P.I.E.

The motto of our museum is PIE: preservation, inspiration and education.  We preserve the past and use those pieces to educate our community and work to inspire our youth to careers in aviation and aerospace.  PIE is easy to remember and relate to our visitors.   All three of these elements can take a variety of forms and this last week was a great example of how we work to achieve our goals.

Recently we formed a relationship with one of our local Civil Air Patrol units, TX-388 Phoenix Composite Squadron.  Maintaining our aircraft collection is a very labor-intensive operation but does not require the same level of expertise that an airworthy aircraft would.  To help us, we are making the TX-388^th cadets “Crew Chiefs” for our A-7 Corsair II and F-105 Thunderchief aircraft.  They will work under the direction of our maintenance staff to help with preservation, while learning about aircraft and hopefully gaining some inspiration along the way - Win, Win, Win.

In a similar manner, we have formed a collaboration with the VMFA-333 Association, Inc. to manage our QF-4S Phantom II.  It was assigned to the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 333 “Shamrocks” while it was aboard the USS America in Southeast Asia in 1972.  One former “Shamrock” is a member of the Devil Dogs Motorcycle Club, a group of present and veteran Marines.  Their local chapter will be refurbishing our airplane to the markings that our Phantom wore while on the USS America.   Again, preservation that will lead to education and inspiration through that squadron’s history, including the only all-Marine MIG kill during the Vietnam War.  Our airplane was there.

Also last Saturday, our outreach program through the North Texas Aviation Centennial celebration plan, focused on a community activity to paint a mural for the benefit of the community.  The mural depicts the aviation history of Fort Worth and North Texas.  It was a collaboration between the Fort Worth Parks Department’s Graffiti Abatement Program, the Civil Air Patrol’s TX-388 squadron and a group from TCU called Leaps, a community service organization comprised of student, alumni and teachers from TCU.  Together, under the direction of Alison Letnes, GAP director, they transformed the wall of a pavilion constructed in 1935 by the WPA  (Works Progress Administration) at Trail Drivers Park, into an educational piece for the local community to enjoy.  Along the way, local history is being preserved while educating the community and just may provide a touch of inspiration for our young people.

Our work takes many forms and our motto helps all of us to focus on where we need to direct our efforts.  It is as easy as PIE and we like PIE.  How about you?

We Move Our Tails For You

Just about two years ago we moved to our present location.  Airplanes were placed where they could be worked on and parts were positioned near by for installation or repair.  We thought we would be up and running quickly, but that just wasn't the case.  It took nearly nine months just to get our certificate of occupancy so we could use our new space.  Months later we still had bits and pieces scattered around when, in through the gate came two more airplanes, an F-4C Phantom II and a TA-4J Skyhawk, both had been transferred from the Joint Reserve Base, formerly Carswell Air Force Base.  More parts, the Skyhawk came in two pieces.

Our maintenance effort tried hard to get our restoration house in order, but somehow we never seemed to get any traction, literally and figuratively.  We have a little aircraft tug we call Miss Piggy that we expected to use to move aircraft around the yard and maintenance pad.  Problem was, Miss Piggy had a mind of her own for awhile and refused to accept brakes.  It took months to settle her down and then winter had set in, work slowed.  All along, some work was being done on the aircraft here and there, but we had two airplanes without tails and they just didn't look right.  Finally, last week the weather broke and a day was set to bring in a crane to move our B-36 props and put our tails in place.  It took some time, but the winds were low and the sun was warm and seven volunteers and a crane operator moved those tails and set them in place. 

We now have two more airplanes standing proud with tails held high, now longer sitting, looking broken and downcast.  Lots of people have been responsible for the restoration on the TA-4 and especially the F-111 Aardvark.  Our Vaark was literally a basket case when we got "Balls 9."  A museum in Connecticut had abandoned the aircraft in Arizona when it could not raised the money it needed to move it.  It sat, almost forgotten, for nearly nine years when we found it.  We beat the bushes and with the help of the B-36 Peacemaker Museum and others, we finally had what we needed to bring the airplane home to Fort Worth, but that was about it.  The airplane had been heavily disassembled and we learned it did not have all its panels.  Not much work went into "Balls 9" after it arrived here in 2007, but once the airplane was moved to our new location things started to change.

