The National Aviation Heritage Invitational is now accepting applications from vintage aircraft owners to compete for the Rolls Royce Heritage Trophy. Aviation treasures are restored and displayed at the Reno Air Races where the judges will award the coveted trophy. Vist the web site and check out the winners circle. At my recent visit to the NASM I saw the trophy on display.  It is a commanding trophy and displays its past winners on the base. Who will be in the running this year?

Walt and Carol House hosted the February MAAG meeting today at the Kansas Aviation Museum, where Walt is curator. It was impressive to see all the new exhibits as well as the progress on others in the past year. This is definitely a must see if you are an airplane nut and happen to either live in Wichita or are passing close by.

We had about 30 members in attendance for the chili feed today. A short business meeting resulted in the current officers being re-elected. Steve Quick is president, Tim Wiebe vice-president, and Randy Shields is secretary / treasurer. It is time to pay our yearly dues of $15. Several members paid today, but if you missed the meeting, feel free to bring you check or cash to the March meeting tentatively planned for Wiebe Field in Halstead.

The first photo is Walt with the Laird Swallow that is being restored. Second and third show other views of the Swallow. There were only a handful of original fittings and one drawing when this restoration began. Original photographs have been used to develop shop drawings. When finished, it is believed this will be the only example of a Laird Swallow in existence. Prior to first flight, this airplane was called the "Wichita Tractor."

Our behind the scenes tour of the Kansas Aviation Museum revealed the Skylark Model SL manufactured by the Watkin Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas. This project has a few years to go, though the major pieces are coming together. The pictures show a completed Skylark around 1930 parked in front of the terminal building at the old Wichita Municipal Airport. Though the airport has since become McConnell Air Force Base, this beautiful art deco terminal has survived time and is now the home of the Kansas Aviation Museum.

There are a lot of engines to see at the Kansas Aviation Museum. Left is a 1911 Kemp Model C 25 HP engine. Center is a LeBlond A/C Engine for the Watkin Skylark. It is 65-90 HP. On the right is a Crosley 19-26 HP auto engine converted for aviation use. This was the engine that powered the prototype Mooney Mite.

We looked at the progress on the Stearman Model 4D, Junior Speedmail. This was also known as Texaco 14. The instrument panel had a neat crackle paint finish, which is original. We also saw a Stearman Junior Bicycle made in 1946.

If you are like me, you cut your aviation teeth building model airplanes. There were many fine examples on display, but here are a few. Since I am restoring a Stinson, I had to include the model pictured on the right.

A lot of people might look at these pictures and think we are nuts. Well, that may be true, but I am pleased to say that I have a loving wife and support from the kids that someday this bunch of old wood and steel parts might actually come back to life as a living and breathing Travel Air Biplane. Scrounging for parts may not be the most glamorous aspect of the process. But it has to start somewhere. And for me there is a driving vision that most can't see. I have described it to my family and I am not sure if they can see it too or if they are trusting me and acting on blind faith. Either way, it is inspiring to have their support. So... this is just the beginning. We have a long way to go. And there is more to the story which I will tell too as we go along. I plan to provide more updates in the future. For now, I will leave you with these photos of how it all starts... the restoration begins now!

Loading Day (it was a long day - into the night)

Unloading Day - getting a late start

Still Unloading - into the night...

Final Clean-up and the TA is tucked in safe under the Robin's wing

One of our side projects requires some engine work, so when it was time to go looking for Continental parts, we decided to do an inventory of C-85 parts on hand. Turns out we have quite a bit more than we thought.

We’re going through everything and deciding what to send out to have cleaned up and fixed and what will just stay here for future parts needs.

It’s always fun to see so much flying machinery gathered together. And it’s fun to get a sneak peak at the museum’s latest project in the background (along with the tail of the Waco QCF-2 on the right). It’s an airplane designed for speed and little else, and we hope to start full time work on the restoration soon.