Press Release Summary = Warbirds of North America http://www.LeadingEdgeFlightServices.com
Warbirds of North America, with Leading Edge Flight Services, announces the restoration of a 1957 North American Aviation T-28C
Press Release Body = FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Thomas Butts Warbirds of North America 15N848 Farm View Lane Hampshire, IL 60140 Phone: 847-931-1420 http://www.LeadingEdgeFlightServices.com
Warbirds of North America, with Leading Edge Flight Services, announces the restoration of a 1957 North American Aviation T-28C
Hampshire, IL -- April 20, 2006 -- The restoration of the 1957 North American Trojan T-28C began in the summer of 2005 when we saw an advertisement for a couple of post World War II era military training aircraft T-28\'s. We called for information and in early June (2005), we were on a plane for Houston to meet with the seller. We looked over the entire airplane and asked every possible question. We even had the opportunity to visit with the owner of a T-28 that the seller had restored in the past. A couple of hours later, we went home armed with several T-28 manuals and plenty of big ideas.
We left home (northwest Chicago) for Pearland, TX on Saturday, August 27, 2005. The weather was concerning because we were not sure exactly where Katrina was going to hit. With everyone fleeing New Orleans, the interstates became virtual parking lots. Luckily, we had reservations at a local hotel through the end of the week. The hotel filled with Katrina evacuees.
The weather was unbearable. The temperature surpassed 100 degrees each day. We worked marathon hours each day, from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm. At 6:00 each night, we stopped the disassembly process to collect parts already removed from the aircraft at various airports. We have a nearly complete aircraft.
By midweek, we were ready for a crane to lift the fuselage off the wings and to load everything on to the trailer. Fortunately, the wings and fuselage separated easily. We carefully positioned the fuselage onto the trailer in one attempt. The next critical step involved collapsing the landing gear into the wings and then separating the wings from each other. Despite the heat and occasional thunderstorms, at least the winds did not make our job any harder. By late Wednesday afternoon, we had the 30 foot trailer and two pick up trucks fully loaded. We started our trip home that night.
At each fuel stop we answered the inevitable questions and open stares: "What is that? What are you going to do with it?" It was certainly a conversation starter. In fact, we met many wonderful people who told us their stories with aviation and/or the US Military. We happily stopped to talk with anyone who had questions. After all, that\'s what this restoration project is about -- to give everyone the opportunity to have a personal experience with a Warbird and to honor those who fought for our country. The final leg of the trip home brought concerns of low bridges and tree branches. Exhausted and relieved, we finally brought our Warbird home that Friday morning. And then the exciting part of this Warbird restoration project began.
Warbirds of North America is a charitable organization dedicated to preserving and presenting to the public operational examples of historic aircraft while honoring the pilots and their crew. It is our goal to create an atmosphere in which interested participants will have a "real to life" experience of wartime aviation. Warbirds of North America will open the hanger to all interested parties.
To read a full description of this restoration to date, or for information in how you may help get this Warbird in flight, please visit our website at http://www.LeadingEdgeFlightServices.com.
Web Site = http://leadingedgeflightservices.com
Contact Details = Leading Edge Flight Services/Warbirds of North America Thomas Butts Hampshire, IL 60140 847 931 1420 lefs@att.net
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