Wings Over the Rockies is a Colorado-based, nonprofit organization that supports educational programming at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum.

This year’s scholarship winners will receive $12,000 for the pursuit of a private pilot certificate in either a single-engine airplane or a glider. The awards are made possible by the Ray Foundation, an organization that “provides grants for programs and educational organizations primarily in aviation that develop life skills such as honesty, worth ethic, self-confidence, and self-discipline.”

Scholarship applicants were subjected to a rigorous evaluation and interview process conducted by representatives from Wings Over the Rockies, the Captain Jeppesen Foundation, and other partner organizations, including Daedalian Flight 18, the Colorado Pilots Association, and the Colorado Aviation Business Association (CABA).

This year 119 students applied, and more than 50 made it to the interview process. Each scholarship recipient was assigned a mentor to guide them through the training process, which included both flight time and a thorough study regime to help them reach certification.

“Our future is bright with the up and coming students who want to pursue a career in aviation,” said retired U.S. Air Force Major General John Barry, president and CEO of Wings Over the Rockies. “We hope to continue to expand this scholarship program in the future and are incredibly grateful to the Ray Foundation for making this scholarship program available to Colorado’s future pilots.”

Since the program was launched in 2019, 150 high school students in Colorado ages 15 to 19 have received more than $1.3 million in scholarship awards. 

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A total of 22 Colorado students have been selected to receive 2023 WINGS’ flight training scholarships valued at either $8,000 or $12,000, based on their flight training experience, to pursue private pilot certification for single-engine airplanes.

The James C. Ray Foundation, a committed advocate for aviation education in Naples, Florida, provides the funding for these flight training scholarships, which WINGS disburses annually across Colorado. Over the past four years, WINGS has awarded 125 scholarships, amounting to $236,000, to aspiring pilots ages 15 to 18 who are eager to attain private pilot certification in gliders or single-engine airplanes. 

“Cultivating the next generation of private pilots is vital for the aviation industry’s continued success,” said John L. Barry, a retired Air Force major general who serves as president and CEO of WINGS. “We are honored to play a role in helping these dedicated and passionate students fulfill their aspirations. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the James C. Ray Foundation for enabling this scholarship program to benefit Colorado’s future aviators.”

READ MORE: Ray Foundation Propels New Pilots Into Aviation

The selection process for the WINGS flight training scholarship was rigorous, with more than 80 applications received. Each applicant underwent meticulous evaluation and interviews conducted by representatives from WINGS and its Captain Jeppesen Foundation. Upon selection, each scholarship recipient is assigned a mentor to provide guidance throughout their training journey, encompassing both flight hours and a comprehensive study regimen to facilitate their pilot certification.

To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must be Colorado residents and undertake their training through a state-based aviation business.

Editor’s Note: This story appeared originally on planeandpilotmag.com.

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As my kids often tell me, looking at leaves is not that exciting. But their splash of color adds one more lovely element to the outdoor pursuits we enjoy in the fall because the conditions tend to be just right. Besides, aren’t we always trying to cram in as much fair-weather fun as possible before the snow flies? Whether you are out for lunch, hiking, visiting historic sites, or picking pumpkins, autumn’s colors make the occasion more memorable. Following are some of the fall foliage hotspots we hope to visit soon.

Aspen-Pitkin County Airport/Sardy Field (KASE), Aspen Colorado

A challenging field pays handsome dividends

Pilots from outside the Rockies flying into Aspen during the fall might be surprised by its changing foliage, dominated by aspen trees (of course) that highlight the valleys in bright yellow, contrasting with neighboring evergreens. Aspen trees cover 20 percent of the state’s forest land, according to the Colorado State Forest Service. They grow at elevations from 6,500 to 11,500 feet, which fits well with the airport’s field elevation of just over 7,800 feet msl. This is a challenging airport where complicating factors, including density altitude and rising terrain mean you will have to plan the trip carefully. Peak foliage generally occurs by the third week of September. You can track it using the Aspen cam feed.

Walter J. Koladza Airport (KGBR), Great Barrington, Massachusetts

A New England oasis surrounded by mountains

Leaf peeping in the Berkshire hills is a classic New England autumn outing and Great Barrington is surrounded by scenic landscapes, making it an ideal base of operations for a foliage-themed family weekend. High ridges form a ring around much of the airport, hiding it from aircraft usually approaching at relatively low altitudes. But as soon as you clear the ridge, the terrain seems to fall away to reveal the 2,579-foot runway. The effect is impressive any time of year but especially so during autumn. If you want to go into town or explore the surrounding area for an hour or two, there might even be a crew car available at the airport office.  

