Cessna 310D Songbird III

Piper Apache PA-23-160

Have you ever dreamed of owning and flying your own Grumman FM-2 Wildcat? How about taking the controls of a fully restored 1938 Stinson SR-10 that was flown 140 times by American aviation pioneer Jimmy Doolittle? The opportunity to bid on both of these magnificent aircraft along with many others is now possible thanks to the first EAA Spirit of Aviation Auction at AirVenture this year.

“Every year at Oshkosh we see a lot of airplanes for sale, but 2010 is the first year we are bringing all of those sales to one location,” said Trent Ferris, vice president of auction sales for REDC, a partner of EAA. “We combined our core competency of auctioning with EAA’s core competency of ‘everything aviation’ to create a new opportunity for buyers and sellers of aircraft.”

Forty-nine aircraft are up for bid; all in excellent original or recently restored condition.
A completely overhauled Piper PA-23 Apache, the only known Apache in the world on Wipline 3730 amphibian floats, is available, as is the famous “Deception” Velocity, which has been featured in numerous publications and at air shows for its outstanding craftsmanship.

Want P-51 styling, modern technology, and performance, all without the hassle of maintaining a 60-year-old airplane? Then the brand new Thunder Mustang offered at auction may be just the ticket.

How about owning a piece of showbiz history? Beautifully restored to its original glory in 2002, the Cessna 310D Songbird III at auction is fully documented as being used in the famous television series Sky King. It features a new “R” style panel with center-mount radios, a full slate of avionics and new leather interior.

The one-of-a-kind Monocoupe Super 110 in museum-quality condition is also up for grabs. Powered by a Lycoming AEIO-360 engine coupled with FADEC technology, the aircraft has a top speed of 220 mph. Its true uniqueness is sure to make it a star at the auction.

“Every airplane is a standout in its own right, depending on what you’re looking for,” Ferris said. “We’ve had over 100 airplanes submitted for the auction. Through our vetting process we’ve narrowed that number down to 49, and we’ve ensured that every airplane is in excellent, flyable condition.”

An F7U-3 Cutlass is also being offered at auction, and although it’s still in construction phase, EAA believes AirVenture is the perfect venue to find the right builder to finish this unique jet fighter.

Other notable aircraft include a Beechcraft King Air 90, a Socata TBM 700, Cessna Citation 501, 1936 Waco YKS-6 and a Cirrus SR22 G-II. A listing of all 49 aircraft can be found at Auction Headquarters at Karl’s Showcase Gallery, located where the old Oshkosh tower once stood, near the flightline.

The Spirit of Aviation Auction will take place Saturday, July 31, at EAA’s Jack Mark Hangar, just north of the North 40 at Wittman Regional Airport. A tram will run daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. between auction headquarters and the Jack Mark Hangar.