Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee addresses a crowd of 200-plus attendees Thursday, Sept. 21, during the MTSU Shelbyville announcement of the university’s Aerospace Campus pending construction and move to Shelbyville Municipal Airport. A combined $62.2 million in state ($57.2 million) and university ($5 million) funding has paved the way for the move. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

With one of the university’s Piper aircraft parked in the background, Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee addresses a crowd of 200-plus attendees Thursday, Sept. 21, during the MTSU Shelbyville announcement of the university’s Aerospace Campus pending construction and move to Shelbyville Municipal Airport. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee, left, shakes hands with Shelbyville, Tenn., Mayor Randy Carroll Thursday, Sept. 21, after signing the promotional sign as part of the announcement of the MTSU Aerospace Department eventual move to Shelbyville Municipal Airport. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee, left, and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, center, greet Kevin Sheng, CEO of Diamond Aircraft Canada, Thursday, Sept. 21, during the MTSU Shelbyville announcement of the university’s Aerospace Campus pending construction and move to Shelbyville Municipal Airport. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signs his name to the under construction sign for the new Middle Tennessee State University Aerospace Campus to be built at the Shelbyville Municipal Airport in Bedford County, as Shelbyville Mayor Randy Cannon and others wait their turn Thursday, Sept. 21, following a special announcement event. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Middle Tennessee State University Board of Trustees members and state legislators are shown with MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, center left, and Gov. Bill Lee, center right, following the announcement of the Aerospace Department's move to the Shelbyville Municipal Airport Thursday, Sept. 21. Pictured, from left, are MTSU Board of Trustees Chairman Steve Smith, Faculty Trustee Mary Martin, Trustee Tom Boyd, Trustee Pam Wright, McPhee, Lee, state Sen. Shane Reeves, state Sen. Dawn White, state Rep. Tim Rudd, and Trustee J.B. Baker. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee, left, and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee watch the arrival of several MTSU Diamond Aircraft Thursday, Sept. 21, as the MTSU Department of Aerospace formally announced its move to the Shelbyville Municipal Airport in the coming years. More than 200 people — including alumni, state legislators, students and friends of the university — attended the event at the airport. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

From left, Middle Tennessee State Board of Trustees Chair Steve Smith, Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, Gov. Bill Lee and Shelbyville Mayor Randy Carroll unveil the promotional sign for MTSU's new Aerospace Campus to be built at Shelbyville Municipal Airport during a special event Thursday, Sept. 21, to announce the Aerospace Department's eventual move to the airport. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

How far we have come in flight, yet a reminder of what was... This plane, which can often be found at the Shelbyville Airport, was used as a commercial airplane to provide a smooth flight for up to 32 passengers across America in years past. It had a cruising speed of 207 mph and was able to fly across the continental US from New York to Los Angeles in 18 hours with only 3 stops. (Photo by S. Walker)

The Flagship Detroit is the oldest flying DC-3 in the world and is often stored and awaiting its next flight at the Shelbyville Municipal Airport on Highway 231 South. This 1937 Douglas prop-driven airplane will routinely be in the background of classes for MTSU students, giving them a chance to see the early ages of aerospace engineering, while learning about the technologically advanced programs that are available today. (Photo by S. Walker)