Mammoth Yosemite Airport (KMMH), Mammoth Lakes, California

Outdoor activities abound in the High Sierras

At more than 7,100 feet msl, this is another high-elevation field requiring attention to density altitude and terrain. The rewards for careful planning are great, though, as the surrounding Sierras and mountain lakes form a striking backdrop beginning long before you reach the runway. The airport is a gateway to hiking, horseback riding, fishing, mountain biking, and other outdoor activities. The timing of peak foliage varies depending on weather, generally a good time to see the most dramatic displays starts during mid-September, with colors generally lasting through the first two weeks of October. 

Glacier Park International (KGPI), Kalispell, Montana

Two opportunities to take in the park's beauty

Glacier National Park arguably has two autumns each year. First, the cottonwood and aspen trees change from green to bright gold. These trees mainly occupy the western side of the park, near rivers and lake shores at lower elevations. Their transition typically takes place in mid to late September. The so-called second autumn usually begins in mid-October when the needles on western larch or tamarack trees begin to turn gold before dropping their leaves. Many of these trees cover the mountains on the park’s western side at higher elevations, where their gold displays often stretch up to the snowy peaks.

Jackson County Airport (24A), Sylva, North Carolina

Smoky Mountains on full display

The airport’s 3,210-foot runway sits at 2,857 feet msl atop Berry Ridge in the Smoky Mountains. From the air, it looks as if someone sliced off the top of the ridge and built the airport on the resulting flat spot. Indeed, that is essentially what happened when the county sought to relocate an existing airport that had become hemmed-in by development. By mid to late October the changing leaves of the rolling, forested landscape surrounding the airport should be their most colorful. There are many hiking trails nearby for additional scenic views.

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It was the tail end of what has come to be known as the Golden Age of Aviation. Only 36 years had passed since Wright made the first powered flight in a kite-like, heavier-than-air craft, but much had changed. Aviation had grown into a bustling, highly competitive industry marked by innovative developments and widespread experimentation. 

Pioneer pilots were regularly setting records for speed, distance, and altitude while pushing airframe and engine technology to the limit and often beyond. With World War II on the horizon, aviation was about to prove its strategic importance domestically and abroad.

Today, aircraft of various shapes and sizes are common sights, yet they remain technological marvels. Aviation Day is a time to reflect on how far aviation has come and consider where it might head in the future. Below are museums and other organizations holding events to mark the occasion.

National Aviation Day

First Flight Society National Aviation Day Celebration
Dare County Regional Airport (KMQI)
Manteo, North Carolina

The First Flight Society will celebrate its fourth annual National Aviation Day event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free event includes warbirds and other aircraft on display, numerous exhibitors, food trucks, and more. Presentations will include keynote speaker Larry E. Tise, a renowned historian who was the Wilbur & Orville Wright Distinguished Professor at East Carolina University from 2000 to 2015. Tise will give a talk titled “The Elusive Orville Wright from Kitty Hawk and Beyond.“

• READ MORE: Best Fly-In Festivals and Fairs

Wright Brothers National Memorial

Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
First Flight Airport (KFFA)

If you are already in the Outer Banks area for the festivities at KMQI, you should stick around for an evening program at the Kill Devil Hills site where the 1903 Wright Flyer made history. The National Park Service and its partner organization, Outer Banks Forever, will welcome J. “Bob” Balaram of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who will give a series of talks on Friday and Saturday. Those unable to attend in person can stream the events. Balaram was chief engineer for NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter during its development, testing, and mission on Mars. The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter made its first Martian flight on April 19, 2021, marking the first powered flight on another planet. 

Wings Over the Rockies Museum

Centennial Airport (KAPA)
Denver, Colorado

Celebrate National Aviation Day with pay-as-you-wish admission at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. Numerous exhibits include the Bell UH-1M Iroquois helicopter, affectionately known as the Huey, which helped transform the nature of mobile warfare during the conflict in Vietnam. There is also a three-quarter scale model of Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing fighter. You might also check out the museum’s Exploration of Flight center at Centennial Airport. The Air & Space Museum is roughly a 14-mile drive from the airport.

