Colorado celebrated Aviation Week in many places last month, and Centennial did not waste the opportunity to mark the occasion.
The star of the Centennial Airport's Aviation Week celebration was the ‘Aluminum Overcast’, a World War II-era B-17 bomber. Built by Boeing, there are only five of these planes in the world that are still flying, and one landed in Centennial for the event. The 1945 aircraft carried 10paying passengers at a time, all smiling with delight, on short flights around the area. Revenue from ticket sales went to keep the aircraft flying.
The B-17, a massive, four-engine propeller-driven craft, could be seen in the air over Centennial for days, as it flew at low altitude over Chatfield Reservoir, Highlands Ranch, and the South Denver area before circling back to land at Centennial Airport. The roar of its engines was distinctive and people stopped to watch its flights.
Additional events at Centennial Airport including a golf tournament for charity, a lunch, and a hangar dance straight from the 1940s. Proceeds from these events went to the Centennial Airport Foundation; a non-profit organization that teaches the public about aviation and aeronautics. Monies also went to the Scholarship Fund of the Colorado Aviation Business Association Foundation, which helps people seeking careers in general and business aviation.
Airport officials could enhance the week by working with a banner printing company to create colorful flags for display at the event.
