CEO’s Message

2026 will mark the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, and the 70th anniversary of AAHS. The nation, via America250.org, is celebrating this semiquincentennial by setting an ambitious goal; to see all 350 million Americans perform service hours in honor of the contributions of our country’s founders, pioneers and trailblazers. Rosie Rios, the Chair of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission says "America’s 250th anniversary is more than reflecting on our past, its about honoring the contributions of individuals who built this country, the innovations that put this country on the map, and a man on the moon, and imagining what the next 250 years might look like for our children and generations to come".

At AAHS we’ve been working for 70 years to preserve the successes, failures, the innovations, and lessons learned by the aviation pioneers of America, all with volunteer effort. For 70 years we have been living this mission, to record and honor those individuals and organizations that have shaped aviation today. Volunteers, passionate about the stories of our aviation past, and how those stories have shaped our technology, culture and traditions of today, make it happen. Regular people, with some time and interest in giving back, are helping AAHS, and America, preserve the voices of our aviation heritage.

Later in 2026, We’ll be celebrating our volunteers at AAHS’ 70th Anniversary, on October 2-4th, with a weekend of aviation history, entertainment and tours of the newly renovated AAHS archive facilities, here at Flabob Airport! There will be vintage aircraft available for both rides and photograph opportunities, and local aviation venues to visit, as well. See how AAHS volunteers are processing member collections, collecting research material, and sharing aviation photos via our Journal articles and posts. We look forward to getting more information about our
70th Anniversary celebration in upcoming Journals, on our Facebook page and website.

Consider, also, providing some hours to contribute to the mission of AAHS and America250 by volunteering. Your service hours at AAHS can help catalog aviation collections, make important aviation documentation available to researchers and identify historic aircraft. It can be done remotely! These service hours can be recorded at America250.org and provide real support to an organization that relies on your effort to make these histories available to the public.

Visit America250.org to learn more about the overall vision for America’s 250th, and us at www.aahs-online.org, to contribute to America’s service goals!

Jerri Bergen
AAHS CEO