Realizing that the rich heritage of aviation in Tompkins County was being forgotten, the Ithaca Aviation Heritage Foundation was formed to preserve this history. IAHF achieved the near impossible goal of locating an original Tommy Scout, bringing it home to Ithaca, restoring it to flying condition and flying it on its 100th birthday. The project employed some of the original tools and each of the manufacturing plants used by the Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation to build the Tommies a century earlier, effectively turning the clock back 100 years. The journey took over 10 years and an army of volunteers and supporters to complete. On September 29, 2018, IAHF’s Tommy was flown at the Tompkins International Airport, above a crowd of over 3,000 spectators. IAHF’s Tommy now resides at the center of the exhibits at The History Center of Tompkins County on The Ithaca Commons, providing an educational touchstone to the heritage of aviation in Tompkins County, and inspiration to all interested in aviation and aviation history.

IAHF Mission:

• Preserve the heritage of aviation and the aviation industry in Central New York.

• Prepare the future of aviation by exposing today’s youth to the science, excitement and thrill of flight.

• Inspire people of all ages to discover the excitement of aviation through hands-on programs that will promote learning through doing.