The restoration, preservation, and operation of vintage aircraft have been part of EAA since the very beginning. In addition to the more than 50 aircraft on display (and in some cases flying) at Pioneer Airport, our main museum building showcases a number of aircraft and artifacts from the golden age of aviation.
Here, you’ll find the elegantly simple 1929 Monocoupe-Velie 113, the charming Aeronca C-2-N from 1930, and the gleaming 1940 Harlow PJC-2. As you explore, you’ll also come across types like the 1933 parasol-wing Davis D-1-W, a meticulously detailed replica of Charles Lindbergh’s famous Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis, and, of course, the venerable Piper Cub. This exhibit also features fascinating designs that were arguably before their time, like the impressive 1931 Pitcairn PCA-2 autogiro and the remarkably futuristic Bugatti Model 100 whose lines challenge you to believe that it was actually built all the way back in 1939.
Antique and classic aircraft aren’t just part of EAA’s history, they’re part of everyone’s history, and we are especially privileged and proud to serve as caretakers for so many of these magnificent artifacts.