B-17 Hangar Dance Propels Wings Over the Rockies

Outdoing the “White Christmas” movie scene of a backstage wall opening to reveal Christmas Eve snow, around 400 aviation fans were treated to huge hangar doors raised to an outdoor scene of a magnificent WWII B-17 bomber and a stunning Colorado mountain sunset. It was all part of Wings Over the Rockies’ B-17 Hangar Dance on Saturday, June 8, at Signature Flight Support’s huge space at Centennial Airport. The dress code embraced the romance of the air, suggesting 1940s costumes and aviator uniforms, while the “flight plan” for the event was full of entertainment, history and a bit of education.

The west doors opened up to a gorgeous Colorado sunset.

The evening began with no less than eight caterers serving up tasty tidbits even as the outdoor runway area beckoned with ground tours of the vintage B-17 “Flying Fortress”—a lucky few were able to purchase next-day rides on the aircraft. Groove Machine provided background music that enticed some dance moves early on. Guests then gathered as one in the hangar for a program dedicated to Wings’ plans for a second location at Centennial Airport supported by a fundraising plan called Wingspan, as well as a short video about the museum’s history, plus a tribute to the 90th anniversary of the Colorado Air National Guard.

Speakers included Wings CEO and President Greg Anderson, as well as COO Dave Kerr. Personable Brig. Gen. Trulan Ayre, commander of the 140th Wing of the COANG, discussed the organization’s history and purpose. Those recognized as the newest members of the Wingspan initiative were: Bret, Cathy and Tyler Packard; Robb and Masako James; and August and Kathy Geise. After the hangar doors opened to the outside runway area, musical group Pink Champagne took the stage with a tribute to The Andrews Sisters that had many in the the crowd on the dance floor in no time.

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum is on a mission to educate and inspire people of all ages about aviation and space endeavors of the past, present and future. Located in Lowry (an Air Force base-turned-neighborhood), the museum continually adds interactive exhibits to its extensive array of military aircraft and space-and-rocketry displays, its research library and onsite gift shop. The venue also hosts school programs plus special events, this year ranging from air-and-space summer camps to an Air Force Tops in Blue Concert. For more information, please go online to www.WingsMuseum.org.