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!

Alright, to get you started, here is a look at Aircorps Aviation's new hangar!  They performed an engine change to the P-51 Red Tail and this includes the test flight footage at the end!  Outstanding work!

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Bringing it Back

Good day to all,

This has been a long time coming, and frankly has been a rather large oversight on my part.  The last two years have seen a number of changes, both with the CAF and with my life.  This is no excuse, but it is important that you all know that the plan is to reboot the Blog, bring us back up to date, and get the info out to those of you who aren't able to make it down as often as you'd like.

To start with, we have a new aircraft! An L-17 Navion was donated to us, and is currently undergoing major restoration at our hangar.  We have replaced skins, structural members, and are close to reassembling the fuselage.  This has already been a great project, and will be a fantastic example of type once it is completed!

We are looking to sell the Harvard MKIV.  It is currently listed for sale here.  Don't worry though!  We will be purchasing an AT-6 so that we can operated History Flights!  Please keep your eyes peeled for buyers and sellers!

We have purchased a new hangar, after the hangar next to our auxiliary hangars burned down.  A rebuild is happening for those aux hangars, in fact, one of the owners has donated his T-hangar to us.  That means we will have lots of space for aircraft, parts and even looking at a machine shop!  One of the aircraft looking to move into our new aux hangar is Matt Quy's Stearman restoration project.  It will be painted in honor of POW/MIA vets.  Once completed it will be quite a sight to behold!

Our hangar has been through MASSIVE changes.  We continue to adjust, clean and prep for the year.  As it warms up, we will do a walking tour to help you all see what we're up to!

In the meantime, I'll start posting some maintenance/restoration work taking place.  I'm sorry again for not keeping this up, but I promise to keep it going!

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!

Around the Hangar

As I have so much to catch up on, I will only be posting "Around the Hangar" this time. This is only a piece of the work taking place... come down and check it out yourself!
(Photos Thanks to Brian Strom)

(Removing the Harvard engine)


(It didn't take long for it to come off... far easier than the B-25!)


(From crowded, messy maintenance office to...)


(...open, clean and useful shop)


(Tool boxes left, parts and tools were sorted, and the area became an excellent sheet metal shop)


(The PX gets a new wall, by moving 3 large museum cases)


(Gary Stinar and Glenn Franke install windows in the new PX)


(And we did verify that even the big guys will fit through the door!)


(No windows yet, but gives an idea of what it will look like)


(Todd Lofquist takes on the museum wall project)


(Todd, Matt, Raine, and Kristen install the 8 foot wall)


(Difference in height... the wall now goes well around the corner)


(The sprinkler riser being assembled)


(Of course maintenance must keep on task as well... Dave Hennessy installs panels on the B-25)


(Bob Koelbl inspects the Harvard tail wheel)


(Arnie Fick builds boxes for the B-25 pre-oil system)


(Tom Peltier painted the guns for the B-25)


(Shawn Hokuf inspects the PT-22 intake system)