Purdue Aviation Day 2026 draws thousands to campus airport

Written by Nick Pompella | | school of aviation and transportation technology, events, Aviation Day, general aviation, partnership, Professional Flight
Aviation Day 2026 was dedicated to veterans, active-duty military members and first responders. (Photo credit: Thomas Cai)
Aviation Day 2026 was dedicated to veterans, active-duty military members and first responders. (Photo credit: Thomas Cai)

More than 7,500 attendees-including community members, alumni and aviation industry professionals-gathered at the Purdue University Airport on April 11 for Purdue Aviation Day 2026.

The free, annual event is organized entirely by students in the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology. This year, a 21-member student executive board and over 200 student volunteers managed logistics, coordinated with major airlines and hosted the thousands of guests (some of whom even flew in themselves) who came to view aircraft displays and hear from industry leaders.

Daniel Castro, dean of Purdue Polytechnic, opened the event by praising the students' dedication.

"An event of this scale does not happen by accident," Castro said. "These students represent the exact caliber of talent we cultivate within the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology."

The 2026 event was themed "Heroes in Flight," and the day was dedicated to veterans, active-duty military members and first responders.

Aviation Day provides opportunities for attendees of all ages to get a first-hand look at the technology driving aviation. (Photo credit: Eason Fan)
Aviation Day provides opportunities for attendees of all ages to get a first-hand look at the technology driving aviation. (Photo credit: Eason Fan)
Aviation Day consistently draws thousands of attendees per year. (Photo credit: Eason Fan)
Aviation Day consistently draws thousands of attendees per year. (Photo credit: Eason Fan)
Military aviation has long been a feature of Aviation Day, and it was even more of a feature in 2026 with the event's "Heroes in Flight" theme. (Photo credit: Eason Fan)
Military aviation has long been a feature of Aviation Day, and it was even more of a feature in 2026 with the event's "Heroes in Flight" theme. (Photo credit: Eason Fan)
Exhibitors as well as attendees are able to fly in directly to Aviation Day on the morning and afternoon of the event. (Photo credit: Eason Fan)
Exhibitors as well as attendees are able to fly in directly to Aviation Day on the morning and afternoon of the event. (Photo credit: Eason Fan)
Purdue has more than a century of aviation history, and the reopening of Purdue University Airport as a commercial flight center means that there's more aviation activity than ever at Purdue. (Photo credit: Thomas Cai)
Purdue has more than a century of aviation history, and the reopening of Purdue University Airport as a commercial flight center means that there's more aviation activity than ever at Purdue. (Photo credit: Thomas Cai)
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During his remarks, Castro led a moment of silence for Captain Seth R. Koval, a 2011 Purdue professional flight technology graduate who died in March while deployed overseas in Operation Epic Fury. Koval served as an instructor pilot with the Ohio Air National Guard's 121st Air Refueling Wing.

Throughout the day, attendees explored vintage propeller planes and modern aircraft while meeting representatives from major aerospace and commercial aviation employers. Republic Airways served as the presenting sponsor, alongside event sponsor GoJet Airlines and over a dozen other industry exhibitors.

The event also featured a robust speaker lineup. Attendees heard from pioneering aviator Captain Theresa M. Claiborne, combat veteran Colonel Vanessa Mahan, and experimental test pilot Lieutenant Colonel Derek Carden. Returning guests Captain Laura Savino and Captain Ryan Lynch also shared their experiences and stories.

A student panel allowed prospective students and families to hear directly from undergraduates studying aeronautical engineering technology, aviation management, professional flight, and unmanned aerial systems.

The event, which traces its historical roots back to a 1911 grass-strip landing on campus, continues to serve as the Purdue's premier showcase for the university's legacy in flight.

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