Aviation enthusiasts who aren’t in Oshkosh this week — or who may be passing through Colorado on their way home — have a new destination to visit, with the official opening of the Exploration of Flight campus on the south side of Centennial Airport. The 19,000-square-foot Boeing Blue Sky Aviation Gallery, a project of the Wings Over the Rockies Museum, opened to the public this week. The venue offers a variety of options to help visitors experience the world of flight — a ride in a tumbling gyro chair will make clear the effect of G-forces on the human body, an operating wind tunnel is available for visitors to test their own designs and virtual-reality flight experiences invite visitors to try their wings.
On the second level, visitors can learn about all the elements that mesh together to create today’s aviation system. A viewing lounge overlooks the nonstop action at Centennial Airport, the second-busiest general aviation airport in the U.S. Guests can listen to the chatter from Centennial Tower, try out flight simulators or go for an introductory flight, through a partnership with Aspen Flying Club. The Gallery is openFridaysandSaturdaysfrom10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,andSundayfromnoon to 5 p.m. The hangar is located at 13005 Wings Way, Englewood.
