After a delay of a couple of months we are once again moving forward with this all important project. We have just completed pouring the floor for the hangar portion of the APM Restoration Center. We also have another major donation to the project from Dr. Brent Blue in Jackson, WY. Brent has donated a HydroTherm boiler and pump that will be utilized in the in-floor heating system.

Where it all started in May of 2009, the removal of the old "Motor Pool" shed to allow for construction of the Restoration Center in the same location

Nov. 2011: Foundation complete, vapor barrier and insulation down, laying out the water lines for the in-floor heat then re-bar and concrete.

Nov 23, 2011: Pump truck in place we begin to pour the hangar floor portion of the facility.

The Restoration Center "Buy-a-Foot" campaign continues to bring in the funds ($58,725.00 at present) needed to build this facility. Currently some 2349 sq ft (82.7%) has been purchased leaving under 500 sq ft available. There's still time to join with notable individuals, corporate sponsors, AAA and EAA Chapters to procure your square foot (or feet) and help us complete this project. Cost is $25 per square foot and comes with a "Deed of Trust," registration in the APM Restoration & Maintenance Center Plot Listing, is tax deductible and would make a great Christmas present for that Antique Airfield fan!

Contractor Chad Howard is "stoked" with the way the pour is going.

With the floor poured and beginning to set it's time to fire up the power trowels and put a smooth, level finish on the floor.

Dr. Brent Blue has donated a HydroTherm pump and boiler with which to heat and circulate the water for the in-floor heat.

EAA Chapter 211, in Michigan, is taking on the restoration of the APM's American Eaglet. The APM board is very enthusiastic about this restoration, which will be to flying condition.

Gary van Farowe, Ben Taylor, Mike Gretz, Dave Falkenhagen and Brent Taylor removed the aircraft from storage. The pictures show the Eaglet once it was unearthed outside in the sunlight at last and on the trailer. It was no easy feat getting the Eaglet out as the winds that day were gusting better than 40 mph, negating the possibility of opening the hangar doors. That necessitated removing the Eaglet via a small shop door adjacent to the hangar. The landing gear was removed to get the airframe out the door, then reinstalled for trailering.

There will be updates posted here as Chapter 211 makes progress on the restoration. Thanks to all the chapter members who'll be restoring the Eaglet!

Saturday evening at the 2011 Blakesburg Fly-In turned in a nice time for flying after a day of breezy conditions. Photographer Bob Punch captured some of the last flights of the evening just as the sun was setting, which led to some dramatic light changes.

Alan Cowen in Tucson, AZ sent some photos of his Rearwin Sportster - pre-restoration and what he's been working on restoring the wing. For those flying greaser engines, Alan is also known as the "bottler" of Jewel Amber Oil for top end lube.

Brian Meuser has finished the restoration of the top wing on Walt Bowe's 1928 Cirigliano biplane, all happening at the Schellville Sonoma Valley Airport. The lower wings will be underway soon.

This one of a kind airplane had been heavily modified in the post-war years into a acro-style showplane. The current restoration aims to restore the aircraft to original configuration. All ribs were replaced and new ailerons fabricated during the wing restoration. Interestingly, rib construction technique was found to closely follow the fabrication pattern and airfoil of Bellanca Pacemaker, which is not surprising given that Serafin Cirigliano worked at the Bellanca factory in New Castle, Delaware.