Drive on the grounds of Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport in Amarillo, Texas. The museum preserves and displays historic aircraft and artifacts spanning World War II military aviation through the U.S. space program, with flagship holdings including the Douglas DC-3 N34 — one of only three movable items on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places — and the NASA Shuttle Training Aircraft (Gulfstream II) flown by Amarillo native astronaut Rick Husband. Additional collection assets include a de Havilland C-7A Caribou (the last active-duty Caribou in DoD inventory), a P-51D Mustang, T-33A Shooting Star, T-34B Mentor, Bell OH-13S helicopter, Yakovlev Yak-11 Unlimited Racer, and an extensive scale model collection. The museum also maintains the Golden Spread Historical Aviation - English Field Collection, an archival repository documenting regional aviation history from 1902-1946.

TASM operates as a public visitor attraction (Monday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM) and reaches audiences through group tours, school field trips, and community events. Its revenue model is a nonprofit mix of modest admissions, recurring annual memberships, tax-deductible charitable donations (including aircraft and artifact contributions), and event-based fundraising (most notably the annual Golf Scramble). The organization is primarily volunteer-driven with 16 stated personnel, augmented by volunteer docents, restorers, and a board of directors led by President Ron Fernuik. Strategic education partnerships with Amarillo College and Region 16 Independent School District position the museum as a STEM-career pipeline feeder for the regional aerospace industry, including neighbor employer Bell Helicopter.

The organization is currently executing a major capacity expansion: a 20-acre landholding acquired debt-free in March 2013 is being developed with a $1.65M phase-one renovation of former grain storage buildings at 280 Airport Blvd into educational facilities and museum hangars. The new site offers substantially higher visibility — 740,000 annual air travelers and 14.6M vehicles passing on I-40 — compared with the current location. Cumulative stewardship of approximately $8M in donations and on-loan artifacts over the museum's 29-year history reflects a stable, asset-rich nonprofit operation rather than a high-velocity growth business.

Name

Texas Air and Space Museum

Legal name

Texas Air & Space Museum

Website

https://texasairandspacemuseum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Texas Air and Space Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aviation museum in Amarillo, Texas, preserving and displaying historic aircraft — including the National Register-listed DC-3 N34 and NASA Shuttle Training Aircraft — for general visitors, school groups, and veterans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation and Space Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD), Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)

Keywords

• Aviation museum exhibits
• Aerospace historical preservation
• STEM educational programs
• Aircraft collection display
• Museum guided tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Amarillo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admissions: Free admission mentioned for some events; general admission likely charged for regular visits
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership opportunities with newsletter, early event notifications, and voting rights at monthly meetings
3. Donations: 501(c)(3) charitable donations; accepts aircraft and artifact donations, in-kind donations of equipment and materials, memorial and major sponsorship opportunities
4. Events and Fundraisers: Golf scramble fundraiser ($125 per tee box, $500 per team), special events, and sponsorship opportunities
5. Aircraft and Artifact Acquisitions: Accepts donations of computers, office equipment, furniture, display cases, and aviation/space-related items

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Texas Air and Space Museum is a nonprofit aviation and aerospace museum that preserves and displays historic aircraft and artifacts while providing educational programs to inspire youth toward STEM careers. Its core offerings include full-size aircraft exhibits (Douglas DC-3 N34, NASA Shuttle Training Aircraft, C-7A Caribou, P-51D Mustang, and others), a scale model aircraft collection, guided docent-led tours, and historical archives documenting regional aviation heritage. Supporting offerings include membership programs, charitable donation opportunities, and fundraising events such as the annual Golf Scramble.

