Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium

What Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium does

Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium (TASM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating an aviation museum and full-dome planetarium on a 17.8-acre campus at Tulsa International Airport in Oklahoma. Incorporated in 1994 and opened to the public in May 1998, TASM's core product is a collection of historically significant aircraft (Spartan Executive Model 12, A-26 Lady Liberty, A-10 Warthog, F-14 Tomcat, American Airlines MD-80, Tuskegee Legacy artifacts) supported by the 110-seat James E. Bertelsmeyer Planetarium with an HD SciDome projection system and interactive simulators including a Manned Maneuvering Unit simulator (built with the University of Tulsa and Cymstar), a Shuttle Landing Simulator, and the Ray Booker Flight Lab.

The museum serves five primary segments: K-12 and homeschool groups (over 40% of admissions, 35,000+ students engaged annually in STEM field trips), families with children (about 60% of visitors are college-aged or younger), aviation and space enthusiasts, corporate/event clients seeking distinctive venue rentals, and veterans and military families. Revenue is generated through admissions ($6-$8 per visitor), four-tier annual memberships ($75-$200), venue rentals and birthday party packages ($400-$500), special events (Galaxy Ball, 1940's Hanger Dance, Spartan Trailer Rally, Runway Run 5K), gift shop sales via Square, and tax-deductible donations including Operation Warthog and Operation Lady Liberty campaigns. The museum receives no public funding for general operations and depends on a workforce of 11-50 employees supplemented by over 200 volunteer hours per week (10,000+ hours annually) from retired aerospace professionals and veterans.

Strategic direction is anchored by a sequenced pipeline of major artifact acquisitions (A-10 dedicated 2026, A-26 Lady Liberty 2026, MH-53E Sea Dragon 2027), expanded educational programming (STEM field trips, homeschool, scout merit badges), and signature event development. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the museum's website, Square e-commerce storefront, email newsletter, social media, and direct school outreach, with corporate sponsorship support from American Airlines, QuikTrip, L3Harris, Helmerich & Payne, and other Oklahoma-based firms.

Name

Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium

Legal name

Tulsa Air and Space Museum, Inc.

Website

https://tulsamuseum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium is a Tulsa, Oklahoma 501(c)(3) non-profit operating an aviation museum, 110-seat HD SciDome planetarium, and interactive STEM simulators. It serves K-12 school groups, families, aviation enthusiasts, event clients, and veterans across northeastern Oklahoma.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Museum & Planetarium

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums (71211)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF), Virtual Field Trips & Experiential Learning Environments (Museums, Geography, History) (EDAFAJAG), Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)

Keywords

• Aviation museum
• Planetarium shows
• STEM education
• Aerospace exhibits
• Historical aircraft

Headquarters

HQ city

Tulsa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Revenue from selling general admission tickets to the museum exhibit hall and planetarium shows. Students pay $6, adults pay $8 per venue.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership program with four tiers (Pilot $75, Aviator $100, Captain $140, Colonel $200) providing free admission, unlimited planetarium shows, and discounts. All membership purchases are tax deductible donations.
3. Venue Rentals: Rental income from hosting private events including weddings, corporate functions, galas, and birthday parties in the W.H. Helmerich Exhibit Hall, planetarium, and conference spaces.
4. Gift Shop Sales: Revenue from on-site gift shop sales of aviation-themed merchandise. Members receive 10% discount.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations supporting exhibits, educational programming, and aircraft preservation including Operation Warthog and Lady Liberty campaigns.
6. Special Events Revenue: Revenue from signature events including Galaxy Ball, Hanger Dance, Spartan Trailer Rally, and Runway Run 5K race.
7. Group Tours and STEM Programs: Revenue from school field trips and group bookings with student pricing of $6 per activity and educational STEM programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium operates an aviation museum, planetarium shows, and STEM-focused educational programs on a 17.8-acre campus at Tulsa International Airport. It sells general admission to a historic aircraft collection and interactive exhibits, immersive full-dome planetarium shows, hands-on flight simulators (MMU, Shuttle Landing, Ray Booker Flight Lab), and educational programs for school groups and homeschool families. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, annual memberships, venue rentals, gift shop merchandise, signature fundraising events, and tax-deductible donations.

