Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum explained

Map Type:	Colorado
Coordinates:	39.721°N -104.8957°W
Former Name:	The Lowry Heritage Museum (1984-1994)
Location:	7711 E. Academy Blvd Denver, Colorado, U.S. Lowry Campus (formerly Lowry Air Force Base)
Type:	Aerospace museum
Collections:	Lowry Air Force Base history Colorado aerospace history
Ceo:	John L. Barry, Maj Gen, USAF (Ret)
Curator:	Chuck Stout
Publictransit:	Regional Transportation District
Parking:	On-site (no charge)
Nrhp:	-->

The Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum (WOTR) is located on the former Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, United States. The museum preserves the history of Lowry AFB's operations from 1938 to 1994 in its collections, archives, and research library.

History

From 1937 to 1994 Lowry Air Force Base, located on the eastern edge of Denver, was primarily a technical training center. It graduated more than 1.1 million enlisted members and officers in skills ranging from armament to photography, aiding the country's war efforts in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Cold War. From the 1980s Lowry Air Force Base remained one of Colorado's largest employers, with approximately 10,000 military and civilian men and women, providing an economic impact approaching $1 billion annually.

In 1994, the United States Air Force transferred Hangar 1 to a group of volunteers, who established Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. The Museum includes more than 182,000 square feet of hangar space and 50 aircraft dating from 1939 to 1990.

In 1997, the Colorado State Legislature passed House Bill 1269 that made Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum Colorado's official air and space museum,^[1] and the site of the Colorado Aviation Historical Society's Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame.

Facilities

"Exploration of Flight" is a campus located at Centennial Airport that serves as the second location of Wings Over the Rockies.^[2] It houses future-focused aviation and space galleries and exhibits.

Exhibits

• Space Station Freedom command module mockup built by Martin Marietta with CASIS' Science in Space Exhibit of the ISS
• U.S. NASA Astronauts with Colorado connections.^[3]
• Aircraft engine collection on display, both propeller and jet engines
• Nuclear weapons collection on display
• The Aviator Uniform Collection Exhibit Room.
• The Cold War Exhibit.
• The History of Avionics Exhibit Room.
• The Colorado Air National Guard Heritage Exhibit Room with Buckley Field and Buckley Air Force Base exhibits.
• The Colorado Aviation Historical Society's Heritage Hall featuring the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame.
• Rocky Mountain Airways Flight 217 Memorial
• Former United Airlines DC-10 and Boeing 727-200 cockpits
• Lucasfilm X-Wing Starfighter: a 3/4 scale replica built to promote the re-release of the first three Star Wars films in 1997.^[4]
• MaxFlight: a 360° full-motion flight simulator.

Collection

Military

• Beechcraft UC-45 Expeditor 42-37496^[5]
• Boeing GB-52B Stratofortress 52-0005^[6]
• Cessna U-3 57-5894^[7]
• Convair F-102A Delta Dagger 56-0984^[8]
• Douglas B-18A Bolo 39-25^[9]
• General Dynamics FB-111A 68-0287^[10]
• Grumman F-14A Tomcat 159829^[11]
• Lockheed F-104C Starfighter 56-0910^[12]
• Lockheed T-33A 56-1710^[13]
• LTV A-7D Corsair II 73-0996 "Speedwell"^[14]
• Martin EB-57E Canberra 55-4293^[15]
• McDonnell F-101B Voodoo 58-0271^[16]
• McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II 66-0286 "Julie"
• North American F-86H Sabre 53-1308^[17]
• North American F-100D Super Sabre 56-3417^[18]
• Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler^[19]
• Republic F-105D Thunderchief 60-0508^[20]
• Republic RF-84K Thunderflash 52-7266^[21]
• Rockwell B-1A 74-0160^[22]
• Schweizer TG-4 92-1541

Civilian

• Aerospatiale AS316Alouette III^[23]
• Alexander Eaglerock^[24]
• Adam M-309 (No. N309A)^[25]
• Aviat Special (No. N15JB)
• Ball-Bartoe Jetwing
• Christen Eagle II (No. N6LA)
• HL-20 Personnel Launch System^[26] on loan
• Learjet 24^[27] (No. N241JA). donated by Lynn Krogh of International Jet
• Murray Model T homebuilt helicopter, 1st to register in Colo. (No. N7222)
• Piper J3C-65 Cub (No. N42427)
• Rand Robinson KR-1 (No. N60BV)
• Schweizer SGS 1-24 Brigadoon, on loan from National Soaring Museum (No. N91888)^[28]
• Sky Star Aircraft Corp Kitfox
• Aerosport Woody Pusher (No. N393EA)

Space

• McDonnell Apollo Boilerplate BP-1101A^[29] (No. 101), on loan from Smithsonian
• HL-20 Personnel Launch System "Dream Chaser" ^[30] on loan
• Centaur Upper Stage^[31]

Programs

Wings Aerospace Pathways offers instruction to middle and high school students on aviation and engineering through hands-on aerospace-themed STEM experiences.^[32]

• Pilot Pathway offers Young Eagles, a program created by the Experimental Aircraft Association, to introduce students ages 8 to 17 to aviation by giving them their first free ride in an airplane. The program also includes the ground school workshop, which offers basic pilot training.^[33] Wings Over the Rockies flight training scholarships are provided by the James C. Ray Foundation for Colorado students ages 15 to 18.^[34]
• Drone Pilot Pathway includes an introductory drone flight course and visual line of sight (VLOS) training to earn a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, which allows an operator to fly drones commercially. Field training is also offered.^[35]

The Teacher Flight Program encourages STEM Colorado teachers to become Teacher Envoys and provides a free, 20-minute flight.^[36]

The Technical Research Library contains over 15,000 book titles on aviation and aerospace and 800 titles covering ballooning, aviation and aerospace in English and other languages. Extensive documents about Lowry Air Force Base history include over 1,000 digital photos of the base. The library also has vintage airline tables, seat magazines and a collection of rare NASA documents.

