Antique Airplane Association

The Antique Airplane Association (AAA) is a United States aviation organization focused on the preservation, operation, display, and historical interpretation of antique and classic aircraft. It was formed in August 1953 by Robert L. Taylor after he placed a classified advertisement in Flying magazine seeking people who shared a strong interest in old airplanes. The association was established at a time when no dedicated organization for antique and classic aircraft was generally available, and its central purpose became preserving early aircraft as functioning machines rather than treating them solely as static museum objects. The organization’s guiding idea is commonly expressed through the phrase “Keep the Antiques Flying.” This emphasis distinguishes the AAA from groups concerned only with aviation commemoration or collecting. Its activities encompass flying, preservation, information sharing, historical education, and the promotion of early aircraft and the people connected with them. The association also provides members with access to aviation history and with opportunities to record and exchange memories about the role that members and their aircraft have played in aviation culture. The AAA is headquartered at Antique Airfield in Blakesburg, Iowa. The airfield serves as the organization’s operational and community center and is associated with the preservation and presentation of historic aircraft. The national association supports a network of approximately 50 chapters and has about 7,000 members located throughout the United States and in 20 foreign countries, according to the organization’s published historical description. This chapter structure gives the AAA a national and international reach while retaining a strong connection to individual aircraft owners, restorers, pilots, mechanics, historians, and enthusiasts. During the late 1950s, the association was incorporated by Ken Cook, who was serving as its vice president. Cook also published a new version of the organization’s newsletter, later renaming it American Airman magazine. He ended his involvement with the AAA in 1961. During the 1960s, the organization acquired the remaining stock of parts for LeBlond aircraft engines. Most of those parts have since been depleted, although engine drawings remain among the association’s historical and technical resources. In 1970, the AAA board approved changes needed for the organization to be chartered as a nonprofit corporation in Iowa. It has operated in that nonprofit form since then. The association has also maintained a close relationship with Airpower Museum Inc.; Robert L. Taylor served as the national AAA’s founder and president and was formerly chairman of the museum’s board. The museum and airfield activities complement the association’s broader mission by providing places where aircraft, artifacts, technical knowledge, and personal histories can be preserved and interpreted. The Antique Airplane Association is therefore best understood not as an aircraft manufacturer or commercial airline, but as a membership-based aviation preservation organization. Its core value lies in sustaining the knowledge, parts, skills, aircraft, stories, and flying practices associated with the earliest generations of powered flight. Its continuing identity is tied to active preservation: maintaining historic aircraft in airworthy or displayable condition, encouraging their use, and connecting owners and enthusiasts through chapters, publications, events, and the Antique Airfield community.

The Antique Airplane Association was established in August 1953 by Robert L. Taylor, who used a classified advertisement in Flying magazine to find other people interested in preserving and flying old airplanes. The initiative created a dedicated organization for antique and classic aircraft at a time when aviation historical groups with that specific focus were not yet established. From its beginning, the association adopted an active-preservation philosophy summarized by the phrase “Keep the Antiques Flying.” Its purpose was not simply to collect early aircraft, but to fly them when possible, preserve their physical and technical characteristics, share knowledge, and promote the importance of early flying machines. The association developed during the 1950s as an organized membership group. In the latter part of that decade, Ken Cook, then serving as vice president, incorporated the AAA. Cook also produced a revised form of the association’s publication, which was subsequently renamed American Airman magazine. His participation ended in 1961, but the organization continued to develop its preservation and communications activities. A significant technical preservation activity occurred during the 1960s, when the AAA purchased the remaining stock of parts for LeBlond aircraft engines. Although only a small number of physical parts remained in later years, the organization retained engine drawings and related technical material. This episode illustrates the association’s broader role in preserving not only complete aircraft but also the components, documentation, and specialist knowledge needed to understand and maintain historic flying machines. In 1970, the AAA board approved the changes required for the organization to receive a nonprofit charter in Iowa. It has operated as an Iowa nonprofit corporation since that time. The association’s headquarters became associated with Antique Airfield in Blakesburg, Iowa, which functions as a gathering point for historic-aircraft owners, pilots, restorers, and enthusiasts. The organization’s published history describes a network of approximately 50 chapters and roughly 7,000 members across the United States and 20 foreign countries. Robert L. Taylor remained a central figure in the organization’s history as its founder and national president. He was also formerly chairman of the board of the closely affiliated Airpower Museum Inc. The airfield, museum relationship, chapter system, and membership activities together created an institutional setting for preserving aircraft and the personal histories connected to them. The association’s historical mission includes recognizing the role that its own members have played in aviation and maintaining memories of important aircraft, pilots, mechanics, and events. Today, the AAA remains an aviation preservation and enthusiast organization rather than a commercial airline, aircraft manufacturer, or conventional museum operator. Its activities are organized around keeping antique and classic aircraft flying where feasible, supporting their preservation and display, communicating aviation history, and promoting public and member interest in early aviation. Antique Airfield in Blakesburg continues to serve as its principal physical base.

