PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The Peterson Aero Club celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. This commemorates 75 years of flying, learning to fly and doing it safely.
Officially named the Rocky Mountain USAF Flight Training Center, it has played a significant role in the development of aviation training withing the military.
When World War II was over, passions about planes and flying remained high. Along with the increased attention to flying came tragedies.
After World War II, those who had flying in their blood such as the pilots, gunners, transport personnel and others who had a passion for it yearned for ways to continue flying and enjoy its camaraderie.
But when several veterans were killed in accidents while flying civilian aircraft, Gen. Curtis E. LeMay decided to start an aero club for blue suiters where flying safety would be top priority. With a few Piper Cub aircraft, LeMay began the early aero clubs. The one at Pete Field in 1951 was one of the first four that sprung up.
Over the years, as the popularity of aero clubs grew, their role in the Air Force began to evolve into one of mission support for the Air Force. A small plane can move people and items quickly and get to a location quicker and quieter than a helicopter.
Now aero clubs fly TDYs, participate in rescue missions, fly anti-terrorist missions and act as couriers, delivering much needed parts, mechanics and tools.
Because aero clubs are more involved in mission support for the Air Force, they made the transition to flight training centers, offering some of the finest flight training to students.
“Everything looks so much better from the air. When you’re piloting a plane, you’re completely in control of your life,” said Saundra Stienmier, a former director of the Peterson Aero Club. “It’s a powerful feeling, like nothing else in the world.”
Flight instructors and well-prepared pilots pay close attention to detail, painstakingly reviewing their plane before flight, running checklists with exact precision before and after takeoff to ensure safety. The club was named a distinguished flight school in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2025 by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
Learning to fly is safe and easy thanks to highly trained, competent instructors, supervised and regulated by the FAA. Today, anyone interested in becoming a pilot begins by successfully completing private pilot ground school, offered about every eight weeks, usually at a set fee. After ground school comes the flying portion, where the student works one-on-one with a pilot at their hourly rate, learning the rigors and techniques of aviation in the air. The more frequently a student completes required flying lessons, the sooner they may take the flying portion of the test that certifies them as a pilot.
Once certified, a private pilot can go beyond the basics; the Peterson Aero Club offers additional flight certifications including:
Specialized courses include:
(* VA benefits will pay for these courses.)
The Peterson Aero Club is located in Hangar 133 on Hamilton Avenue. For information, visit https://21fss.com/aero-club/ or call 719-556-4310.
(Watch for news about the aero club’s celebratory events this year which include a movie night in June, aviation day in August or September, and aero club legends in October or November.)