The museum produces a television show, "Behind the Wings", that airs on Rocky Mountain PBS. It teaches museum visitors and viewers about the history, innovation and future of aviation.^{[37] [38]}

See also

• CAF Rocky Mountain Wing Museum, Grand Junction, Colorado
• Colorado Aviation Historical Society, Denver, Colorado
• Peterson Air and Space Museum, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Pueblo Historical Aircraft Society, Pueblo, Colorado
• Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum, Pueblo, Colorado
• Spirit of Flight Center, Lafayette, Colorado
• Vintage Aero Flying Museum, Hudson, Colorado

Related lists

• List of aerospace museums

Notes and References

1. https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/1997a_sl_38.pdf State.CO.US Legislature: House Bill 97-1269
2. Web site: Exploration of Flight . Wings Over the Rockies . 25 July 2023.
3. Web site: Colorado's Astronauts . Wings Over the Rockies . 29 September 2016 . 3 November 2020.
4. Web site: Star Wars™ X-Wing Starfighter . Wings Over the Rockies . 29 September 2016 . 3 November 2020.
5. Web site: 1943 UC-45 Expeditor . Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum . 3 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160801123641/http://wingsmuseum.org/1943-uc-45-expeditor . 1 August 2016.
6. Web site: B-52 Stratofortress. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. 4 November 2016. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. 31 January 2017.
7. Web site: 1960 U-3A Blue Canoe . Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum . 3 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160801015316/http://wingsmuseum.org/1960-u-3a-blue-canoe . 1 August 2016.
8. Web site: 1963 F102A Delta Dagger . Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum . 3 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160707011832/http://wingsmuseum.org/1963-f102a-delta-dagger . 7 July 2016.
9. Web site: Douglas B-18 Bolo. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. 4 November 2016. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. 31 January 2017.
10. Web site: General Dynamics FB-111A Aardvark . Wings Over the Rockies . 25 July 2023.
11. Web site: F-14 Tomcat. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. 4 November 2016. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. 31 January 2017.
12. Web site: F-104 Starfighter. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. 4 November 2016. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. 31 January 2017.
13. Web site: 1952 T-33A T-Bird . Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum . 3 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160906155116/http://wingsmuseum.org/1952-t-33a-t-bird . 6 September 2016.
14. Web site: 1972 Corsair II . Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum . 3 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161003022727/http://wingsmuseum.org/1972-corsair-ii . 3 October 2016.
15. Web site: 1950 B-57 Canberra . Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum . 3 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160823132015/http://wingsmuseum.org/1950-b-57-canberra . 23 August 2016.
16. Web site: 1962 F101B Voodoo . Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum . 3 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160823132120/http://wingsmuseum.org/1962-f101b-voodoo . 23 August 2016.
17. Web site: F-86H Sabre. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. 31 January 2017.
18. Web site: F-100 Super Sabre. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. 4 November 2016. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. 31 January 2017.
19. Web site: EA-6B Prowler. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. 4 November 2016. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. 31 January 2017.
20. Web site: 1965 F105-D Thunderchief . Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum . 3 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160906145559/http://wingsmuseum.org/1965-f105-d-thunderchief . 6 September 2016.
21. Web site: 1955 RF-84K Thunderflash . Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum . 3 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160902034024/http://wingsmuseum.org/1955-rf-84k-thunderflash . 2 September 2016.
22. Web site: B-1A Lancer. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. 4 November 2016. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. 31 January 2017.
23. Web site: Aérospatiale Alouette III . Wings Over the Rockies . 2023 . 11 May 2023.
24. Web site: Alexander Eaglerock . Wings Over the Rockies . 2023 . 11 May 2023.
25. Web site: Adam A500 . Wings Over the Rockies . 2023 . 11 May 2023.
26. Web site: Dream Chaser . Wings Over the Rockies . 2023 . 11 May 2023.
27. Web site: Lear Jet 24 . Wings Over the Rockies . 29 September 2016 . 3 November 2020.
28. Web site: Sailplanes in Our Collection . National Soaring Museum . 3 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040619013659/http://soaringmuseum.org/collection.html . 19 June 2004.
29. Web site: BP-1101 "Boilerplate" Capsule . Wings Over the Rockies . 23 July 2015 . 3 November 2020.
30. Web site: Dream Chaser® . Wings Over the Rockies . 29 September 2016 . 3 November 2020.
31. Web site: Centaur Upper Stage . Wings Over the Rockies . 29 September 2016 . 3 November 2020.
32. Web site: Wings Aerospace Pathways . Wings Over the Rockies . 2023 . 10 May 2023.
33. Web site: Pilot Pathway . Wings Over the Rockies . 2023 . 10 May 2023.
34. Web site: James C. Ray Foundation Scholarship . Wings Over the Rockies . 2023 . 10 May 2023.
35. Web site: Drone Pilot Pathway . Wings Over the Rockies . 2023 . 10 May 2023.
36. Web site: Teacher Flight Program . Wings Over the Rockies . 4 November 2016 . 3 November 2020.
37. Web site: Wings Over the Rockies Secures TV Show on Rocky Mountain PBS . Wings Over the Rockies . 3 April 2019 . 3 November 2020.
38. Web site: Behind the Wings Podcast . Wings Over the Rockies . 2023 . 10 May 2023.