PRVCA Explore Magazine PRVCA Explore PA 2018 | Page 4

Planes, Trains
&
Automobiles:
Things to See in Your RV
When it comes to transportation history,
Pennsylvania’s is as rich and widespread as
the Commonwealth’s lush forests. So jump
in your RV and plan a weekend getaway
exploring PA’s trains, planes and automobiles.
By Keith Paradise
Planes...
Golden Age Air Museum
Visit: http://www.goldenageair.org
Phone: [phone]
Situated at the base of the Blue Mountain in Berks County, the
Golden Age Air Museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing
aviation’s infancy. Highlighting aircraft from the 1920s and 1930s,
the facility focuses on an era when airmail, flying circuses and the
first airlines originated. The museum houses functioning aircraft and
automobiles from the Golden Age, including a 1926 Winstead Special
and a 1930 Ford Model A.
Visitors may also catch a glimpse of volunteers restoring newer
additions to the collection, since all rehabilitation work is performed
on site. These craftsmen are more than happy to answer any
questions about the techniques and practices of early aircraft
manufacturers.
Harold F. Pitcairn Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum
Visit: http://wingsoffreedommuseum.org
Phone: [phone]
Born in the Delaware Valley in 1897, Harold Pitcairn grew to be an
aviation innovator. Aircraft manufactured by his Pitcairn Aviation –
which later became Eastern Airlines – were the first to transport mail
from New York to Atlanta on a daily route in the 1920s. Pitcairn also
was the first in the United States to fly an autogyro – a rotary-wing
aircraft. He began manufacturing the aiutogyro shortly thereafter,
which was the precursor to the helicopter.
This museum tells the story of Pitcairn while also showcasing the
valley’s contributions to the industry. The facility currently has
17 various aircraft on display, including the Pitcairn PA-8 “Super
Mailwing” bi-plane, a Fairchild-Republic A-10 “Thunderbolt II” anti-
tank aircraft and a Bell UH-1V Iroquois helicopter. Additionally, this
facility has multiple artifacts and innovations on display, including one
of the first bombsights developed.
Mid-Atlantic Aircraft Museum
Visit: http://www.maam.org
Phone: [phone]
Located at the Reading Airport, the museum tells the story of the mid-
Atlantic region’s contribution to the aviation industry throughout the
decades. Visitors have the ability to step inside the facility’s aircraft
hangar and learn about a wide array of revolutionary general and
military aircraft. Although the facility houses 22 military aircraft and
4. EXPLORE PA 2018
has a reputation for being a “warbird” museum, there are 43 general
aviation and commercial craft in the collection as well.
One of the museum’s most popular events is its World War II
weekend. Scheduled for June 1-3, 2018, attendees will have the
opportunity to take flight aboard some of the most popular aircraft
from the war, including a Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless, a C-47 Skytrain
military transport and a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress.
Piper Museum
Visit: https://www.pipermuseum.com
Phone: [phone]
The Piper Aircraft Company is one of the leading producers of general
aviation air