Korean Air donates to California Science Center
to create Korean Air Aviation Gallery 

(Seoul, September 21, 2023) - Korean Air has announced a $25 million donation, along with its retired Boeing 747 aircraft, to the California Science Center to create the Korean Air Aviation Gallery at the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.

The Gallery will have a diverse exhibition of almost 20 aircraft, plus a Boeing 747 airliner fuselage that will be the Gallery’s centerpiece. The Gallery’s collection will also include a replica of the Wright Brothers’ 1902 Glider, a Harrier T4 jump-jet and  a historic F-100 Super Saber.
 
“The Los Angeles area has welcomed our airline and it’s an honor to give back to this great community,” said the airline’s Chairman Walter Cho. “Los Angeles was Korean Air’s first U.S. destination and we’re proud to be an integral part of its aviation story and history. This facility will provide learning opportunities and hopefully inspire young people to be more curious about aviation and its impact on society.”
 
Cho said the 747 exhibit will showcase the transformative technology and ongoing impact of the iconic aircraft. People can see the plane’s enormous scale and elegant design, and take a simulated flight from Los Angeles to Seoul in a theater on the airplane’s main deck.  
 
Other hands-on experiences include a Wind Tunnel exhibit, providing the opportunity to experiment in a wind tunnel lab to understand the forces that make planes fly; and a Design-a-Plane exhibit, offering a unique lesson in aircraft design and engineering.

"We are deeply grateful to our colleagues at Korean Air for their tremendous generosity and partnership in creating a world-class science learning experience that will not only benefit the children and youth of our shared Los Angeles community but will inspire visitors from across the world,” remarked California Science Center President and CEO, Jeffrey Rudolph.