Colorado Aviation Historical Society facts for kids
The Colorado Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) is a group dedicated to the exciting history of airplanes and flying in Colorado. It was started in 1966 and is located at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver.
CAHS works to find, fix up, and protect old airplanes and other items related to aviation. They want to make sure these important pieces of history can be seen by everyone. The society also puts on many aviation events. They often take part in Colorado's air shows and special "fly-in" gatherings where pilots bring their planes.
The society has regular meetings for its members. They also publish a journal four times a year that shares stories about aviation history. CAHS owns two special airplanes. One is an Alexander Eaglerock Model 24 Long Wings airplane. You can see it at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. They also own a Steen Skybolt aerobatic biplane. This plane is on display at the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum in Pueblo, Colorado.
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Honoring Colorado's Aviation Heroes
The CAHS celebrates the amazing pilots and aviation pioneers from Colorado's past. They manage the process for people to be chosen for the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame. This special Hall of Fame is part of the Heritage Hall Exhibit Room. You can find it inside the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum.
What You Can See in Heritage Hall
The exhibits in Heritage Hall change often. They show different parts of aviation history. For example, you might see displays about the Colorado Air National Guard. Other exhibits cover general aviation (private flying) or the important role of women in aviation. There are also displays that show a timeline of aviation history. You can learn about civil aviation (non-military flying) and commercial aviation (like airline flights) in Colorado. New members are added to the Hall of Fame each year during the CAHS's annual banquet.
Exploring Aviation History: The Archaeology Program
One of the most exciting programs at CAHS is the Aviation Archaeology (AvAr) Program. This program was created in 2005, and the first group of students started in 2006.
What Aviation Archaeology Is All About
Aviation archaeology is like being a detective for old airplanes. People in the AvAr Program learn how to research accident reports. They also learn about federal and state laws related to historical sites. They get training in simple orienteering (finding their way around) and how to properly record and investigate crash sites.
Where AvAr Teams Explore
Members of the AvAr Program visit many interesting places. They go to old aircraft crash sites. Colorado has more than 800 military aircraft crash sites! They also explore former missiles facilities. Sometimes, they visit old airplane factories or abandoned airfields and airstrips. It's a way to discover and preserve hidden parts of aviation history.
More Places to Explore Aviation
- CAF Rocky Mountain Wing Museum, Grand Junction, CO
- Peterson Air and Space Museum, Colorado Springs, CO
- Pueblo Historical Aircraft Society, Pueblo, CO
- Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum, Pueblo, CO
- Spirit of Flight Center, Lafayette, CO
- Vintage Aero Flying Museum, Hudson, CO
- Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, Denver, CO
- List of aviation historical societies
- List of airports in Colorado
