A 1950s Formula One racing aircraft has been donated to a US museum

After a decade long search Nampa, Idaho’s Spirit of Flight Foundation Museum has announced that a Cassutt IIIM Formula One racing plane has been donated to its collection.

Cassutt N3730 will join another famous air racer, a 1947-built Sky Baby (aka Swea’ Pea), a machine built by Art Chester, who was recently inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

“We have had several Cassutt aircraft lined up over the years, but they just didn’t work out,” said museum president Gordon Page. “Fortunately, a donor answered an advertisement we ran recently, and we are happy to say a Cassutt is now on its way.”

The sleek machine was designed in 1954 by Tom Cassutt, and went on to win the National Air Racing Championships four years later. The single-seat, cantilevered mid-wing sports aircraft was simple to construct and stressed for aerobatics to 12g. “It’ll be hung from the ceiling at the museum as if it were in an air race,” added Gordon.