The Experimental Aircraft Association Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has introduced six new aircraft for visitors looking to turn back the clock and admire aviation history.
The aircraft, which include a pair of historic replicas, a restored ultralight hang glider, and three World War II-era military aircraft on loan, have been placed in exhibits in recent weeks.
“The opportunity to be able to feature these marvelous aircraft as a part of our displays adds new stories to our already expansive collection,” said Chris Henry, EAA Aviation Museum director, in an announcement. “It is a testament to how whether you are a homebuilder, a restorer, or amateur aviator who dreams of flight, you have a true community at EAA.”
Aviation history buffs should keep an eye out for these six aircraft the next time they visit the museum.
Douglas World Cruiser
The Douglas World Cruiser is inarguably one of the most legendary aircraft in history. In 1924, a pair of them, flying for the United States Army Air Service, made the first successful flight around the world, taking off from Seattle and landing there five months later.
Now, a full-scale replica of one of the open-cockpit biplanes—aptly named Seattle—stands on display at the EAA Aviation Museum to honor the pioneering feat.
The original Seattle crashed in Alaska, having failed where its counterparts Chicago and New Orleans—both on display at other museums—succeeded. But EAA members Robert and Diane Dempster meticulously reproduced it from scratch, studying plans at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum and even visiting the crash site.
The project began in 2000, and the Dempsters began building the replica at their coffee shop in 2005. According to EAA, the build required a full-fledged team and even a forklift to handle its four 15-foot wings. The replica made its maiden flight in 2014. Earlier this year, it made an appearance at EAA AirVenture, to the surprise of many attendees.
Epps Monoplane
Turning back the clock further, EAA recently introduced a replica of the 1912 Epps Monoplane, built by Ben T. Epps, a self-taught mechanic and Georgia’s first recorded aviator.
The open-cockpit, wire-braced, mid-wing monoplane was built using scrap timber, cotton covering, bicycle wheels, and a low-horsepower engine. Epps began flying homebuilt aircraft in 1907 and survived a series of crashes. The model he constructed in 1912 crashed the same year, but Epps would go on to build a single-seat flying machine in 1925 that he managed to sell for $1,000 to a buyer in New York, according to Athens-Ben Epps Airport (KAHN) in Georgia.
Replicas of Epps’ monoplanes are rare. One of the few on display is housed at Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum in Titusville, Florida, built by John Pruett.
Icarus II
In 2025, John Moody, considered the father of ultralight aviation, asked EAA to restore his original Icarus II.
Moody flew the foot-launched biplane hang glider, the first powered ultralight capable of taking off from level ground, at Oshkosh in 1976. Although it ultimately suffered damage, he disassembled the ultralight and stored some of its components for 49 years, according to Bill Darnell of EAA chapter 576650.
Darnell and the Michigan Ultralight Association Flying Club led the restoration of the Icarus II, which used a small, 10 hp gasoline engine attached between the wings. They picked up the remaining components from Moody’s home, replaced its fabric—using white polyester wedding dress lining that Moody had saved—built new ribs, cleaned and repaired the wing spars, and recovered the surfaces. Another ultralight legend, John Chapman, donated a new MAC-101 engine and mount.
Well over one dozen people were involved in the effort. The restored Icarus II now has a new home at the EAA Aviation Museum.
Curtiss P-40, Grumman F4F, and PBY-5A Catalina
Joining the two replicas and restored Icarus II at the museum are a trio of World War II-era airplanes.
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk and Grumman F4F Wildcat are on loan from the Frasca Field Collection of vintage warbirds assembled by Rudy Frasca, founder of flight simulator designer Frasca International, and his family. The collection, housed at the Frasca Air Museum in Illinois, also comprises the Supermarine Spitfire, North American SNJ Texan Navy trainer, and Beechcraft T-34 Mentor.
Both the Warhawk and Wildcat could be spotted at Oshkosh earlier this year.
The amphibious Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina comes from the American Heritage Museum and Collings Foundation. The PBY-5A, which also appeared at this year’s AirVenture, will remain on display at the museum until the 2027 airshow.
The Warhawk features iconic shark mouth nose art and according to EAA helped more than 200 Allied pilots achieve ace status. The aircraft was produced between 1939 and ’44, and more than 13,000 were built, making the single-engine bomber one of the most widespread military aircraft of its era.
The loaned Wildcat is a model FM-2 license-built by General Motors. It served on the Navy’s frontline for all of WWII, making it the only fighter to do so. EAA noted the carrier-based warbird’s legendary win-to-loss ratio in the Pacific Theater. Many surviving Wildcats are stored in American museums, and a handful remain airworthy.
The newly restored PBY-5A Catalina, which earned Grand Champion WWII honors during AirVenture 2026, was credited with sinking three German U-boats and badly damaging another, according to EAA, making it the Navy’s highest scoring U-Boat destroyer. It also played a key role in search and rescue operations. The model, Bu. No. 2459, is the oldest operational Catalina and has been flown continuously since its construction in 1941, per the American Heritage Museum.
