Love of Warbirds Remains Timeless

Pilots’ obsession with former military aircraft never fades away.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, September 22, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The SNJ-5 is a variant of the North American T-6 Texan aircraft, a single-engine advanced trainer developed for the U.S. Navy and other allied air forces during World War II. [Credit: Alex Munro]

Key Takeaways:

Warbirds, iconic WWII aircraft, are exceptionally rare and valuable due to their post-war destruction and age, making them cherished exhibits at airshows like EAA AirVenture.
Piloting these complex and high-performance aircraft requires specialized training, often starting with a tailwheel endorsement and progressing through specific models like the T-6, which are described as demanding and unforgiving without proper instruction.
Owning and operating a warbird involves significant investment and a dedication to preserving aviation history, often shared with the public at airshows, where families connect with their personal military aviation heritage.

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“I remember when the ramp was covered with them.”

These wistful words were spoken by an elderly gentleman as he sat on his motorized scooter in front of a P-51 on display at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The year was 2004. The man was in his 80s and was accompanied by his adult children and grandchildren who wanted to see the airplane “Pop-Pop” flew when he was 19 years old and a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps.