Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum

Take flight without leaving the ground

Article and photos by Liz Jurkowski

R2D2 rides atop this X-Wing Fighter from “Star Wars.”

Take a trip out of this world. Have you ever wanted to see an F-14? How about a B-1A Lancer? Or, do you want to take the kids to see a real X-Wing Fighter from the movie “Star Wars?” Luckily, there is a great place really nearby to see all of these and much more.
Hangar One, built in 1939 on Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, now houses the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum.

It was opened in 1994 “… to educate and inspire people of all ages about aviation and space endeavors of the past, present, and future.” The museum is perfect for all ages. Young visitors will love the Harrison Ford welcome theater and the X-Wing Fighter that was actually used in the “Star Wars” movies. Parents and grandparents may enjoy wandering through the collection of more than four dozen aircraft and space vehicles.

Those with an iron stomach and a true sense of thrill may want to check out the Aviation Xtreme Flight Simulation Center, where they can sit and “fly” a fighter jet in the same simulator machine used to train real fighter pilots.

In addition to the B-1A Lancer (this museum is one of only two museums in the world where visitors can see this aircraft) and the F-14, there are five “century-series” fighters, and a B-18A Bolo. A copy of the module from the International Space Station is at the museum, as well as many exhibits, tools, and parts of spacecraft used by NASA during the past several decades.

Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum is located at 7711 East Academy Boulevard. Price of admission ranges from $6 to $11. For more information, visit www.wingsmuseum.org or call 303-360-5360.