• 1970

  Iowa nonprofit charter

  [1]Antique Airplane Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The AAA board approved the changes required for the organization to be chartered as a nonprofit corporation in Iowa.

• 1961

  Ken Cook leaves the association

  [1]Antique Airplane Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Ken Cook withdrew from involvement with the AAA after serving as vice president and contributing to its publication activities.

• 1960

  LeBlond engine parts acquired

  [1]Antique Airplane Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association acquired the remaining stock of parts for LeBlond aircraft engines, preserving an important source of historic components and technical drawings.

• 1953

  Association founded

  [1]Antique Airplane Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Robert L. Taylor formed the Antique Airplane Association in August after placing a classified advertisement in Flying magazine to connect with people interested in old airplanes.

• 1950

  Early organizational development

  [1]Antique Airplane Associationen.wikipedia.org

  During the late 1950s, vice president Ken Cook incorporated the association and developed its publication, later known as American Airman magazine.

A preservation-focused aviation association centered on keeping antique and classic aircraft operational, documenting aviation history, and connecting enthusiasts through a national chapter network and Antique Airfield.

• Aviation preservation · 1953

  Antique and classic aircraft preservation

  The association’s principal service is supporting the preservation and continued operation of antique and classic aircraft. This includes encouraging owners and enthusiasts to maintain historic aircraft, share technical knowledge, and preserve the skills and documentation associated with early flying machines. The AAA’s philosophy favors active preservation and flying where practical, while also supporting display and historical interpretation when aircraft cannot be operated.

• Historic aviation site

  Antique Airfield

  Antique Airfield in Blakesburg, Iowa is the association’s headquarters and principal physical setting. It provides a base for the AAA community and a place associated with historic-aircraft activity, gatherings, preservation, and display. The airfield helps connect the organization’s membership and chapter network with a tangible site dedicated to early aviation.

• Membership organization · 1953

  AAA membership and chapter network

  The AAA provides a membership structure linking aircraft owners, pilots, restorers, mechanics, historians, and aviation enthusiasts. Its network includes approximately 50 chapter organizations and about 7,000 members in the United States and 20 foreign countries, according to the organization’s historical account. The network supports information exchange, community building, and the promotion of antique-aircraft preservation.

• Aviation publication

  American Airman magazine

  American Airman developed from an updated version of the AAA’s publication produced during the late 1950s by vice president Ken Cook. The publication represented the association’s effort to communicate aviation history and preservation information to its membership. The available reference material does not establish its current publication status.

• Historic technical resources · 1960

  LeBlond engine parts and drawings

  During the 1960s, the association acquired remaining parts stock for LeBlond aircraft engines. Most physical parts were later exhausted, but engine drawings remained as a technical and historical resource. The acquisition reflects the AAA’s interest in preserving the supporting materials needed to understand and maintain obsolete aircraft engines.

• 1970

  Adoption of Iowa nonprofit structureStrategy

  Background

  The association needed a formal legal structure suited to its continuing preservation and membership activities.

  Action taken

  The board approved the changes necessary for the AAA to be chartered as a nonprofit corporation in Iowa.

  Aftermath

  The organization has operated as an Iowa nonprofit corporation since the chartering decision.

  Source

1. 1Antique Airplane Associationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Antique Airplane Association official websiteantiqueairfield.com