Aviation Autographs has just launched its new e-commerce website devoted to rare and limited edition books, prints and items signed by aviation legends and notables from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, modern day and more.
The collection exists primarily because of Lt. Col. Dave McFarland (USAF, Retired). As former Chief of the History Department at the Air Command and Staff College (Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL), McFarland has traveled all over the world in his quest to personally meet air and space legends, men and women who have significantly contributed to the advancement of aviation. In 1982, as an Air Command Staff faculty member, he founded the annual “Gathering of Eagles,” bringing together the most distinguished aviators from around the world. Over 275 of the most accomplished people from the fields of aviation, space, and engineering have been honored from 25 different nations.
Each year, a Gathering of Eagles aviation print was commissioned and contains the original signatures of these legendary aviation heroes. As a result of these contacts and personal relationships, books and prints were added to the inventory.
Aviation Autographs is the only source in the world for the 19 prints in the Eagle’s print series. Many of the additional prints in inventory were commissioned by McFarland and “special” signature edition books were designed and published at his request.
Aviation Hall of Fame inductees, and professional and “Warbird” pilots, Ed and Connie Bowlin created Aviation Autographs in 1999.
“The new website gives our customers much greater ordering capabilities,” says Connie Bowlin. “We needed to not only keep up with today’s technology; we wanted to get ahead of the curve. We knew we needed to be able to get the word out about this collection world-wide.”