The restoration of my Culver Cadet LCA, S/N 191, N29398, was completed in early May 2000 by Wing Works, LLG, North Canton Airport, North Canton, Connecticut. The photos I have enclosed were taken there May 11.
The FAA issued an airworthiness certificate May 16 and the Culver flew that afternoon for the first time in more than 43 years. Neil LaFrance and Dennis Taylor, both Culver owners, were there. Since then, I have logged nearly 60 hours.
I previously wrote to you 1/6/96 and again 11/24/97 and if you have these you have the back ground on N-29398.
Carl Badgett began the restoration in late November 1995 and completed the wood and fabric work and most of the painting before he moved from Winsted, Connecticut to Seattle, Washington in June 1997.
I turned to Mark Grusaski, wing works in November 1997 and he and his staff did all the mechanical and metal work and the remainder of the painting and finishing all metal panels and plates were made new from flat stocks with the exception of the nose bowl. As you can see from the photos, the fit and finish are exceptional. The plane has received several first place awards and the correct Culver Cadet decal (with soldiers) were added to the vertical fin day before yesterday.
Anyone interested in Culver decals should contact Mario Pac, Pac Airbrush and Graphics, 530 Wildcat Hill Road, Harwinton, CT 06791, 860-485-2791, fax 860-485-2792, www.pacairbrush.com.
I hope I will have an opportunity to fly my Culver Cadet to Blakesburg next year.
Carl R. Walston
Greenwich, CT
