Celebrating the AAA's Diamond Jubilee:
Aircraft from the First Few Fly-Ins

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It started as a conversation at lunch a few weeks after the 2012 AAA/APM Invitational Fly-in. APM President Mike Gretz, Ben Taylor and yours truly were already contemplating the theme, featured aircraft and other such ideas for the 2013 AAA/APM Invitational Fly-in (Aug 28th - Sep 2nd 2013). In our mental perambulations we came upon the realization that 2013 would be the 60th Anniversary of Robert Taylor founding the AAA and after much cyphering (on bar napkins), determined that the 2013 AAA/APM Invitational Fly-in would be the 60th annual event as well.

As for a theme we needed to look no further and with the enthusiastic support of the APM and AAA Boards we have begun said planning. A key to the idea of celebrating our 60th Annual Fly-in was to attempt to find as many aircraft as possible that attended the first few National Fly-ins.

This Canadian-built DeHavilland Tiger Moth attended the very 1st AAA National Fly-in at Ottumwa, IA in 1954. If you have any leads as to the identity and/or whereabouts of this 'Moth please let us know.

Perhaps a bit of AAA history is in order: The 1st AAA National Fly-in was held at the Ottumwa airport, now the Ottumwa Industrial Airport (OTM) and a total of 5 antique airplanes attended, plus a Stearman duster flown in by Franny Rourke, Allen Rudolph's Model A powered Pietenpol Aircamper and other more "modern" aircraft such as a BT-13, Swift, Navion, early model Bonanza, Cessna 120 etc. The 1955 Fly-in was also held at Ottumwa but as yet we have found no record of the aircraft attending that event though research continues. In 1956 the AAA National Fly-in was combined with the EAA National Fly-in and that event was held at Oshkosh, WI. Attendance at that event was 20 or so antiques and classics. Then in 1957 the fly-in was held back in Ottumwa. In fact there apparently were two AAA Fly-ins held in Ottumwa that year. One in June, the other on the more traditional September dates. While the June Fly-in attendance suffered from weather problems the September Fly-in saw more than 20 antiques, classics and a few homebuilts in attendance.

With the above data we have begun a search to find those aircraft and invite them to once again attend the AAA/APM Invitational Fly-in as the centerpiece to our 60th Anniversary celebration. We'd also welcome any of those early/members and pilots that attended those first events to come forward as we would value your participation as well.

This Waco RNF, N11210, attended the 1st AAA National Fly-in at Ottumwa, IA and is currently registered in Scottsdale AZ.

So following is a list of those aircraft we know attended those inaugural AAA events. While this list has data missing we hope our readers out there can help fill in those blanks, give us a more complete data base with which to work from and in turn help make the 60th Annual AAA Fly-in a very memorable one for all those who attend. We'd also welcome any photos, stories or remembrances of these early AAA events that you might care to share with us.

Brent Taylor, Fly-In Chairman

This Pitcairn PA-7 "Mailwing", NC13158, was in attendance at the 1st AAA National Fly-in at Ottumwa, IA in 1954. It was recently donated to the Owls Head Transportation Museum in Maine. Would be great to see it at our 60th Annual Fly-in in 2013.

AAA Founder & President, Robert Taylor, greets Mike Rezich and his Travel Air D4D, NC606K, at the 1st AAA National Fly-in (1954) in Ottumwa, IA. The Rezich brothers and their Travel Air were regular attendees at the early AAA Fly-ins.

Fleet 1, N8616 at the 1955 National Fly-in at Ottumwa. AAA founder/president Robert Taylor had his first open cockpit biplane ride in this Fleet (AAA archives)

NC8616 as she appears today. Owned by Ron Price, this Fleet has been a regular visitor to Antique Airfield over the last several years. (Gilles Auliard photo)

The caption on the back of this photo stated this Fleet 2, N431K, had attended the 1956 AAA/EAA National Fly-in, Oshkosh, WI. (AAA archives)

NC431K at the 2012 AAA/APM Invitational Fly-in. Just freshly retored by owner Stan Sweikar, it was a big award winner at the event. (Nigel Hitchman photo)

This model A powered Pietenpol, NX13691, attended the very 1st AAA National Fly-in in 1954 at Ottumwa, IA. The above photo (by Gilles Auliard) of Ted Davis flying the 'Piet, was taken during the 2005 AAA/APM Invitational Fly-in at Antique Airfield.

Our 2002 Grand Champion Antique, the 1935 Pasped Skylark, NC14919, was an early AAA National Fly-in attendee as far back as at least 1957. We hope to see current owner, Robert "Buzz" Penny from Versailles, MO, back at Antique Airfield with the Pasped in 2013.