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Screenshot from the winning hackathon video

Oct. 10, 2022 — A weekend of ample research and little sleep at Wichita State’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) resulted in the selection of three NASA Space Apps Hackathon winners.

People at Solvay announcement

Oct. 5, 2022 — The Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems at Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research held a grand opening for customers and partners. The event featured the unveiling of Solvay’s Manufacturing Innovation Center within the facility.

people working on machinery

Sept. 2, 2022 — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced today will award $51.4 million to Wichita State University to aid in the rapid development and adoption of emerging smart manufacturing technologies for South Kansas.

Airbus 321

Aug. 18, 2022 — At a media event and celebration today, Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research WERX and Erickson Precision Ventures LLC announced their first collaborative passenger to freighter conversion program of an Airbus 321.

WSU and Army officials and Apache news conference

Aug. 8, 2022 — The U.S. Army Aviation enterprise is collaborating with Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research to develop an AH-64 Apache Digital Twin in a contract that kicked off with a ribbon-cutting event on campus last week.

Image of Sarah Laffen at NIAR

June 20, 2022 -- Sarah Laffen is a aerospace engineering sophomore who utilizing her skills outside the classroom this summer as a student assistant at National Institute for Aviation Research.

Cameron Holston

June 8, 2022 - Cameron Holston works with a variety of aircraft at the Aircraft Structural Test and Evaluation Center, part of the National Institute for Aviation Research. The experience prepares him for a career in the field of aerospace.

A DHL plane gets loaded with cargo.

May 25, 2022 — The WERX program at Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) and Erickson Precision Ventures have reached an agreement to work cooperatively on modification, maintenance and engineering for various Boeing and Airbus aircraft.  

Southwest Airlines plane in the air

May 11, 2022 — Domestic travelers returned to planes en masse in 2021, but airlines struggled to deliver them, and their bags, to their destinations on time, according to the annual Airline Quality Rating released today by Wichita State University.

A rendering of Fly Your Own Wheels Suites

April 7, 2022 — A team from Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research has received international recognition for a design that would allow WC19 certified manual and power wheelchairs to be used as a seat on board commercial airlines.

Matchmaking graphic

March 28, 2022 — The Office of Tech Transfer and Commercialization at Wichita State University has launched a program designed to connect experienced entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs with cutting-edge technologies and the opportunity to commercialize them.

A Blackhawk helicopter arrives at Wichita State University.

Dec. 7, 2021 — Since its inception, the National Institute for Aviation Research’s digital twin program has been rife with opportunities to progress research, digital transformation, engineering technology and sustainability efforts. It’s also been an important career steppingstone and training ground for more than 250 Wichita State University students, who have gained valuable applied learning experiences while working on the project.

NAIR WERX

Nov. 4, 2021 - A $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce will help Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) purchase tools and supplies to support Flight Test Research Center and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility at NIAR WERX.

Lauryn McIntyre

Oct. 20, 2021 — While Lauryn McIntyre, who is majoring in marketing with a minor in personal selling, is growing out of her comfort zone in her internship, she isn’t doing it without support. That is the key feature to the applied learning model used by Shocker Career Accelerator to match Wichita State students with industry partners in a way that invests time in building a relationship that helps both parties.

additive manufacturing image

Oct. 7, 2021 — The Federal Aviation Administration recently awarded $7.3 million to Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research for advanced materials research, providing significant funding for additive and other advanced manufacturing research programs, ranging from qualification and characterization to specialized programs that address specific technical challenges.