Wings Over the Rockies® to Bring Aviation’s Most Elite To Denver For Spreading Wings Gala
DENVER, CO | Sept 1, 2026 — The most anticipated night in Colorado aviation is taking flight.
On Saturday, Oct. 3, Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum® (Wings) will host its annual Spreading Wings Gala, bringing together aviation enthusiasts, military and business leaders, veterans, community supporters and some of the most accomplished names in American aviation for an extraordinary evening celebrating the legacy of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
This is more than a celebration of aviation history. It is an investment in its future. Proceeds from the Gala support Wings Over the Rockies’ museum and education programs, giving students opportunities to explore aviation, aerospace, engineering and emerging technologies.
“The Thunderbirds represent the very best of aviation: precision, excellence, teamwork and leadership,” said David Dickerson, President and CEO of Wings Over the Rockies. “Those are the same qualities we want to inspire in the young people we serve. The Spreading Wings Gala allows us to honor an incredible legacy while investing directly in the next generation who will carry it forward.”
This year’s Gala will offer guests an unprecedented opportunity to experience the Thunderbirds up close. Guests will meet former Thunderbird pilots, maintainers and crew, see historic aircraft connected to the legendary demonstration team, and enjoy dinner, drinks and entertainment inside the Museum’s iconic hangar.
This year we’re honoring the USAF Thunderbirds, with retired Brigadier General James Latham as our Guest of Honor. General Latham’s story is one of true resilience, flying 383 combat missions in Vietnam, surviving capture as a POW, and later serving two tours with the Thunderbirds as Commander and leader of the first F-16 team. His is the kind of story that reminds us of the importance of our mission.
Capping off the evening will be the official unveiling of Wings Over the Rockies’ newly restored Thunderbird F-16D, now becoming a permanent part of the Museum’s collection. The two-seat F-16D served with the Thunderbirds from 2000 to 2010.
For Wings Over the Rockies, the Thunderbirds represent what’s possible when talent, discipline, education and opportunity come together. Through education programs, camps, traveling exhibits and statewide outreach, Wings gives students hands-on opportunities to discover aviation and aerospace careers, develop technical skills and build the confidence to pursue their dreams.
“Every Thunderbird pilot was once a young person who looked up and wondered what was possible,” said Rachel Herman, Chief Experience Officer at Wings Over the Rockies. “Our goal is to make sure today’s students have the inspiration, education and opportunities to turn that curiosity into a career. When you attend the Gala, you are not simply celebrating the legacy of flight. You are helping create what comes next for thousands of young people.”
With a gathering of members of one of the world’s most recognizable flight demonstration teams, a legendary Thunderbird commander, the unveiling of a historic F-16D and an evening dedicated to the future of aviation, the 2026 Spreading Wings Gala promises to be an event unlike any other in Colorado.
The 2026 Spreading Wings Gala will be held Saturday, Oct. 3, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver.
For tickets and additional information, visit WingsMuseum.org.
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About Wings Over the Rockies:
Wings Over the Rockies (Wings) is a Colorado-based nonprofit organization and the state’s official Air and Space Museum. Wings is committed to educating, inspiring and exciting all people about aviation and space endeavors of the past, present and future. As one organization with two distinct locations – the historic Lowry neighborhood in Denver, and Centennial Airport in Englewood – Wings offers complementary experiences for visitors.
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum at Lowry is the museum’s primary home and serves as a spectacular repository for aviation and space history. Established in 1994, Wings’ Lowry campus features more than 97,000 square feet of exhibits, including over 60 aircraft and spacecraft, alongside the stories of people and innovations that shaped flight.
Wings Over the Rockies Centennial campus offers a dynamic, functional aviation experience. Opened in 2018, this location features interactive exhibits, aviation programming, and active aircraft that fly in and out of the airport, giving visitors rare, up-close access to aircraft operations and the runway environment. Together, the two locations welcome visitors from all 50 states and more than 34 countries each year. For more information, visit WingsMuseum.org.