Back in February, the Military Aviation Museum announced that its Messerschmitt Me 262 replica was on track to return to flight, with hopes of making an appearance at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 this July. Yesterday, March 18th, at Suffolk Executive Airport in Virginia, the museum’s chief pilot, Mike Spalding, conducted a series of engine runs, taxi tests, and landing gear swings—key steps in the aircraft’s return-to-flight process.
“It has been over a decade since it last flew,” said museum director Keegan Chetwynd. “So we are exercising great caution in bringing the airplane back to the air. Our mechanics, Ike and Allison Burchinal, are doing an outstanding job with it.”
To give aviation enthusiasts a closer look at this rare jet, the museum plans to host a public access day at Suffolk Executive Airport. More details will be announced soon via the museum’s website and social media channels. For those interested in the origins of these remarkable Me 262 replicas, Richard Mallory Allnutt, the museum’s Curator of Digital Media, has provided an in-depth look—read our previous article [HERE].
With the goal of making its public flying debut at AirVenture 2025 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the team is working diligently to ensure the aircraft is ready in time. While challenges remain, optimism is high. Stay tuned for further updates on the museum’s blog, social media, and Vintage Aviation News as this historic warbird prepares for its long-awaited return to the skies! For more information about the museum, visit www.militaryaviationmuseum.org.
Amazing how modern the 262 still looks compared to today’s aircrafts
Another comment- if this publication could come up with a list of organizations that still offer the public to fly in vintage planes with type of planes…most helpful for these organizations and people who want to support by paying to fly
Steve Snyder was the founder and owner of Para-Flite, Inc. which, among his other companies, designed and built ram-air parachute canopies of which I owned many for skydiving and enjoyed his inventiveness. After his death the company eventually became part of Airborne Systems. Amazing to me that his Classic Fighter Industries originally commissioned this aircraft.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE EAA EVENT AND SEETHE 262 ACTUALLY FLY. MY FATHER WAS IN WW2 AS AN ARTILERY UNIT PERSON. AS A KID GROWING UP HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS UP IN A TOWER OR SOME ELEVATED POSITION SHOOTING ELEVATIONS FOR THE GUN. TO HIS SURPRISE A 262 FLEW BY HIM AT A HIGH SPEED AND TURNED AROUND AND MADE ANOTHER PASS. MY DAD SAID THE 262 NEVER SHOT AT HIM BUT SLOWED DOWN, CAME IN CLOSE AND WAVED AND SMILED AT MY DAD. THEN WHEN I WAS IN THE ARMY AND BEING STATIIONED IN MUNICHI WENT THE GERMAN MUSEUM AND SAW A ME262 ON DISPLAY. I HOPE THEY CAN MAKE IT TO EAA EVENT . I REALLY WANT TO SEE IT FLY IN PERSON.