Display Aircraft

The items below are a few aircraft currently on display in the Florida Air Museum with many more to see!

Aerosport Woody Pusher

History

The original Aerosport Woody Pusher was flown in 1964. It is a two-seat monoplane designed to be homebuilt. The aircraft is closely based on the Curtiss-Wright CW-1 Junior. It was designed by H.L. Woods, an engineer who previously worked for Bensen Aircraft Corporation.

This specific Woody Pusher was built and owned by Fred and Pat Quinn, Pioneer Volunteers here at the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo. According to the Quinns, this aircraft was built in their master bedroom, with the wings being attached later in a two car garage that never saw a car.

Ford 2A Flivver

History

The Ford 2A Flivver was a single pilot aircraft produced by Henry Ford and his team. It was revealed to the public on Ford’s 63rd birthday on July 30, 1926. This aircraft was originally marketed as the “Model T of the Sky,” as Ford wanted to build an economic, reliable aircraft for everyday travel. During its marketing, Ford’s good friend and head test pilot Harry Brooks attempted to fly from Dearborn, Michigan to Miami, Florid. After a precautionary landing was accomplished in Titusville, Florida that involved fixing a fuel leak and broken propeller, Brooks continued to Miami. Unfortunately, Brooks crashed off the coast of Melbourne, FL on February 25, 1938, and was never found. Ford chose to cancel the project soon after this incident.

As for this specific Ford Flivver, it was built as a replica in 1994. It is on loan to us by the Florida Aviation Historical Society. You can learn more about them and the Florida Aviation Hall of Fame here: https://www.floridaahs.org/

Convair XF2Y-1 Sea Dart

History

The XF2Y-1 Sea Dart was a prototype amphibious fighter aircraft. The military had concern around supersonic aircraft operating from aircraft carriers at the time. Thus, the Sea Dart was designed to be a supersonic seaplane. This design was polished by Ernest Stout’s team at Convair, and orders were placed in 1951. The Sea Dart first began testing in 1952, with its official maiden flight occurring on April 9, 1953. Later, on August 3, 1954, Lt. Charles E. Richbourg piloted the Sea Dart and successfully exceeded the speed of sound. This made it the first seaplane to become supersonic. Later that year, one of the test aircraft suffered catastrophic failure, and the St. Augustine, Florida native– Lt. Richbourg– lost his life. This led to the cancellation of the program.

As for the Sea Dart here at the Florida Air Museum, it never flew. This was because it was built soon before the program was cancelled. It is graciously loaned to us by the United States Navy.

Wayne Aircraft Company WR-1 Loving’s Love

History

The WR-1 Loving’s Love is a single seat, midget racer that took its maiden flight on August 7, 1950. It was designed and built by Neal Vernon Loving under his company, the Wayne Aircraft Company.  Though Loving designed five aircraft for different uses, he built this aircraft to compete in air racing. Soon after a glider crash in 1944, he became the first double amputee and African American to earn a Professional Race Pilots Association license. Loving later flew the Loving’s Love from Detroit, Michigan, to Kingstan, Jamica in the December of 1953. In 1954, this aircraft was designated as the winner of the Most Outstanding Design award during an Experimental Aircraft Association Fly-in at Rockford, Illinois, which later became EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

This specific Loving’s Love aircraft is a replica built by Maj. Gen. Patrick J. Halloran (Ret.). Maj. Gen. Halloran was a retired SR-71 and U-2 Air Force pilot who passed in 2024. He was close friends with Neal Loving and graciously donated this WR-1 Loving’s Love in his honor.

Grumman F-14 Tomcat

History

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a carrier-capable, supersonic, twin-engine, tandem two-seat, twin-tail, all-weather, variable-wing, fighter aircraft. The maiden flight of the F-14 occurred on December 21, 1970, with its first deployment for the United States of America Navy occurring in 1974. It went through many iterations, ending with the F-14D, which retired on September 22, 2006. It was originally designed for air-to-air missions but eventually became highly successful as an air-to-ground attack aircraft during its later tenure.

As for our F-14, it served honorably from 1975 as an F-14A. Later the aircraft was returned to the factory in 1991, where it was refitted to become a F-14D. Having accomplished 1,762 catapult launches, 1,769 carrier landings, and fired 6,041 bullets, this aircraft is truly a veteran of combat. It was retired after its–and all F-14s–last combat mission over Iraq on February 7, 2006. This aircraft later arrived at Lakeland International Airport on September 20, 2006, where it is displayed here at the Florida Air Museum. It was generously loaned to us by the United States Navy.

Please contact the Florida Air Museum if you would like to see our F-14 Tomcat. Due to various events on the SUN ‘n FUN campus throughout the year, the Museum cannot guarantee the F-14’s availability for observation. Thank you!