Investing in the next generation
The cooler temperatures have brought renewed focus to our projects. The restoration shop recently held its first work Saturday after the annual summer hiatus.
Catching up with friends we haven’t seen for a while is as much a part of the day as making progress on aircraft projects.
Wrapping Up a Restoration
This season’s primary aircraft project is entering the final stages, its progress charted on a dry-erase board with the last handful of items left.
The wings and landing gear have been removed so it can be moved to the paint booth next door in preparation for final assembly.
Wiring is steadily going back in, while other details are being addressed.
A large group of volunteers meant the day’s attention turned to cleaning and preparing the exterior surfaces that will soon be reattached to the airframe.
A Place to Learn and Belong
The museum’s founder has always encouraged the involvement of all ages in the shop.
It fosters community, but more importantly, it gives the next generation a place to learn about aviation and aviation history.
The other restorer’s warm and familial manner makes the environment even more welcoming.
One example stands out: a volunteer who has gone on to college returned for the summer as an intern, putting his aeronautical engineering studies into practice.
Over the break, he designed and fabricated a structure to transport a massive propeller for overhaul several states away.
Because the prop had to ride on an open trailer, the intern made sure it was properly supported and padded for the journey.
During the week leading up to the Dayton Air Show, he pitched in alongside everyone else to deburr and partially assemble aluminum airplanes for kids to complete.
The restorers would discuss modeling needs for the aircraft with him and the retired engineers in the group, giving him valuable touchstone moments with real-world applications.
Investing in the Next Generation
Before the intern returned to school, the other restorer hosted a cookout to say farewell.
Now entering his senior year, he is unlikely to return after graduation, but we will no doubt continue to hear from him and encourage him as he charts his next steps.
His story is just one of many. Another young volunteer, fresh out of high school, is finding his way with employment towards a career and hopes of eventually attending college.
Between projects, our small conversations about his goals and dreams allow us to invest in him while he gains perspective beyond his hometown.
Continuity and Change
This most recent work Saturday was bittersweet.
We remembered those who are no longer with us—whether interns who’ve moved on or dear volunteers whose presence we miss.
At the same time, seeing new faces eagerly joining the shop is a testament to the spirit of support and encouragement it provides.
The time we invest in the growth of the next generation doesn’t just benefit them—it shapes us too.
These moments of mentorship and connection are as vital to the shop’s legacy as the airplanes we restore.
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