$4 million gift for Aviation High

Aviation High, a public school with an aviation theme, has received a $4 million gift from aerodynamicist and entrepreneur James Raisbeck and his wife, Sherry Raisbeck.

Most of that money — $3 million — will go toward building a permanent home for the school at the Museum of Flight in Tukwila. The Highline School District, which runs the school, has raised about $18 million toward what's expected to be a $43.5 million project.

Aviation High School opened in 2004 and has been housed at several temporary sites. The Highline School District recently received permission from the Seattle School Board to build a permanent home at the Museum of Flight, which is within Seattle Public Schools' boundaries.

James Raisbeck founded Raisbeck Engineering Inc., which makes performance-enhancing kits for airplanes. Aviation High will be renamed Raisbeck Aviation High School. Although it is part of the Highline School District, Aviation High is open to students throughout the Puget Sound area.

Linda Shaw: 206-464-2359 or lshaw@seattletimes.com