Our Aeronca friends have been quietly working on a labor of love for some time—a haven to showcase the full range of Aeronca aircraft.
What began as a dream has slowly taken shape on a patch of land next to our home airport, transforming the view and, in many ways, deepening the heart of our little aviation community.
One of the duo has spent years tracking down airplanes and pieces to tell the Aeronca story, and with help from the other, they’ve brought these treasures home.
The result is a growing collection that includes flyable Aeroncas, ground-bound airframes, and lesser-known variants—each with a story, each a part of the lineage.
The hangar, now structurally complete, has already begun to turn heads. First it was pods, then trailers providing a stream of Aeronca history arriving in rhythm with their progress.
Though far from finished, their Aeronca haven was ready enough to greet its first visitors with a pre-convention fly-out from Middletown (MWO), where the Aeronca convention is held adjacent to the factory where so many Aeronca aircraft once rolled off the line.
The forecast hadn’t been promising—low ceilings and rain threatened to dampen the weekend’s festivities. But as luck would have it, the skies broke open just enough, and the grass next to the clubhouse filled with airplanes, a happy surprise for all involved.
The lunch was publicized only a couple of weeks before the convention, so expectations were modest.
Our Aeronca friends settled on pizza—easy, flexible, and unlikely to go to waste. Judging by the empty boxes and the last slice disappearing just as I arrived, it was the right call.
Alongside the pizza was a guest book, quietly beginning to document the visitors who would be part of the haven’s unfolding story.
Even more heartening than the food were the guests.
Pilots and friends came from near and far, including a father and son who flew their Champ in all the way from Alaska—a wonderful reminder of the reach and loyalty of the Aeronca community.
When I made it over to the haven, four airplanes were still parked in the grass near the clubhouse—a short walk from the haven itself.
They had flown in for lunch, visitors drawn by curiosity and community.
Outside the Aeronca haven, Nell, the beloved Aeronca C2, stood proudly alongside the Chief and Champ that are normally hangared next door, welcoming guests with quiet charm and character.
Estimates put the turnout somewhere between 35 and 50 people, with one airport friend noting that at one point, the entire grass field was full.
It was clear the haven had become more than a building—it had become a destination.
Afterward, a few of us stuck around to help tidy up.
Shelves were shifted, airplanes rolled gently back into place, and room was made in case any aircraft needed to take refuge when weather moved in again.
The afternoon was warm and humid, but inside the well-insulated haven, the air felt surprisingly cool. It was a welcoming space, ready to offer shelter and camaraderie.
The next day would kick off the festivities in Middletown. But this afternoon belonged to our Aeronca friends—an opening, a celebration, and a quiet triumph as they shared their passion project with the world.
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