Big Goal For Virginia Beach’s Military Aviation Museum

The Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia, is working on making an “Only at Oshkosh” moment a reality at this year’s EAA AirVenture 2025: an arrival of its reproduction Messerschmitt Me 262 fighter jet into Wittman Regional Airport (OSH) this coming July.

If it happens, it would be the first-time appearance for one of the few aircraft types that has not made an appearance at the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.

Keegan Chetwynd, Director and CEO of the Military Aviation Museum said, “We can think no place better to bring the Me 262 reproduction than to Oshkosh, because of the great appreciation EAA members and attendees have for historic aircraft. We all know the story with old airplanes, however – they have their own schedules regardless of what plans we might set. We’re investing in this project to make it happen, so any result won’t be for lack of trying.”

In 1993, the work to create super-accurate, new-build Me 262s was started using an original airframe as a template to work from. It was the National Naval Aviation Museum’s own Me 262B-1a/U1. To remove the issue of the powerplant’s reliability – or lack thereof – the replica 262s all have modern, de-rated General Electric CJ610 jet engines.

The Military Aviation Museum’s aircraft first flew in 2011.

Rick Larsen, EAA’s VP of Communities and Member Programs said, “This magnificent Me 262 would fit perfectly with our 2025 programming that is focusing on the remarkable leaps of aviation technology that occurred between the end of World War II and the early days of the Korean War.

“We understand the challenges of not only preparing this reproduction for a trip to Oshkosh, but the logistical needs along the way. We appreciate the Military Aviation Museum’s efforts to make it happen and will eagerly follow its steps on the flightpath to Oshkosh.”

FMI:  www.militaryaviationmuseum.org/aircraft/