One of the B-36 group, Glen Hill, started replacing panels, one at a time, almost without anyone noticing.  Then little by little and with the help of folks like Jim Bloomberg, Jack Thompson, Hank Wright and others, the holes started disappearing and "Balls 9" started looking more and more like the proud bird she is.  Now, this Vaark is almost finished and ready for a new coat of paint.

So, as they say in the Navy, Bravo Zulu to our maintenance crew.  Our F-111 and TA-4J are sitting pretty because they moved our tails for you.

Hot Dog Howdy!

As some of you are aware, over the Valentine's Day weekend, we did some mighty fine hoop jumping.  Just prior to the end of January we learned that the GSA, through it Federal Surplus Property Program, had an O-1 Bird Dog up for disposition.  We have long wanted one of these aircraft for our collection of FAC airplanes, but they just don't come available very often.  One came up five or six years ago, but nothing since.

At any rate, we jumped and got the required paperwork in and pretty much forgot about it since other states wanted the airplane as well.  Just as I was getting ready to leave town on a trip on Valentine's weekend, I got a call from the Texas GSA telling us we could have the O-1 if we wanted it.  Did we?  Of course we wanted it, but we had done no fund raising for this type aircraft and needed some time to get support.  They said fine, we'll call tomorrow.  Tomorrow?  I immediately went to the only two sources of O-1 information that I knew of, the International Bird Dog Association and the FAC Association.  Armed with a bunch of email addresses, I fired off about 700 messages and got ready to leave town on a three day trip to Tel Aviv.  That was February 10th.  On the morning of the 11th, our friendly GSA rep called asking, "well, do you want it?"  I told him we wanted it, but we needed a little time to see if we could raise the funds.  Money was starting to come in, but we needed to raise at least $6,000 to make the project work.  I told him I would call him when I got back on the 13th.

Twelve or so hours later I was in Tel Aviv and found my email box full.  People were coming out of the woodwork to support the O-1 project.  I spent a lot of time on the computer for those couple days, but by the time I returned, we had raised over $9,000.

I called the GSA first thing on Valentine's Day and told them we wanted the airplane.  They said the paperwork would be along in a few days.  A week went by, then ten days and finally the paperwork authorizing the transfer and the restriction were in hand with a note to get them back in a couple days or the airplanes was going to be reassigned.  In the brief time we had to acquire the airplane we had learned very little other than this was the same airplane we tried to get the five years before.  We vowed not to let it get away again.

A short time ago we received this message from the Texas GSA, "we did received your paperwork, and sent it on to GSA, they have approved the transfer. Your copy of the original CTD was mailed to you today.  You can make arrangements with the holding agency in North Carolina to go get your plane."

We have been calling this little Bird Dog "Valentine" since it was essentially a gift of the heart from a lot of former Air Force O-1 people on Valentine's Day. 

Now, we can begin the process of "gittin her home."

We know very little about this little treasure.  We do know it is an O-1A with serial number is 51-22840, which we believe is a Cessna number and that is about it.  We also know some dedicated supporters that have pledged over $12,000 to preserve a little bit of their heritage.

For now, please join with us in thanking these people for making it possible to add a Bird Dog to the Petting Zoo.

Bernie Pantich

Bill Middelton

Bill Tilton

Bob Kellock

Bob Willis

Cary Malott

Chad Swedberg

Clay Peacock

Darrel Whitcomb

Dave MacKay

Dave Pinsky

Dick Green

Don Brown

Don Nagel

Don Spooner

Ed Waggoner

Garet Nenninger

Gary Willis

George Lyle

George Patterson

Gerry Dingman

H Ownby

Harley Lawerance

Howard Prunty

Jan Stevens

James Baisden

Jerry Ellington

Jim Mulvihill IBDA

Jim Walbridge

Jimmy Brown

John Buck

John Rigney

John Roberson

John Urban

Jonathan Myer

Larry Fritts

Larry Williams

Mike Todd

Mike Webb

Myke Shelby

Neal Patton

Pat Swenney

Peter Condon

Robert Erler

Robert Havard

Steve Wilson

Tom McGrain

Tom Palmer

Tony Cestnik

Virgal Sansing

Walt Ackerlund

Winnie Stearns