The Collection

Sopwith Camel

1914-1918 - World War I
(Static Exhibit (Under Restoration))

Country: United Kingdom
Year: 1917
Engine: Various Rotaries
Horsepower: 100 - 160
Wingspan: 28 '
Top Speed: 118 mph (189 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 1453 lbs (659 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Reproduction

Arguably the most maneuverable fighter of World War I, the Sopwith Camel and the faster S.E.5a were the predominant British fighters of the last two years of the war. Its name came from the “hump” covering the twin Vickers machine guns. An improvement over the single gun, 80 HP Sopwith Pup, Camels were used by the RFC, RNAS, RAF along with the US Army Air Service and the US Navy.

Sopwith Dolphin

1914-1918 - World War I
(Under Restoration)

Country: United Kingdom
Year: 1917
Engine: Hispano-Suiza
Horsepower: 180 - 220
Wingspan: 32 ' 6"
Top Speed: 119 mph (191 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 1911 lbs (867 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Reproduction

The Sopwith Dolphin, despite its odd design, became a respectable, all-around fighter. Production was somewhat limited due to manufacturing problems with the Hispano-Suiza engine. Along with Spad XIII, Sopwith Camel and S.E.5a fighters, the Dolphin helped to maintain air superiority over the Western Front during the last year of the war.

Sopwith Pup

1914-1918 - World War I
(Active)

Country: Great Britain
Year: 1916
Engine: LeRhone 9C
Horsepower: 80
Wingspan: 26 ' 6"
Top Speed: 111 mph (178 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 1221 lbs (554 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Reproduction

The Sopwith “Pup” earned its nickname appearing to be the offspring of its larger predecessor, the Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter. It served in noble fashion with both the RNAS, and later, the RFC. It proved to be a match, if not superior in performance, to the Albatros D.III. It was finally outclassed in the spring of 1917 but not replaced by the Sopwith Camel until the fall of that year. Its delightful handling characteristics made it ideal for the first shipboard take offs and landings of an aircraft in August 1917.

SPAD VII

1914-1918 - World War I
(Active)

Country: France
Year: 1917
Engine: Hispano-Suiza
Horsepower: 150
Wingspan: 26 ' 11"
Top Speed: 138 mph (221 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 1808 lbs (820 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Reproduction

The SPAD VII was the first successful production aircraft from the Société Pour L’Aviation et ses Dérivés. It was powered by the 150 HP Hispano-Suiza water-cooled V-8, making it a high-performance machine that was sturdier than the contemporary Nieuport fighters flown by the Allies. Armed with a single Vickers .303 machine gun, it presented a […]

Spartan C-3

1919-1940 - Golden Age
(Static Exhibit)

Country: United States
Year: 1929
Engine: Wright J-6
Horsepower: 165
Wingspan: 32 '
Top Speed: 118 mph (189 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 2605 lbs (1182 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Original

A typical example of the stout Golden Age, general purpose biplane, the Spartan C-3 was built in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Throughout the production run, it mounted a variety of engines and landing gear configurations. It was used as a trainer, barnstormer, and air taxi.

Taylor E-2 Cub

1919-1940 - Golden Age
(Active)

Country: United States
Year: 1934
Engine: Continental A-40
Horsepower: 37
Wingspan: 35 ' 2"
Top Speed: 78 mph (125 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 925 lbs (420 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Original

The famous Piper Cub started out as the Arrowing Chummy and evolved into Taylor E-2 Cub. It was safe, fun to fly, and vastly underpowered at 20 HP. After mounting several other powerplants, Taylor settled on the 37 HP Continental A-40. With only a windshield for protection, side curtains were offered as an option. About 350 were built.

Taylor J-2 Cub

1919-1940 - Golden Age
(Under Restoration)

Country: United States
Year: 1936
Engine: Continental A-40
Horsepower: 37
Wingspan: 35 ' 3"
Top Speed: 87 mph (140 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 970 lbs (440 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Original

Evolved from the Taylor E-2 Cub, designer Walter Jamouneau, cleaned up C. G. Taylor’s little airplane. With some new contours, an enclosed cabin, and wider landing gear, a safe, fun airplane was made even better and around 1200 were built. It was still a low and slow airplane–one pilot remarked that eternity is a cross country trip in a J-2 Cub. It would eventually morph into the famous Piper J-3 Cub.

Thomas Pusher Model E

1896-1913 - Pioneer Era
(Static Exhibit)

Country: United States
Year: 1912
Engine: Curtiss OX-5
Top Speed: 50 mph (80 km/hr)
Original/Reproduction: Original

Cole Palen restored this rare, 1912 Thomas Pusher biplane flying it regularly for about two years. In an epic stunt, Palen flew it nearly 100 miles (in three, calm, very early morning hops) to New York City, landing at Flushing Airport. Trucked into Manhattan, both plane and pilot starred in a 1965 episode of the well-known TV show, “I’ve Got a Secret,” hosted by Steve Allen.

Thomas-Morse S-4B

1914-1918 - World War I
(Static Exhibit)

Country: United States
Year: 1918
Engine: Gnome, Le Rhone Rotaries
Horsepower: 80 - 100
Wingspan: 27 '
Top Speed: 95 mph (152 km/hr)
Gr. Weight: 1325 lbs (601 kg)
Original/Reproduction: Original

The Thomas Morse was the result of America’s effort to produce a fighter type for the Great War. Although it was never to be used for this purpose, it did have success as an advanced pursuit trainer for the Army, and the U.S. Navy used a seaplane variant that was fitted with twin floats. The seaplane model was designated the S-5.

Voisin

1896-1913 - Pioneer Era
(Static Exhibit)

Country: France
Year: 1908
Engine: Various
Horsepower: 50 - 65
Wingspan: 32 ' 10"
Top Speed: 35 mph (56 km/hr)
Original/Reproduction: Original

The French Voisin biplane of 1908 garnered worldwide fame after setting many records. In 1909, it inspired an American to create his own version of the Voisin and power it with an engine of his own design. Norvin Rinek is believed to have flown this rare Voisin six times near his Easton, Pennsylvania factory.