Some weeks progress is easy to see and the message I would like to send is obvious and others it is more like an archeological dig.
One of the other airport members has been working for years to create a home for flivvers. Over the summer, he broke ground on a large hangar and built a workshop for his dream.
The future tenants for his Aeronca haven have begun to arrive even before the building is entirely finished.
The first is Nell, the Aeronca C-2 got her wings placed upon her shoulders once again just in time to lead this year’s Heritage of Flight festival through the streets of New Carlisle.
Airplanes from our little airport are towed behind tractors through the streets of town. This unique parade and festival are celebrating their 20th year.
It started as a goodwill gesture between the small airport and the nearby town.
Not sure airplanes would fit through the streets of town, the restorer was volunteered by one of the airport elders to taxi their airplane through town as towing with a tractor as during the parade would take too long even with police closing streets down in the middle of the night. One of our Aeronca friends was by his wingtip that night.
While not yet ready to take wings behind the 40 hp E-113, the motivation from this moment of realization is propelling our Aeronca friends forward as more effort towards the assembly of their vision in one place comes to reality.
Nell’s owner made a change during COVID-19 to move forward with his dream of enjoying his love of flight and Aeroncas in particular rather than waiting for someday. Able to work remotely, he and his wife moved from the West Coast to our little airport to be closer to other Aeronca owners and enjoy a way of life more focused on his passion for Aeronca history.
His Aeronca haven is now under roof and the first aircraft have arrived from their journey, the C-2, Nell, is the first to be reassembled in time for the parade.
Like the restorer and I, our Aeronca friend worked in other facets of the aviation industry professionally first in the military then as a civilian and channeled his professional experience towards his passion for Aeronca history.
Other aircraft will join Nell in their haven, one that has already arrived but yet to be reassembled is his first Aeronca, a pre-war Chief which he proposed to his wife in.
Aviation is a lovely affliction to have, the camaraderie around similar loves belies the individual efforts taken to keep older aircraft in particular airworthy.
Fabric skills are no longer part of a new mechanics repertoire and engine shops don’t readily work on their engines either.
While the skill set that supports older aircraft is not as widespread as it once was, there are still pockets of knowledge and experience caring for smaller aircraft.
Found mostly at smaller airports like ours, away from the name-brand FBOs and control-towered airports.
Where the shared love of small aircraft is even paraded down main street.