Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum is a public Museum that displays numerous aircraft and other Air and Space collections. the Museum's primary exempt purpose is to enhance, preserve, and exhibit the heritage of military, civil, and commercial aviation and space-age involvement in the state of Colorado and the rocky mountain region while educating and inspiring people of all ages about aviation and Space endeavors in the past, present, and future. the collection housed by the Museum includes aircraft from the earliest days of flight to the Space age. An interactive education program challenges, youth to explore the adventure of flight. Wings Over the Rockies was designated as Colorado's official Air and Space Museum by the Colorado state legislature in 1996.

Wings aerospace exploration (wae) is a weekly enrichment program for middle and high school students interested in aviation and aerospace. the exploration pathway is centered on hands-on project-based learning that prepares students for a future in aerospace. In 2023, 68 students met weekly to participate in a hands-on experimental learning program with an aerospace focus. Of the total students, 35 participated in our middle school program and 33 were enrolled in our high school program. Each student has the option to participate in dual enrollment courses and earn industry certifications. Of the total students, 6 received college credit from spartan aeronautics and technology college, 6 students earned the faa part 107 drone pilot certificate and 10 students participated in the stellarxplorers national competition. the incredible hands-on experiences through the wae program includes everything from building an experimental faa certified aircraft to designing and building unmanned aerial vehicles (uav) such as radio-controlled aircraft, drones and helicopters. In addition, wae students have the opportunity to interact with mentors across the aviation and aerospace communities on a regular basis to inspire and encourage our future engineers, astronauts, pilots, rocket scientists, mechanics and more.

the "spreading Wings" pilot pathway scholarship program: this represents a scholarship program funded by the ray foundation that guides students on their path to becoming a pilot by providing comprehensive aviation education opportunities with low-to-zero financial barriers, allowing youth of any circumstance to participate in aerospace education and opportunities. This unique program is designed to inspire interest and potential in pilot training and professional aerospace careers among a motivated selection of middle and high school students. In 2023, Wings awarded 22 new flight training scholarships and had 19 total students earn their private pilot license and another 21 achieve their solo flight certificate. the optimized scholarship funding program administered by Wings Over the Rockies provides pilot training to solo and beyond, including the introduction to a wide range of professional aerospace careers.

Purpose achievements:the spreading the Wings teacher flight program: Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum invites Colorado teachers to take a free flight with the spreading the Wings teacher flight program. the program, funded by the ray foundation, helps bring aviation to the classroom by offering Colorado teachers from every elementary, middle and high school within Colorado with the opportunity to take a 30-minute flight in a variety of small 2 or 4 seat piston prop aircraft, including a vintage t-34 military training aircraft. In addition to enjoying the freedom and inspiration of flight, teachers become the spreading the Wings coordinators for the Museum and gain aviation resources and curriculum to share with their students in virtually all stem subject areas. the teachers become an important conduit for sharing Wings' programs and educational opportunities with their school communities. the program complements stem education by helping to introduce and engage students in important scientific and engineering concepts, as well as allowing students to explore and learn about exciting opportunities within aviation and aerospace. In 2023, 46 Colorado teachers took flight within the Wings teacher flight program.