As temperatures drop from the relative warmth of a couple of weeks ago, Christmas trees and decorations are already making their way into homes and storefronts. With Thanksgiving falling late this year, it seems many are skipping straight from Halloween to Christmas.
I can’t help but smile when I spot the less common Thanksgiving decorations—reminders that there’s a holiday between the pumpkin and the tree.
Let’s not forget about the turkey!
At the restoration shop, we’re keeping busy as the season transitions.
Alongside the restorers, Rosie, Uncle Paul, and a team of dedicated volunteers, we have been making steady progress on our projects.
From painting the flight controls of the museum’s B-17 to continuing work on the Huey, every day feels like a step closer to honoring both history and community.
The shop’s Christmas party is coming up a week after Thanksgiving, and preparations are well underway.
Between working on various projects, we have been double-checking party details, making follow-up calls, and verifying items.
The centerpiece of the festivities—a tree with vintage-style lights donated to the shop—stands proudly between the Gee Bee wings and the Huey.
It’s a bit early for a tree, but it’s undeniably beautiful.
Not everyone is on board with the idea of decorating the Huey just yet. The other restorer is not keen on hanging lights on it, but we’ll see if he warms up to the idea before the party.
Meanwhile, I have hit a pause in cataloging the library.
Nearly everything is done except for the last 150 of the 600 total books that are resisting identification through “the good old interweb,” as the restorer calls web searches. Sometimes stepping back is necessary to regain focus and finish.
Life, as always, happens in moments that planning does not account for.
The restorer and Rosie are old hands at painting, their steady experience shining through as they tackle the B-17’s flight controls.
Our veteran volunteer, who flew nearly 3,000 hours in Huey’s during his service, continues to bring his expertise to the shop.
Since the Huey’s shell arrived this spring, it has sparked deeper conversations—not just about the aircraft’s capabilities, but also about his personal experiences flying it.
Honoring veterans is a cornerstone of our museum and restoration shop. Mentoring youth, preserving aviation history, and supporting the community are equally important. Together, these values create a shared purpose that resonates far beyond the walls of the shop.
Since Sis, our Bonanza, moved to the restorer’s airport earlier this year, we have been more intentional with how we spend our time and energy. It’s been enlightening to see the small, incremental changes that happen when we focus on our goals.
The Huey, once just a shell, is starting to look like a helicopter again—as if it could still take to the skies.
Its transformation has drawn people in. Our veteran volunteer, already a longstanding part of the community, has seen more visitors stop by the shop, curious about the Huey’s progress.
The aircraft has become a bridge, connecting people with history, with each other, and with the idea that preservation is not just about machinery—it’s about the stories and lives intertwined with it.
Restoring and preserving pieces of history for the next generation is a powerful mission, one that brings us closer as a community. The connections we form along the way—the ones born out of shared purpose—are the moments that truly matter.
Life, after all, is what happens while we’re making plans.
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