ur museum S.E.5a (Scout Experimental) replica (to our knowledge, no original aircraft remain in the U.S.) was acquired in 1999 as a flying replica project by our museum CEO, Mr. Andy Parks. This S.E.5a is a 7/8ths scale replica painted in the markings of Captain William Lambert of the 24th R.F.C. Flying Squadron. This particular S.E.5a was built by Mr. Tallini. When Mr. Parks acquired the plane, it was at that time part of the Ryder collection.

Bill Lambert was a native of Ironton, Ohio moving to Canada at the outbreak of the war where he could be close to the Curtis flying school hoping to work on his pilot training. He soon decided to join the R.F.C. He trained in Canada and was assigned to #24 Squadron, R.F.C. at the Front. He served with distinction attaining 22 victories and was the first American to win the British Distinguished Flying Cross.

Captain Lambert was not recognized as the 2nd highest scoring Ace for American until 1968 when the U.S. Air Force realized that Lambert was left out of their study on fighter pilots from W.W. I because Lambert had chosen to stay with the British when America entered the war; "The British had a lot of money invested in my training, I didn’t believe it was right to switch to the U.S. Air Service when we got in the war and leave them high and dry."

The serial # 1084 seen on the tail our of museum S.E.5a is in honor of Capt. Lambert's favorite S.E.5. The "Babe, Cincinatti, USA" lettering faithfully recreates Capt. Lamberts markings for his girlfriend in Cincinatti.

We often fly our replica S.E.5a, which museum visitors are often thrilled to see fly-over the airfield. Our staff of experienced maintenance technicians (all volunteers!) frequently attends to the engine--a newly installed Lycoming O-235--and flight control surfaces to insure we're able to fly as often as visitors request and weather permits.

We want to thank Ryan Lunde of Champion Air Photos for many of the wonderful pictures you see on our website. Ryan's photos appear in the below slideshow as do air-to-air photos taken by Mr. Gilles Auliard.