The AIAA Niagara Frontier Section is proud to collaborate with a number of outstanding organizations across western New York, Quebec and eastern Ontario that share our commitment to aerospace, aviation, and the advancement of science and engineering. Our partnerships enrich the Section's programs, extend our reach, and strengthen the aerospace community throughout our region.
Aero Club of Buffalo
aeroclubofbuffalo.org ↗Founded in 1900, the Aero Club of Buffalo is the oldest aviation club in the United States and the second oldest in the world. A few years after its founding, the club received its charter from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale of France, cementing its place in aviation history. The Club fosters interest in the principles and development of aeronautics across western New York, connecting pilots, engineers, students, and aviation enthusiasts through speakers, networking, and community events. It also teaches and inspires the next generation through scholarships and outreach programs, from flight training awards to post-secondary tuition assistance.
The Aero Club of Buffalo is our longest-standing and most valued partner. Our monthly dinner meetings are held in conjunction with the Aero Club, bringing together both memberships for shared programs and fellowship.
Niagara Aerospace Museum
niagaraaerospacemuseum.org ↗Located on the Niagara Falls International Airport, the Niagara Aerospace Museum is dedicated to preserving and promoting western New York’s remarkable aviation and aerospace heritage, and to inspiring the next generation of flight scientists and engineers. Its exhibits span more than a century of history, with particular depth in the contributions of Bell Aircraft Corporation and Curtiss-Wright Corporation, both of which had major operations in the region.
Highlights include the Bell P-39Q Airacobra — one of thousands built at Bell’s Wheatfield plant and later transferred to Soviet forces during World War II — early Bell helicopters including the first U.S. commercially licensed helicopter, the Bell Model 47, the Bell X-22 tilt-ducted-fan VSTOL aircraft, and a collection of piston, turbojet, and turboshaft engines. The museum conducts educational programs and maintains expert docents who bring the region’s extraordinary aerospace legacy to life.
The museum is also home to a Wall of Honor commemorating every inductee of the Niagara Frontier Aviation and Space Hall of Fame, celebrating the individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to aviation and aerospace in our region.
L.D. Bell Chapter — Air & Space Forces Association
afa.org (National) ↗The Lawrence D. Bell Chapter of the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) serves the western New York region. The chapter is named in honor of Lawrence D. Bell (1894–1956), the visionary founder of Bell Aircraft Corporation in Buffalo — the company responsible for the first U.S. supersonic aircraft, the Bell X-1, and an entire family of groundbreaking helicopters and experimental aircraft that helped define the region’s aerospace identity.
The AFA is an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to advocate for dominant U.S. Air and Space Forces, educate the public about air and space power, and support Airmen, Guardians, and their families. With more than 200 chapters nationwide, AFA publishes Air & Space Forces Magazine and operates the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. The L.D. Bell Chapter carries that mission forward locally, connecting the military aerospace community with the broader civilian aerospace and engineering community of western New York.
Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI) — Ottawa Branch
casi.ca/ottawa ↗Founded in 1954, the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI) is a national non-profit dedicated to advancing aerospace science and engineering in Canada. Our organizations share a deep historical connection: CASI was formed in part by absorbing the Canadian sections of the Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences (IAS), while the American sections of the IAS merged to become the AIAA. CASI took its current form in 1962 after merging with the Canadian Astronautical Society, and today it serves roughly 1,600 members through specialized technical sections, international conferences, scientific journals, and student scholarships.
The AIAA Niagara Frontier Section’s territory extends into eastern Ontario and Quebec, and we proudly collaborate with the CASI Ottawa Branch. This cross-border partnership reflects our deeply intertwined heritage, where Canadian and American engineers have collaborated for decades on landmark advancements in propulsion, structures, flight mechanics, and space exploration.