The past week has been full of steady, small steps—those little bits of progress that only show themselves in the shavings on the floor or the clean spaces uncovered beneath floorboards.
Mama’s Chief and the Gear Legs
At the portable workbench, I held the table while the restorer worked the adjustable reamer through the Chief’s gear bushings. A little at a time doesn’t look like much in the moment, but the pile of metal curls beneath the bench told the real story. Once the reaming is finished, the gear legs will be ready for the welder, who is nearly set to begin his part of the project.
Sis, My North Star
Meanwhile, Sis—our 1947 Beechcraft Bonanza—has been patiently waiting her turn. Between Chief’s gear legs, we’ve been keeping her annual inspection moving forward. Rosie and her husband stopped by to lend a hand, and together we removed Sis’s wingtips, tail cone, and front floorboards. Rosie peppered me and then the restorer with questions about the systems hidden underneath—her husband echoing them—which made me smile.
These small exposures to another airplane type add to the knowledge she’s building for her future in maintenance.
We’ve also ordered plywood to fabricate new floorboards for Sis. In the meantime, I’ve been cleaning beneath the old ones and appreciating the chance to listen to airplane noise while we work.
For more on Sis’s role in my journey, see Sis, My North Star.
A Stop at the Aeronca Haven
Before heading to the hangar, Rosie and I stopped by the Aeronca Haven to see the progress there. Our Aeronca friends have been busy—organizing engines onto shelves, working through electrical projects, and steadily shaping the haven into a resource for Aeronca enthusiasts far and wide.
Already, their uncovered wings and fuselages are serving as reference points for restorers, in addition to the welder who is working on Mama’s Chief.
As Rosie and our friend discussed the wings around them, fabric work came up. He mentioned that when he studied for his A&P, fabric covering was at least touched upon.
Rosie noted that in her current coursework, it isn’t even demonstrated. The shift in training underscores the value of places like the haven and the restoration shop, where hands-on knowledge is preserved and shared.
Rosie’s Journey
It’s hard to believe several years have passed since Rosie and her husband helped with Sis’s tail repair and engine work before we flew her to her new home.
Since then, Rosie has made huge strides—classes toward her maintenance certificates, and experience working on the Grimes Flying Lab and the restoration shop’s T-28 under the watchful eyes of the Flying Lab curator and the restorers.
Though she’s still on the road, she’s steadily moving toward her goal of becoming a certificated mechanic. Watching her journey unfold alongside our own projects has been rewarding.
Consistency Pays Off
Whether it’s reaming bushings, organizing an engine collection, or replacing floorboards, great endeavors are built through small, consistent steps.
The pile of shavings beneath the bench. The shelves lined with Aeronca engines. The clean space beneath Sis’s floorboards. Each one a reminder: small steps daily will get you anywhere.
Explore More
Mama’s Chief: Early Project Notes
IA Renewal Symposium Reflections
Huey Transport and Installation