The Beechcraft Starship 2000 was an extremely innovative design when it was released in 1986. The luxury plane includes two pusher propeller turbo prop engines, two forewings known as “Canards,” and two large winglets on the main wings that Beechcraft called “tip sails.” Furthermore, the Starship is the first pressurized all-composite turboprop aircraft. Beechcraft made 53 Starships, and though they were eventually recalled, they pushed the aircraft industry into the age of composite materials. This Starship was the 41st off the line, and was donated by Raytheon in 2003. Many of the planes were destroyed as part of the recall, making this plane one of the few intact examples. Please help us to restore this unique plane, so that this emblem of 1980s optimism can endure.

The Cessna T-37 was the primary trainer plane for fighter pilots in the US military for over 50 years. The planes were rolled out in 1954, and were popular with instructors because of the side by side seating. T-37s were known for making a high pitch whistle noise, and were sometimes called ‘The Tweet,’ ‘Tweety Bird’ and even ‘Screamin’ Mimi.” This T-37 came off the line at Cessna in 1958, and undoubtedly trained numerous fighter pilots. It was recovered from an area Davis–Monthan Air Force Base known as the “Boneyard,” by Kansas Aviation Museum volunteers. The trainer was restored in Wichita, and officially placed on a permanent loan from the National Museum of the Air Force in 2003. Please help us to restore this piece of Wichita history that played such an important in the training of this country’s fighter pilots.

The Boeing B-52 “Stratofortress” came to define nuclear tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. With a 185 foot wingspan, this 8 engine behemoth is larger than the entire distance of the Wright Brothers’ original 120 foot flight. The nuclear capabilities of the B-52 ensured that the bomber was a Cold War mainstay. B-52s were used extensively in the 1972 Linebacker II campaign in the Vietnam War. This B-52 flew its last mission over North Vietnam in 1973, and is still painted in the color scheme used for the undeclared wars of Southeast Asia. The plane was permanently grounded as part of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) between the US and the USSR. The SALT treaties limited the means by which nuclear bombs could be delivered, such as Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) and heavy bombers. This plane stands a monument to 20th century engineering and global peace negotiations. Your support can help to ensure this behemoth can continue to remind us of the dangers of global war.

When it launched in 1958, the Boeing 727 opened small and medium-sized airports to jetliner travel. The three-engine narrow bodied jet could serve airports that were unable to accommodate the larger Boeing 707. The 727 quickly became a mainstay for passenger service, and small charter flight companies. For many people in the 1960s and ‘70s, the 727 was their first experience with air travel. This 727 was manufactured in 1967 for World Airways, and was operated under lease by United Airlines, Afghanistan Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Air Mali. In 1974, World sold the jet to Air Mali, where it operated as a jetliner for 14 years. In 1988, FedEx bought the 727 for hauling packages, and is still outfitted as a cargo plane. FedEx named the plane the “Ms. Mali” because of her time as a passenger plane in Africa. Ms. Mali is in need of restoration, and your donation can help support the work of our volunteer restoration team. Please consider helping us preserve this piece of jet age history.