The Tommy Plane is the first thing that catches any visitors eye in our Exhibit Hall. This original Thomas Morse Scout S-4B, production no.191 was first built in Ithaca by the Thomas Morse Aircraft Corporation in 1918. One of only a few hundred that were manufactured, and for a time were used to train every WWI pilot. 

Tommy is on permanent loan to the museum from the Ithaca Aviation Heritage Foundation (IAHF), who spent 14 years, and untold number of hours restoring the plane. Our Tommy is currently the only Thomas Morse Scout restored to full flight capacity anywhere in the world. 

In addition to being a 100+ year old working machine, the story of Tommy can help students learn about the history of Tompkins County, New York State, and the growth in industry and aviation across the country. 

• Field Trips to the Exhibit Hall to Visit Tommy
• Learning to Fly with Tommy Video Series
• Learning to Fly with Tommy - PopQuiz! - 5 pages, 3 questions per episode. 
• History of Early Aviation in Ithaca (2pg)
• Tommy Plane - Specifications & Performance (1pg)
• Tommy Plane - Q & A (1pg)
• Build Your Own Paper Tommy Plane (3pg)
• History of the Hangar Theatre & Flag Activity (3pg)
• Women's History Minute: "Flight" (Video)

Download the complete "All About Tommy" History at Home Activity Set!

VIDEOS ABOUT TOMMY!

Students can learn about the history of Tompkins County with the Old Time Flight Instructor through our five-part Learning to Fly with Tommy video series.

Videos run from 6-11 minutes long and cover a range of aviation related topics. Use the Pop Quiz questions for each episode.

• Ep 1 - Welcome to the Class of 1918
• Ep 2 - Tour the Aeroplane Factory with Mr. Oliver Thomas
• Ep 3 - How to Act in Silent Films with Airplanes
• Ep 4 - Celestial Navigation Through the Canals of Mars
• Ep 5 - Dispatches from the War Front