Aircraft History

C-47s played an important role in World War II. Designed and produced by the Douglas Aircraft Company, the C-47 was a dedicated transport plane.

The bomber was christened with the name “Yellow Rose” in honor of the song “The Yellow Rose of Texas” due to the aircraft being restored and flown by the Commemorative Air Force Central Texas Wing.

For a short time only, we have acquired a very peculiar part of history. The Antonov AN-2 stands proudly as the largest single-engine biplane ever produced.

With the rapid innovations being made in flight during the early to mid-20th century, it’s no wonder that the US government was going to great lengths to constantly update and add to the arsenal of the US Army Air Corps, later the US Air Force.

In the mid 1930’s, the world was heating up as nations postured for another war. Despite aiming for neutrality and isolationism, the United States government still took great strides to ensure the armed forces would be ready for war.

Suspended in the corner of the White Hangar is one of the earliest fighter aircraft developed.

Among the oldest aircraft in our collection is the Curtiss-Wright CW-1 Junior. The Junior was to be an affordable aircraft, roughly the cost of the average car.

This week we have a new temporary addition to our collection. A beautiful white, black, and red Twin Comanche currently occupies a space in the White Hangar.

Today we have on temporary exhibit one that was built not by Piper, but by Cub Crafters. This is their Carbon Cub SS.

In the late 1950s, the inventor and entrepreneur William Lear Sr. began to develop a company he would call Learjet Corporation.

Today is National Vietnam War Veterans Day. It is observed on this day because it was on March 29, 1973, that the last of the United States military forces disbanded and left Vietnam.

North American was made famous with its P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft, and it continued to produce airplanes for the military into the 1950s.

The Arkansas Air and Military Museum is home to an infamous replica of a 1920s racing aircraft. This aircraft is known as the Mystery Ship.

Today we are talking about our Piper Cub, which is designated by the US Navy as an NE-1.

Today we are posting about our 80% scale flying model of a World War I aircraft, the Nieuport II!

In the 1950s, the jet age changed the face of the U.S. military, creating a need for new aircraft to replace older aircraft such as the Navy’s A-1 Skyraider.

Bernard Pietenpole was a self-taught mechanic and airplane designer from Cherry Grove, Minnesota, who wanted to create airplane kits the “average” American could build and afford.

The Stinson Aircraft Company was founded in 1920 by Eddie Stinson and his sister Katharine Stinson.

Vought had been a popular military aircraft company since the 1930s, producing such popular planes as the F4U Corsair and the SB2U Vindicator.

The Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) started in the 1930s, training college students to fly. This program grew larger and faster than anticipated, and thus, they did not have enough aircraft for it.