Around the Hangar

We're getting closer to the flying season... the hangar door will be open tomorrow and it's supposed to be 70 degrees out!  We're finishing up inspections on all of the aircraft, so flying should commence in the next few weeks.  As this happens it will let us get to cleaning up and prepping for other projects around the hangar!

Aaron Stanton, Troy LaFaye and Bill Atchison troubleshoot the M37.

John Schmidt gets caught making bomb fins.

Todd Lofquist has been revamping the cases by the PX.

A slew of maintenance folks installing the right prop on the B-25.

Bob Koelbl and Tim Gunter tape off the BT-13 for wing walk to be added.

A visitor to our hangar, a Navion that will soon fly off to Texas.  The owner is working with us on parts trades.

Cadet Robbie and Mitch Bertrang prep the Bomb Bay Box for paint.

New leather surrounds were added to both cockpits of the PT-22.

Around the Hangar

Good day all!
Some photos for you of work taking place around the hangar.  There have been some major changes and we expect to roll out some new additions to step up our game as a museum.  Help is always appreciated as we start in on these projects!  Expect more photos of the work taking place, and the (slow) transition into spring time and the flying season!

The L-5 is up on jacks getting close to finished with the annual inspection

The Bomb Release System is functional, and ready to drop

Speaking of bomb bays, here is the new bomb bay travel box for the bomber.  It coverts into a table for PX as well!

The BT-13 is nearly ready to get back to flying, just some wing walk to add!

The B-25 right rudder fabric was getting pretty rough.  We took it down to the metal and recovered... next up is the left, and we will be teaching any member who wants to learn!

An upside down canopy for a Navion.  We are trading for an L-17 style canopy.  This one is getting cleaned up and new glass in preparation for the trade.

There is a lot of new metal going on the Navion.  The vertical stabilizer gets all new covering.

The Navion's fuselage, all stripped out.

The Wings sit next to it, in the project zone.

An example of the excellent work being performed on the Navion.  Skins on both sides of the fuselage are being replaced.  This will be a new aircraft when done!

Speaking of new... a new-old stock firewall is ready for install!

The Museum has new cases, new displays and an all new look!

The displays are just getting formed, but are coming along really well (as in the near complete mural in the background!)

These fairly odd looking contraptions were donated recently.  They are video kiosks, and are being reprogrammed to show videos of the aircraft, the wing, and what we do!  They will be a huge part of our future as a museum!

Around the Hangar

As stated, the changes around the Wing have been rather massive lately.  The best way to experience it is the stop down, these pictures only capture a portion of what it's like!
(Photos Thanks to Randy Bigler, Roell Painting and Andrew Hill)

An artistic photo by Andrew Hill of the B-25 in the hangar, just finishing up maintenance.

The BT-13 is almost ready to fly... I swear!

Bob Wright works on the BT-13's prop

The front wall was in desperate need of help

Roell painting came in and taped all of it off... on a 32' ladder!  No Thanks!

The final product... oil base coat with a latex cover... it looks amazing!

A lot of activity has been taking place a the hangar

And a lot still needs to be done

But the hangar is looking better every day!

Our new O'Club is coming together nicely!

And the new PX looks amazing, thanks to Glenn and Linda Franke! Glenn took care of the building...

And Linda made it look like a real gift shop!

Brad Hopkins, a member of the Army National Guard, offered to paint a mural on our new wall.  These are the sketches of two of the panels that will run the full length of the museum.

His sketches will then be airbrushed... this is the final panel (starting point for airbrushing)

The final panel, representing the close of the war, is complete, and looks outstanding!

Blog Update - February 11 to April 8

Greetings Everyone!
Once again, time has passed... it doesn't mean activity has not taken place!  Far from it indeed.  The hangar is getting closer and closer to being what many of us had only imagined it could be.  Between museum expansion, cleanup, building a new PX and storage zone, and our addition of an Officers Club, it's been a massive undertaking!  Add the sprinkler system being completed, and thinking about what we as a team have accomplished is simply amazing!

The Hangar Dance is approaching rapidly.  We will be visited by two members of CAF Headquarters to witness one of the best Hangar Dances in the CAF.  It will also mark the public unveiling of the new museum, px and hangar as a whole.  Members will have the benefit of using the O'Club (though we still need people to help throughout the night!).  It will mark the return of the dance to our Hangar, and safety is assured through the addition of our sprinkler system!   The dance will have more space due to clearing of lockers and benches on the hangar floor.  The wall that used to separate the museum from the hangar has come down and will allow for people to move freely through the museum.

Before the Hangar Dance, coming this Saturday, will be the State of the Wing address.  Food is being provided by the Motor Pool, who have seen an exceptionally good year already.  We have invited many people who have been instrumental in completing the hangar improvements, or, like Senator Metzen, have been instrumental in helping us reach our goals politically.  It's a time for the membership to get together and celebrate everything that has been accomplished, for those of you who have been unable to make it to the hangar, it is a time to check out all the changes, grab some lunch and learn how you can help make the Wing even better!  There will also be an exciting 2013 announcement!

The Doolittle Raiders Reunion was a resounding success.  Nothing bad can be said about the whole experience.  It was perfect.  The weather held out, the Raiders were honored, 20 B-25s flew overhead, and the MN Wing made $40,000.   GREAT start to the season!  The crew worked their butts off, and a number of members found their own ways down to help out.  It was great to have so many MN Wing members help with all aspects of the operation!  If only all shows could be this well attended and run this smoothly!

Stop by this Saturday for the State of the Wing and see what has been taking place!

Around the Hangar

A lot has happened in two months, but some of our photos were lost when a hard drive crashed. For this go around, I'll present some of the latest photos, and we'll do our best to keep this more up to date in the future!
(Photos Thanks to Brian Strom, Matt Myklebust and Jim Lauria)

(Dave Schouveller is getting to be an expert at prop removal and installation)


(George Colaizy checks over the electrical system on the 1941 Willys Jeep)


(Bob Wright bleeds the BT-13 brakes as pilot Craig Rodberg checks the skies)


(Craig Steineck helps paint the display cases in the museum)


(Run, Roger is Reloading!)


(The WC-21 frame is getting very close to getting painted)


(Break Time!)


(Randy Hendrickson builds a fence between the Motor pool and Hangar 4)


(Which will look like the one he built between the Motor Pool and our Hangar! The city covered the material costs to help us beautify the airport)


(Bob Wright and Bob Koelbl repair the Harvard's engine)


(Roger van Ranst and Tom Langer remove accessories from the B-25's engine)


(Before the B-25's engine failed, it was involved with the filming of the Rise Above program, and The Restorers, which has an episode about the Minnesota Wing that will debut at Oshkosh)


(Having three P-51s and the B-25 in the hangar was quite a treat!)


(As was seeing them fly together!)


(The repaired engine, as of last night. This engine is now attached to the aircraft. Great work to the maintenance crew!)