Retro-Aero

10/13/2026

The Cadillac got him to the airport. The Cessna took him the rest of the way.

Imagine it’s 1950. You have customers in the next state, a briefcase on the back seat, and a business day that won’t wait for a long drive.

For the businessman who flew himself, an airplane opened up a different way to work—and a wider world.

That’s the era we bring to life with Scarlett, Retro-Aero’s Cessna 190.

Before the Interstate. The Businessman Who Flew Himself.

If you could step into this scene, would you reach for the car keys or the airplane keys?

Photo courtesy of Johan Amy • Edited for a 1950s look.

10/11/2026

Welcome to Retro-Aero. Vintage Wings. Living Stories.

We’re a 501(c)(3) aviation heritage nonprofit with a simple mission: Connect. Educate. Inspire.

Our Cessna 190 Heritage Experience is available now. The Stearman Airshow Experience is coming in 2027, subject to operational readiness. Each event features one selected aircraft experience.

Airshow producers and event partners: explore the experiences, and start a conversation at https://retroaero.org/airshow/

Follow the Stearman restoration: https://retroaero.org/stearman-restoration-photos/

Retro-Aero · The restoration recordA Stearman.A living story.Follow the restoration of N52088, from the project we acquired to the details bringing an airplane back together.1943 Boeing Stearman · 75-5054Photographic edition through 7 October 2026Open the…

10/10/2026

Anyone want to guess what's happening here? Believe it or not... We are doing exactly what the maintenance manual says to do!

10/08/2026

IT’S ALIVE!

Wings On. Hands on.

With every turn of a wrench, Charlie Rose’s return to the sky gets a little closer.

Lynn is hands on helping bring this piece of aviation history back to life.

Follow the restoration and the next chapter.

Vintage Wings. Living Stories.

10/08/2026

You don’t see this everyday… A Cessna 190 and a Boeing Stearman flying in formation. Normal cruise speeds are a bit different, but the Cessna 190 can fly surprisingly slow.

09/30/2026

Brass isn’t the only thing that needs polished at Retro-Aero.

In this photo one blade on the Cessna 190 has had the first round of aluminum polishing. The other blade I haven’t start yet.

Whenever I see a polished, shiny airplane these days remember they look that way after hours… and hours… of work.

09/29/2026

Time to do some basic grunt work. These venturis and fire extinguisher probably haven’t been polished in… a long, long time. It’s not fun work, but necessary.

This is going to take awhile…

09/27/2026

What does Retro-Aero do?

We bring aviation history to life through aircraft, experiences, training, and storytelling.

The Cessna 190 Heritage Experience is available now, connecting people with the world of postwar personal aviation.

The Stearman Airshow Experience, coming in 2027, will bring WWII-era primary flight training and the story of the Stearman to airshow audiences.

Beyond the airplanes, Charlie’s Tailwheel Academy Fund supports pilot training, while our podcast and interactive stories help preserve and share aviation knowledge, experiences, and history.

Explore. Listen. Learn.
Discover the experiences and programs that speak to you at retroaero.org
Vintage Wings. Living Stories.

09/27/2026

Why does Retro-Aero exist?

Because aviation history stays alive when people carry it forward.

We connect people through the airplanes, skills, stories, and experiences that shaped aviation. We educate by making that history tangible. We inspire by opening the door for the next person to become part of it.

That is our mission:
Connect. Educate. Inspire.

We believe traditional flying skills, aviation knowledge, and the stories behind them are worth sharing with the next generation.

Vintage Wings. Living Stories.
Follow Retro-Aero. Share a story. Invite someone into aviation.

09/27/2026

Who is Retro-Aero?

Retro-Aero is a nonprofit aviation organization built around a simple idea: aviation history matters most when people can connect with it.

We bring together aircraft, aviators, stories, and experiences to make that history personal and relevant.

Our community includes pilots, enthusiasts, historians, students, and people who are simply curious about aviation.

Through the Retro-Aero RoundTable, heritage aircraft, storytelling, and shared experiences, we create a place where aviation knowledge can be exchanged and passed forward.

You do not need to own an airplane, hold a certificate, or know all the answers.
Your curiosity belongs here.

Meet the people, aircraft, and stories that bring Retro-Aero to life at retroaero.org
Vintage Wings. Living Stories.