Meyer's "Little Toot"

Meyer’s “Little Toot” is an award-winning homebuilt aerobatic biplane popular with pilots since its debut in 1957. An avid model builder of RC aircraft, George W. Meyer decided to build his own open-cockpit biplane. He flew it to the 4th EAA Convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1957 and won the prestigious Mechanix Illustrated trophy for “Outstanding Achievement in a Homebuilt Aircraft,” placed second in the Outstanding Design category, and has been the subject of many magazine articles since that time.
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George’s wife named the aircraft “Little Toot” because their children loved Disney’s “Little Toot” the Tugboat. The Meyer’s reached out to Disney, who not only granted permission but designed their “Little Toot” whistle logo.

On the side of this Little Toot’s fuselage is an emblem with the nickname the “Petit Papillon,” which means “small butterfly” in French.

James D. Mahoney of St. Louis, Missouri built the Museum’s “Little Toot” in 1962-68 using Meyer’s plans. He donated it to the EAA Air Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. After 16 years in the EAA collection, the Little Toot N217J underwent a complete restoration by George’s son, Tommy Meyer. Living in Texas, Tommy donated the exceptional “Little Toot” to our Museum on behalf of the EAA. In pre-WWII US Navy colors, the aircraft is a favorite of visitors to the Museum.