Restorations - Restore to Fly

Many of our customers have unique antique and classic aircraft that have been damaged or are in need of repairs to return them to flyable condition. And some aircraft projects are basket cases with dreams of flying. As with our Conservation and Preservation customers we work to return these aircraft to flight using authentic materials and techniques. The only exceptions to this are safety and, of course, customer preferences.

1918 DeHavilland DH-4 Mail Plane

In October we delivered a1918 DeHavilland DH-4B U. S. Air Mail version to Kermit Weeks and the Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, FL. Kermit Weeks purchased a number of DH-4 projects several years ago. These projects were part of the Tallman/Mantz collection, the Hollywood stunt pilots. There were built by a gentleman named Specth who was building them for Frank Tallman. The projects had been in storage since that purchase. Two of the airframes are being restored for Kermit Weeks/ Fantasy of Flight.

The first airframe is a DH-4BM Airmail airframe, into which we incorporated an original airmail airframe including a set of Loening Hi-lift aluminum wings. This original aircraft was #358. Only 10 sets of Loening Hi-lift, Hi-Altitude wings were built. From photos and archive information, we found that seven of the sets went to the Army Air Corps for evaluation. The other three sets went to Air Mail airplanes. Of these three, only one had the large landing light on the right outboard wing struts that you see in the photograph. This set of wings and the landing light that goes with them are the only full set left in existence.

The wings used solid spruce spars with all of the ribs made of aluminum. We were able to save most of the original ribs with only minor repairs. To the fuselage provided we added empennage, tail feathers, landing gear, plywood and metal cowlings. We also built the fuel and oil tanks, restored the radiator louver system, finished all of the control systems and completed the cockpit including a wicker pilot's seat.

Kermit's shop at Fantasy of Flight will complete the Liberty engine overhaul, have the instruments certified, fabric and paint the wings and tail surface. They are also supplying the propeller, wheels and tires. When it's complete, this DH-4 will be flyable and Kermit plans to fly it.

1918 Curtiss JN-4D "Jenny"

In July of 2007 we delivered the restored JN-4D to Kermit Weeks at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, FL. This JN-4D was damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The broken airplane had been shipped from Fantasy of Flight to our shop in East Wenatchee. We disassembled the aircraft and replaced any wood or metal parts that were damaged. This included all of the wing spars and the fuselage longerons. The Jenny was reassembled here at our shop before it was, once again, disassembled and shipped back to the Fantasy of Flight where Kermit's shop will re-fabric it, reinstall the engine and systems and return it to the air.

1918 De Havilland DH-4 (U.S. Army Air Corps)

This airplane is the second DH-4 project for Kermit Weeks, Fantasy of Flight, Polk City, FL. Kermit purchased a number of DH-4 projects several years ago. These projects were part of the Tallman/Mantz collection, the Hollywood stunt pilots. They were built by a gentleman named Specth who was building them for Frank Tallman. The projects had been in storage since that purchase.

This airframe was restored as a flying DH-4B Army Air Corps as built by the Fisher Body Company for the Army Air Corp in World War One. It was restored using both original and new DeHavilland parts. As with the DH-4BM, this DH-4 will be flyable.

The restoration crew at Fantasy of Flight will complete the work with a Liberty V-12 engine. They will have the instruments certified, install the fabric and paint the plane in a military scheme. They are also supplying the propeller, wheels and tires.

1916 Sopwith PUP (2 airframes)

The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft used during the First World War. It was manufactured by the Sopwith Aviation Company and was officially named the Sopwith Scout. The "Pup" nickname arose because pilots considered it to be the "pup" of the larger two-seat Sopwith 1½ Strutter.

These two Pup airframes belong to Kermit Weeks at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, FL. They were damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The broken airplanes were shipped from Fantasy of Flight to our shop in East Wenatchee. We disassembled the aircraft and replaced all wood or metal parts that were damaged with the intent to restore the planes to flying condition. The Pups have been delivered to Florida.