Colorado Aviation Historical Society facts for kids
The Colorado Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) is a group dedicated to the exciting history of aviation in Colorado. It was started in 1966 and is located at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver.
The Society works to find, fix up, keep safe, and show old airplanes and other cool items related to Colorado's aviation past. They host many aviation events and take part in Colorado's air shows and fly-ins. Members of the Society have regular meetings and get a special history magazine four times a year.
CAHS owns two special airplanes. One is an Alexander Eaglerock Model 24 Long Wings plane, which you can see at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. The other is a Steen Skybolt aerobatic biplane, which is on display at the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum in Pueblo, Colorado.
Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame
The CAHS also honors important people from Colorado's aviation history. They choose individuals to be part of the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame. This special Hall of Fame is located inside the Heritage Hall Exhibit Room at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum.
The exhibits in Heritage Hall change often. They show different parts of aviation history, like the story of the Colorado Air National Guard, general flying for fun, and the role of women in aviation. You can also see a timeline of aviation history and learn about Colorado's civilian and commercial aviation (like passenger flights). New members are added to the Hall of Fame during the CAHS's yearly celebration dinner.
Aviation Archaeology Program
One of the most unique programs at CAHS is the Aviation Archaeology (often called AvAr) Program. This program started in 2005, and its first group of students began in 2006.
Aviation archaeology is like being a detective for old airplanes and aviation sites. People in the AvAr Program learn how to research old accident reports and understand laws. They also learn how to use maps (called orienteering) and how to properly record information from a site.
AvAr Program members visit many interesting places. They go to old aircraft crash sites, former missiles facilities, places where airplanes used to be built, and even abandoned airfields and airstrips. There are over 800 military aircraft crash sites in Colorado that they can explore to learn about the past.
See also
- CAF Rocky Mountain Wing Museum, Grand Junction, CO
- Peterson Air and Space Museum Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, CO
- Pueblo Historical Aircraft Society Pueblo Airport, Pueblo, CO
- Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum Pueblo Airport, Pueblo, CO
- Spirit of Flight Center Lafayette, CO
- Vintage Aero Flying Museum Platte Valley Airpark, Hudson, CO
- Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum Old Lowry AFB Campus, Denver, CO
- List of aviation historical societies
- List of airports in Colorado
