The history of Civil Air Transport (CAT) is exceptional and atypical in aviation history. Formed after World War II in China by General Claire L. Chennault and Whiting Willauer, the airline used surplus aircraft from the war, such as the C-47 Dakota and the C-46 Commando, airlifting supplies and food into war-ravaged China beginning in 1946. The San Diego Air and Space Museum has two posters advertising commercial flights for CAT in our collection. These posters show the unique nature of this intriguing airline. CAT started to operate scheduled passenger services, beginning with international flights to Hong Kong, then to Japan, Korea, the Philippines and Thailand, as well as domestic routes within Taiwan.
Hanging on display in the World War I gallery is a very detailed model of the Curtiss Model F flying boat. It is a two-place, single engine pusher biplane flying boat developed from Curtiss’ first successful flying boat, the Model E. The Museum's Curtiss flying boat is a 1/4 scale, scratch built model.
Large dirigible airships graced the skies for nearly four decades, from the turn of the century to the late thirties. During that period they were extensively used for both transportation and as as weapons of war.
The Museum's artifact collection houses a rare short snorter donated by the Distinguished Flying Cross Society (DFC) and is remarkably well preserved for its age.The name "short snorter" comes from the tradition that if you signed a short snorter and that person could not produce it upon request, they owed you a dollar or a drink (a “short snort”), or a drink that was less than a full shot, as alcohol and aviators did not mix well.
On August 8, 1927, 15 aircraft drew starting positions for the Dole Air Race from Oakland, California to Honolulu, Hawaii. By August 19, five aircraft were no longer competing, five crashed, three disappeared, and ten participants were dead. This is the story of the Dole Air Race. The San Diego Air and Space Museum has in in collection artifacts from this fateful race, a few of which are highlighted here.
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The San Diego Air & Space Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Federal Tax ID Number 95-2253027.
