Photos provided by Commemorative Air Force
Posted By: The Reporter December 3, 2025
Submitted
It’s that time of year again! 12 Planes of Christmas is officially underway.
This annual tradition helps Commemorative Air Force (CAF) preserve and restore the aircraft that define the Commemorative Air Force and keep our shared history in the air.
This year’s featured aircraft come from nine different states, each with its own story, its own crew of dedicated volunteers, and its own place in America’s aviation heritage. Throughout the month, you’ll receive emails that highlight these planes and the people working tirelessly to keep them flying. Whether an aircraft is mid-restoration or already back in the sky, it relies on support from those who believe in honoring the past as much as we do.
One of those planes is the PT-17 Stearman, which Reporter Publisher Stu Clampitt and Photographer Bill Miller have flown in. You can read more about that at this link.
If you’d like to dive in and explore the 12 featured aircraft – or support a project that resonates with you – you can visit 12PlanesOfChristmas.org. Every gift, no matter the size, helps keep history alive and in the air for generations to come.
Restoration Grant Fund
Looking for another way to make an impact? You can also support the Restoration Grant Fund, the CAF’s matching-grant program that accelerates aircraft projects with the greatest need.
And there’s a festive bonus: Donate $25 or more to the Restoration Grant Fund and receive this year’s exclusive CAF holiday ornament – featuring the legendary Stearman. Give a little, make a big difference, and bring home a piece of aviation heritage for your tree.