• READ MORE: Late-Summer Air Shows Feature WWII Aircraft

Henry Ford Museum

Dearborn, Michigan
Detroit City Airport (KDET)

We tend to associate Henry Ford with the auto industry but the man sought to move aviation into the mainstream in the same way that he transformed car travel with his Model T. The museum includes a range of aircraft from a Wright Flyer replica to Ford and Fokker tri-motor transports. To help mark National Aviation Day the museum is offering free tours of its Heroes of the Sky exhibit, a flight-themed story time and experiments in aerodynamics using everyday household materials.

Community Fly-In Friday: National Aviation Day

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Members of Microsoft Flight Simulator forums are planning virtual fly-ins to mark National Aviation Day. The group plans to fly to Dayton, Ohio, Orville Wright’s birthplace. Dayton’s other links with aviation include Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The group plans to depart from Godman Army Airfield (KFTK) in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and includes a flight plan and suggested aircraft to fly in its announcement. 

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Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum (WOTR) and the Jeppesen Aviation Foundation announced on December 17, “Wright Brothers Day,” that they have joined forces to create the Wings Over the Rockies Captain Jeppesen Foundation, a new 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation’s mission is to support Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in being a leader in providing aerospace educational opportunities fulfilling youthful dreams in the spirit of Captain Elrey B. Jeppesen and his legacy.

The newly-created Wings Over the Rockies Captain Jeppesen Foundation’s core mission will be to focus on aiding young people interested in aviation. By partnering with the foundation, WOTR can honor Captain Jeppesen as an aviation pioneer who made lasting contributions to aeronautical navigation and the safety of flight. Captain Jeppesen’s passion for flying and his dedication to safety serve as an inspirational model for young people as they explore career paths in aviation.

“We’re very excited to be part of Wings Over the Rockies, since we share a common interest in encouraging young people to pursue aviation careers,” said Sandy Stedman, president of the Wings Over the Rockies Captain Jeppesen Foundation. “This new partnership is particularly important in the face of the growing pilot shortage. This new arrangement will allow us to expand our scholarship activities for the next generation of aerospace leaders and to collaborate to preserve Captain Jeppesen’s legacy.”

The foundation is now accepting flight training scholarship applications from Colorado students ages 14 to 18. The foundation has already awarded 23 scholarships totaling nearly $100,000 and more scholarship funds are available. The scholarships will help students achieve glider solo, light sport aircraft solo and/or private pilot solo. Applications can be submitted at any time, and will be reviewed between the 1st and 7th days of every month until further notice. Interviews will be selected the last week of every month in a process that started October 2019.

The Wings Over the Rockies Captain Jeppesen Foundation will continue to raise funds and award numerous aviation scholarships and grants leading the creation of opportunities to advance aerospace education. Also, the new foundation will be the steward of the Elrey Jeppesen memorabilia on display at Denver International Airport, as did the former Jeppesen Aviation Foundation.

Captain Elrey Jeppesen had a colorful flying career even before starting the worldwide navigation products company that bears his name today. He began flying as a barnstormer with Tex Rankin’s Flying Circus in Oregon. Following the Great Depression, Jeppesen flew air mail in Boeing 4OBs in a time when no adequate navigational systems or information for pilots existed. “Jepp” realized the need for accurate navigational aids for pilots, and at the age of 23, he began developing manuals for safer navigation. The manuals and charts proved effective, and United Airlines soon bought the charts for their pilots. During World War II, “Jepp Charts” were adapted by the Navy as their standard flight manual. Today, “Jepp charts” are synonymous with flying general aviation and commercial aircraft in both VFR and IFR conditions. Any pilot who has completed IFR flight training surely has spent many hours studying Jeppesen approach plates.

“The Wings Over the Rockies Captain Jeppesen Foundation is a crucial next step in the evolution of Wings Over the Rockies and aviation education in Colorado,” explained Wings Over the Rockies president and CEO, Maj Gen John Barry, USAF (Ret). “We are excited to be joining the Jeppesen Aviation Foundation to offer unprecedented opportunities in aerospace and to help the aviation and space industries prosper for decades to come.”

For additional information on the foundation or to download an application, visit www.wingsmuseum.org/foundation or contact: Mike Pound, Foundation@WingsMuseum.org or (303) 829-2711.

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