The day was finally here for the restorers’ presentation.
Their presentation was part of the Ohio Aviation Maintenance Symposium, where they were asked to present for a second year, focusing on fabric and restoration practices.
Being around this type of atmosphere was similar and different from conferences I had been at on the pilot side. Growing up, I attended the American Bonanza Society conventions and forums at Oshkosh with my dad, branching out to Women in Aviation and National Business Aircraft Association conferences as an adult.
The one-day event was similar in scope to other educational presentations, though the focus was maintenance and procedures.
I didn’t understand everything discussed, but I understood enough to understand the processes the restorers mentioned during conversations.
Maintenance professionals who work primarily on business aircraft and smaller general aviation aircraft were in attendance.
While some were aware of maintenance practices with wood and fabric construction and radial engines, they were the exception rather than the rule.
Future maintenance professionals are not required to have a working knowledge of these techniques.
Rosie and some of her maintenance class were in attendance, as were the students from the aviation class at the airport. She took notes on the modules she attended, asking questions to get additional understanding where necessary.
Putting faces to names mentioned as the restorer’s past colleagues and friends through the years was even better than I had hoped.
Hearing of the dedication and heart of an aviation professional through the eyes of their peers is different from what a person experiences themselves.
Seeing that firsthand was something that I have looked forward to.
The Presentation
After hearing about last year’s presentation from Rosie, I was happy to be at this year’s with her and Uncle Paul during the presentation.
While I had watched the restorers prepare, I wasn’t ready for the approach the restorer and other restorer took with the presentation.
The technical processes discussed were addressed with depth and humor.
The restorer provided one-liners throughout the presentation to punctuate essential points.
The other restorer is more straight-laced, highlighting the others within the organization and their accomplishments with each project, especially Rosie and the kids who started with the restoration shop and have gone on to other areas within aviation.
The symposium organizers had asked the restorers to discuss fabric and wood maintenance and restoration techniques.
The restorers used highlights from past projects from the restoration shop, such as the 1929 Travel Air 6000, Stinson tri-motor, and the Beech 18 interior, to touch on areas not seen in more mainstream areas of general aviation.
One of the significant points both restorers stressed was the importance of documentation before and during the restoration process, as pictures help if fabrication of a part is required, as well as during reassembly.
More pictures than you think would be needed – really – take all the angles that can be thought of because afterward, it’s not always easy to visualize how something should look.
At the restoration shop, one volunteer primarily focuses on taking pictures of aircraft before and during disassembly. Areas of concern found during the process will take more research to find documentation or photographs from the factory to give the restorers the tools necessary to complete the restoration as authentically as possible.
That fell close to home as while we were working on the tail and engine of Sis, the pictures taken during the disassembly were beyond helpful in putting Sis back together. However, more than once, it was expressed that if the photo had been taken at a slightly different angle or shown a different view of the area, it would have made more sense when putting things together.
Once their presentation was complete, I accompanied the restorer to other presentations throughout the day.
The Rest of the Day
One from the FAA Central Region on VARMA: Vintage Aircraft Replacement and Modification Article. This new program allows the FAA to help with parts substitutions and fabrications for vintage aircraft. The local FAA office can assist in some areas, but this is not always possible. VARMA has been created as an alternate pathway for maintenance professionals to receive approval for substitutions with vintage aircraft, as parts may not be obtainable.
As we dig further into Sis’s systems, we discover areas where parts are unavailable and must be fabricated or substituted.
A presentation from a propeller shop passed around parts of propellers; seeing the inside of a blade made from composite was quite interesting.
Using the proper grease in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications for servicing was stressed, as well as the importance of not mixing the different types of grease.
The last presentation was on autopilots. Focusing on the maintenance of an autopilot, it reminded me of a few flight things I need to brush up on as well as reminding the restorer of some interfaces between Sis’s avionics.
Seeing firsthand another part of what the restorer has lived in personally and professionally was a welcome change. After our time there, I could better understand why he had dealt with some things with Sis in the manner he did.