The Shannon Collection

Our Vultee V-1AD  Special (NC16099) is the only known surviving V-1AD in the world. The aircraft was custom-built in 1936 for publisher, William Randolph Hearst Sr. In 1939, it was sold to a Panamanian Airline and during World War II, served in Central and South America for the American government. 

 The "Shannon Air Express" has a history dating back to 1940, when the silver-hulled airliner rolled off the assembly line and was sold to Braniff International Airlines.

Ron Alexander, known among fellow pilots as a “quiet giant” of aviation, also previously owned the beloved DC-3. Alexander restored the airplane and christened it Stars & Stripes.

The Pitcairn PA-5 was the first in the Mailwing series. It was designed to carry air mail and cargo. Pitcairn Aviation (the forerunner of Eastern Air Transport, and later Eastern Airlines) used 16 PA-5s to carry airmail on Contract Air Mail Route No. 19 between New York and Atlanta. These airplanes served seven cities, including Richmond, VA on the 792-mile route.

Famous for their aerodynamic efficiency, Bellancas featured airfoil-shaped wing struts and an airfoil-contoured fuselage. The Skyrocket model, favored by executives and sport-pilots, featured a stronger airframe and a larger engine than earlier Bellancas. Because of their short take-off, steep climb-out and load carrying capabilities, Skyrockets were used in the wilds of Canada and Alaska.

The Curtiss-Robertson Robin J-1 model was a newer version of the popular Robin, and featured a Wright J-6 radial engine rated at 165 horsepower. Other models were powered by 170-horsepower Curtiss Challenger and 90-horsepower OX-5 engines. The Robin Model J-1 was surprisingly maneuverable and easy to maintain. The pilot sat in front and two passengers sat in wicker seats in the back of the cabin.