Delving Deeper Into Aviation History: Five Private Collections You Can Visit

Many rare and interesting aircraft reside in collections housed at airports.

Jonathan Welsh

Friday, July 29, 2022 at 05:07 PM ET

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A Messerschmitt Me-109 that's part of the Erickson Aircraft Collection. [Courtesy: Erickson Aircraft Collection]

Key Takeaways:

Many impressive collections of old airplanes are privately owned and accessible across the U.S., often founded and curated by passionate individuals or families.
The article highlights five diverse private aviation collections: Military Aviation Museum, Erickson Collection, Fantasy of Flight, Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, and Eagles Mere Air Museum.
These showcased collections feature a wide array of aircraft, from rare World War I and Golden Age planes to World War II warbirds, each with unique stories behind their formation.

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I love checking out old airplanes, whether it is the work-in-progress 1940s Stearman that lives in the hangar next to mine or the precisely restored fleet in the National Air and Space Museum.

And, there is so much more out there that fits between those extremes, from warbirds to experimental one-offs. Many of these aircraft are housed in private collections that are on display at airports across the U.S. You just have to find them, and carve out some time for a visit.