The Golden Age of Flight

Many of the immortal names in aviation were to emerge during this brief time. These aeronautical pioneers, their equally famous planes, and their flight accomplishments are chronicled in the Museum's Golden Age of Flight area.

The barnstormers were an American phenomenon. These gypsy fliers helped keep aviation alive after World War I. In so doing, they favorably influenced the public's acceptance of air travel as the preferred means of getting from here to there.

The majority of America's aircraft companies were also founded during the Golden Age. Two of the more famous, Consolidated and Ryan, made their home in San Diego.

Both of these companies and their famous founders are honored with portraits in the museum's Hall of Fame and with exhibits in the Museum's Golden Age of Flight. Consolidated's first Army trainer, the PT-1 Trusty, and Ryan's ST, are displayed along with Consolidated's Fleet-2 and Ryan's B-5 Brougham. Other historic planes on display are the Curtiss Robin, a Piper J-3 Cub, an American Eagle, and the Aeronca C-3. They share the Golden Age of Flight area with a Rearwin "Cloudster," a WACO YKS-7, and a Curtiss Wright Junior.

The era of the Barnstormers has been recreated complete with a plane, a car and daredevil performers.

Then, World War II brought an end to aviation's romantic age of flight. Once again, the airplane became a weapon in the grim business of war.