| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | N2895 |
| Alternate Registration: | C2895 |
| Fleet number: | 21 |
| Aircraft Original Type: | Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing |
| Aircraft Version: | Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing |
| C/n (msn): | 1 |
| Display Paint: | Eastern Air Transport |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Area: | Washington / Smithsonian Museum [ Off-Airport ]Map |
| Region / Country: | District of Columbia, United States |
| Collection: | National Air and Space Museum (Smithsonian) |
| Photo Date: | 3 June 2016 |
| Photo by: | Arjun Sarup |
| Photo ID: | 842134 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
Suspended in the NASM Golden Age of Flight Hall. Built in 1927, this Mailwing was the prototype for Pitcairn mail planes that led to the creation of Eastern Air Lines. First use of the type as a mail plane was by Texas Air Transport on Contract Air Mail Route 21. The PA-5 was successful on the CAM 19 New York-Atlanta route, flying mail by night in seven hours, one-third the time it took by train. Eastern Air Lines used this aircraft till 1934. It was sold and converted to carry passengers, being repurchased and restored as a gift for Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker till donated in 1957 to NASM. This photo is copyright © Arjun Sarup, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 1 September 2025, and has since been viewed 44 times. |