Product overview

Texas Air and Space Museum is an aviation and space museum offering a platform of physical aircraft exhibits, historical collections, and educational programs. The core product consists of full-size aircraft displays (including the historic Douglas DC-3 N34, C-7A Caribou, NASA Shuttle Training Aircraft, and various military aircraft) and an extensive model aircraft collection. Supporting offerings include educational programs for youth, museum tours with volunteer docents, historical archives, event hosting, and membership/donation programs. The museum serves as both a repository for aviation history and an educational institution inspiring future generations in science and technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full-Size Aircraft Exhibits Physical aircraft displays including Douglas DC-3 N34, C-7A Caribou, NASA Shuttle Training Aircraft, P-51D Mustang, T-33A Shooting Star, T-34B Mentor, Bell OH-13S helicopter, and Yakovlev Yak-11—open to the public for viewing and hands-on exploration, showcasing aviation history from World War II through the space program.
• Model Aircraft Collection Extensive collection of scale model aircraft including WWI and WWII fighters, bombers, and aircraft built by model maker Jack Rude—featuring models such as Nieuport 28, Fokker DR.1, Sopwith Camel, Spad XIII, B-25C Mitchell, Gee Bee R-1, F9C-2 Sparrowhawk, Piper PA-18, F6F Hellcat, F4U Corsair, and F-100 Super Sabre—on public display within the museum.
• Museum Tours Guided tours of aircraft and exhibits led by volunteer docents (including Ken Hanson, Chuck Accurso, and others), with QR codes throughout the museum providing bonus information and trivia; available during public hours (Monday-Saturday 10 AM-4 PM) and by appointment for groups.
• Educational Programs Museum educational initiatives aimed at inspiring youth in the Texas Panhandle to pursue careers in science and technology, including tours, interactive exhibits, and joint programs with Amarillo College and Region 16 Independent School District to "feed the pipeline" into the aviation and aerospace industry.
• Historical Collections and Archives (English Field Collection) Preservation of aviation history including artifacts, photographs, newspapers, letters, brochures, and memorabilia documenting the Golden Spread region's aviation heritage from 1902-1946, assembled by historian Jack Casey through interviews with aviation pioneers and their descendants.
• Membership and Donation Programs Annual membership opportunities offering newsletter access, early event notifications, and voting rights at monthly meetings; donation programs accepting monetary gifts (online via PayPal/credit card and by mail), in-kind contributions of equipment and materials, artifact and aircraft donations, land/facility sponsorships, building memorial opportunities, and grain-elevator logo placements.
• Golf Scramble Fundraiser Event Annual golf tournament fundraiser offering Tee Box sponsorships at $125 and full team (4-player) entries at $500, with proceeds supporting museum operations and the new facility development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly $8 million in donations and artifacts under stewardship
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• English Field AviationcoreOthersAcknowledged supporter of Texas Air & Space Museum in footer of website
• Tac AircoreOthersAcknowledged supporter of Texas Air & Space Museum in footer of website
• Amarillo CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Bell 47 helicopter on loan to museum for display. Museum working on joint educational programs with the college to 'feed the pipeline' for aviation and aerospace industry careers.
• Region 16 Independent School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum developing joint educational programs with Region 16 ISD for regional primary and secondary education programs in science and technology
• US ArmyminorOthersProvides de Havilland C-7A Caribou (tail number 63-9719, last active-duty Caribou in DoD inventory) on loan to museum. Donated May 20, 1991 and flown to museum under its own power.
• Bobby Speed FamilyminorOthersProvides the Beercat racing aircraft on loan to museum. This aircraft was built, flown and raced at the National Championships Air Races in Reno, Nevada by Texas Panhandle ag pilot Bobby Speed.
• National Endowment for the Arts - Blue Star MuseumscoreOthersParticipating Blue Star Museum providing free admission to active duty military personnel and their families during summer months
• Bell HelicopterminorOthersNeighbor business at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport area. Museum is located between Bell Helicopter and the airport.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Frontiers of Flight Museum: Dallas-based aviation museum featuring aircraft exhibits, space artifacts, and educational programs serving North Texas. Closest geographic peer in Texas with comparable collection scale and educational programming focus.
• EAA Aviation Museum: Wisconsin-based aviation museum operated by the Experimental Aircraft Association. Comparable non-profit aviation museum model with historic aircraft collection and educational programming.
• Museum of Flight: Major Seattle-based aviation and space museum with extensive collection including commercial, military, and space artifacts. Comparable non-profit museum model with educational programming and visitor-driven revenue.
• Cradle of Aviation Museum: Long Island-based aerospace museum with focus on Long Island's role in aviation history. Comparable mid-sized regional museum with educational programs and STEM mission alignment.
• Pima Air & Space Museum: One of the largest aviation museums in the U.S. located in Tucson, Arizona, with extensive aircraft displays and aerospace education programs. Directly comparable regional aviation museum model with similar hands-on exhibits and STEM education mission.
• Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum: Nebraska-based aerospace museum near Offutt AFB featuring military aircraft and space artifacts. Similar mid-sized regional aviation museum with military aviation focus and educational outreach.
• Lone Star Flight Museum: Texas-based aviation museum with historic aircraft collection and flight experiences. Shares the Texas aviation museum positioning and similar mission of preserving and showcasing aviation heritage.
• Hill Aerospace Museum: Utah-based aerospace museum at Hill AFB with extensive military aircraft collection. Comparable model of an aviation museum co-located with a military aviation installation, featuring aircraft from WWII through modern eras.

Broad incumbents

• National Museum of the United States Air Force: The U.S. Air Force's official museum at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. Largest military aviation museum in the world with similar mission of preserving USAF aviation heritage and educational outreach.
• National Air and Space Museum (Smithsonian): The Smithsonian's flagship aviation and space museum in Washington, D.C. Global benchmark for aviation museums with vastly larger resources, but operates in the same specialty museum category with overlapping visitor demographics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TASMAmarillo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/texas-air-and-space-museum

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Texas Air and Space Museum