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Class of ’46 Celebration

About

The 80th Anniversary of the
General Aviation Boom of 1946

Be a part of the Vintage Aircraft Association’s celebration marking the 80th anniversary of the postwar general aviation boom of 1946 — a transformative year that brought over 33,000 aircraft to the skies and launched what many call the “Class of ’46.”

The over 30,000 aircraft built and sold in 1946 included 7,780 Pipers, 7,555 Aeroncas, 3,959 Cessnas, 3,911 Taylorcrafts, 2,503 Ercoupes, 2,483 Luscombes, and 1,550 Globe/Temco machines. Notable models introduced to the market for sale that year included the Champ, the Navion, the Stinson 108, the Cessna 120/140, and the Piper Super Cruiser. Over 8,600 of these aircraft are still on the FAA Registry today, and we hope many join us at fly-ins across the United States in 2026 including AirVenture Oshkosh 2026.

Class of ’46 Featured in the Vintage Aircraft Association’s Vintage Airplane Magazine

Regular contributor Sparky Barnes gives an in-depth look at the postwar aviation industry and the dozens of aircraft makes and models promoted during 1946 in her article Celebrating 80 Years of Affordable Classics, which appears in the January/February issue of VAA’s Vintage Airplane magazine.

Read the Article Here

Class of ’46 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

The VAA will honor this landmark year throughout 2026, with a major highlight taking place during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, where many of these iconic aircraft will be showcased with the help and participation of their dedicated type clubs. Attendees can expect special aircraft exhibits, forums, and presentations all focused on the legendary designs that helped shape general aviation as we know it.

If you’re planning to attend EAA AirVenture Oshkosh with your 1946 aircraft, please fill out the registration form.