Product overview

Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium operates as a unified attraction combining aviation and space education with entertainment experiences. The core offering consists of the museum's aircraft collection and interactive exhibits, enhanced by the James E. Bertelsmeyer Planetarium's immersive full-dome shows. Educational programs span STEM field trips, homeschool families, and scout merit badges, while special events like the 1940's Hanger Dance and Galaxy Ball create seasonal engagement. The museum also offers venue rentals, birthday party packages, and annual memberships as revenue-generating add-ons. Major campaigns (Operation Warthog, Operation Lady Liberty) support artifact acquisition and preservation efforts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum Exhibits and Aircraft Collection General admission to the museum's permanent collection of historic aircraft including the Spartan Executive Model 12 (only one built), Grumman F-14A Tomcat, American Airlines MD-80, Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, Bell UH-1 Huey, Spartan NP-1, and Bob Hoover's Sabreliner, along with permanent exhibits such as the Tuskegee Legacy Exhibit, Tulsamerican B-24 Exhibit, and a Tulsa Municipal Airport Terminal recreation.
• James E. Bertelsmeyer Planetarium 110-seat full-dome planetarium theater featuring HD SciDome projection and immersive shows including Earth Moon and Sun, Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity, Dynamic Earth, Stars: Powerhouses of the Universe, Faster Than Light, From Dream to Discovery, and Dream to Fly. Aerospace-themed shows run Tuesday through Saturday at 11:00, 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00.
• STEM Field Trips Immersive STEM education programs for K-12 school groups, including guided museum tours, planetarium shows, and hands-on STEM activities such as Stomp Rockets, Mars Landers, Physics of Flight, and Electricity workshops. Over 40% of museum admissions are school field trips and 35,000+ students are engaged annually.
• Homeschool Programs Educational programs designed for homeschool families with flexible scheduling, planetarium shows, and hands-on STEM activities available for groups booking in advance.
• Venue Rental Private event venue rental including the W.H. Helmerich Exhibit Hall (seats up to 120), James E. Bertelsmeyer Planetarium (seats 110), Conference Room, MD-80 Cabin, and STEM Lab for corporate functions, galas, weddings, and other events.
• Birthday Party Packages Three birthday party package options: MD-80 Airplane ($500 for up to 25 guests), Aviation ($400 for up to 25 guests, $500 value), and Galaxy ($500 for up to 40 guests, $800 value), each including 2-hour room rental, museum admission, and planetarium show access.
• Museum Membership Annual membership program with four tiers: Pilot ($75, 1 adult + 1 guest), Aviator ($100, 2 adults + 4 children), Captain ($140, family with NARM benefits), and Colonel ($200, premium with NARM benefits). Includes free admission, unlimited planetarium shows, 10% gift shop discount, and early event access. Additional Adult $20, Additional Child $15.
• Galaxy Ball & Expo Annual fantasy and science-fiction themed gala event featuring a vendor expo, author meet-and-greets (in partnership with Magic City Books), costume contests, live entertainment, and cosmic-themed celebration. Ticket tiers include Expo Admission ($20), Stargazer ($150), Realmwalker Pass ($170), Royal Court VIP ($225), and Celestial Crown VIP ($275).
• 1940's Hanger Dance Annual vintage 1940s-themed event featuring live swing music, period costumes, warbird viewing including the A-26 Lady Liberty, and full museum access. Hosted in partnership with the Spirit of Tulsa Squadron CAF.
• Spartan Trailer Rally Annual trailer rally event for Spartan aircraft enthusiasts. Trailer registration is $325 ($375 after 9/15/2026), with a Saturday Banquet at $20 for adults and $10 for kids under 12.
• Runway Run 5K 5K race held at the museum campus, with registration managed through the RunSignUp race registration platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35,000+ students engaged in STEM education annually through field trips and programs
• +2 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

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Spirit of Tulsa Squadron CAFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for the 1940's Hanger Dance event, featuring vintage warbird A-26 Lady Liberty with live swing music and period-accurate experiences.
• American AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Flagship Tulsa B-24 restoration project and ongoing presence of American Airlines MD-80 exhibit at the museum. American Airlines is headquartered in Fort Worth, TX with major maintenance operations in Tulsa.
• National Museum of the United States Air ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertification partnership enabling TASM to receive artifacts and traveling exhibits on loan from the National Museum of the US Air Force.
• Naval Aviation MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertification partnership enabling TASM to receive artifacts and traveling exhibits on loan from the Naval Aviation Museum.
• NARM AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReciprocal membership network connecting hundreds of cultural institutions across Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the United States, providing free/discounted admission to TASM members at member organizations.
• Spartan School of AeronauticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal location partner from 1998, with museum story beginning in a 1940's hangar on the Spartan School of Aeronautics campus before moving to current location in 2005.
• Magic City BooksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal bookstore partnership for Galaxy Ball literary expo and author showcase event.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum: Oregon-based museum featuring the Spruce Goose and other historic aircraft alongside space exhibits and a digital theater. Comparable combination of large aircraft artifacts, space focus, and family/education audience.
• Pima Air & Space Museum: Large aerospace museum in Tucson with300+ aircraft, restoration facilities, and STEM/educational programming. Comparable scale of historic aircraft collection and educational mission.
• Virginia Air and Space Center: Hampton, VA aviation/space museum with an IMAX theater and STEM exhibits. Comparable scope of aviation, space, and STEM programming serving families and school groups.
• Frontiers of Flight Museum: Dallas-based aviation museum with historic aircraft collection, flight simulators, and STEM education programming. Directly comparable as a regional aviation/space museum serving a similar family and school audience.
• Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum: Nebraska-based museum focused on strategic military aviation and aerospace, with restoration facilities and STEM programs. Comparable mix of historic military aircraft, STEM education, and event-driven revenue.
• Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum: Denver-area aerospace museum housed in a historic hangar with aircraft collection, simulators, and STEM programming. Directly comparable venue type, programming mix, and educational mission.
• Kansas Cosmosphere: Space and aviation museum and planetarium in Hutchinson, KS featuring historic aircraft, space artifacts, and an HD planetarium. Closely comparable mix of aviation/space collection, planetarium, and STEM programming.

Broad incumbents

• National Museum of the United States Air Force: The U.S. Air Force's official museum at Wright-Patterson AFB — a major federal aerospace museum. Functions as both a source of artifact loans to TASM and a benchmark for aerospace exhibition standards.
• Museum of Flight: Major Seattle-based aerospace museum with extensive aircraft collection, restoration facilities, and education programming. Comparable aerospace heritage focus and educational mission at larger scale.

Emerging players

• Challenger Learning Center Network: Network of science learning centers focused on space-themed STEM simulations and field-trip programming. Comparable STEM/space-education mission aimed at school groups, though without an aircraft collection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tulsaairandspace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium