Experience Counts

A benefit of having an active organization is attracting competent associates.



With over 7,000 hours of Rotary wing time, Pete is valuable not only for his experience but also, like so many of our other volunteers, for his energy and his drive.

Entering service during Vietnam, he has instructed and flown large and heavy helicopters during his Army and Fire service years.




Also with fixed and rotary wing ratings, Mike's service as an Aviator and Helicopter IP was a few years later. He keeps his skill with collective and cyclic, rudder and stick active with his own aircraft on the field..

Born in what is now the Czech Republic, Mike's language skills and contacts in Eastern Europe are an additional benefit for the museum.



We are fortunate to have these and many other fine associates and volunteers helping with the museum.

Pete and Bruce enjoy an after flight review in the Mi-2.

Chinook Helicopter

On a recent visit to Alaska, I "caught" this picture of a Chinook.


In a previous post, we explained how U.S. Army helicopters are named for Indian Tribes. The CH-47, "Chinook" is a hard working member of the U.S. Army helicopter inventory.


The Chinook" Salmon is the largest member of the salmon family. Salmon return from the Pacific Ocean to Alaskan streams to spawn and Salmon fishing is an Alaskan industry.

The convention and arts center in Anchorage recently had a contest and display of art objects made from salmon. Titled "Chinook at 14,000 feet", the award winner shown at the start of this article was judged worthy of report in this blog by the Cold War Air Museum associate passing by.

Mig-21 Gear Down

We are moving towards having the Cold War Air Museum, Mig21 on static display during the Sept. 5th airport open house.

After attaching the wings, and raising the aircraft, we could work on getting it on the gear.

Jon almost fits under the wing as he checks the tires against the gear. The wheel bearings were removed, cleaned and lubricated before the wheels and tires were mounted.

The tires shipped with Bord 38 show a great deal of wear and will be replaced before the aircraft reaches flight status.



Main gear down, the team is ready to extend the nose gear. Jon studies the cockpit to locate the emergency gear extension pull handle. It is important to identify which Red Handle to pull!

The aircraft stands very high off the ground. This gives clearance both for the large tires used for the main gear and raises the intakes higher above the taxiways and runways to help avoid intake of snow, water and FOD on the bases where these aircraft were originally located.

With the completion of another busy day, the work crew paused for smiles and a picture. The wings will come off at least once more for additional work and a myriad of hydraulic connections remain to be checked and connected before final assembly.

Mig-21 Wings On

Visitors want to see our Cold War Air Museum, Mig21 on display.


With the Annual Lancaster Airport event, Warbirds on Parade, coming Saturday, September 5th, we are taking a break from the restoration work to display the aircraft during the event. Attaching the wings and putting it on the gear temporarily gives us a chance to check some of the work we are doing before returning to the job of preparing it for flight status.


Attaching the wings lets us evaluate some of the work we have done and some of the issues we are facing. With the wings attached we can lift the aircraft from the shipping cradle, giving us a chance to drop the gear and look at other areas on the aircraft.

Pulling the shipping cradle out is an event. Because of scheduling issues, the 21 has been in storage longer than any other aircraft in the museum inventory. This is a landmark event for the restoration calendar.



With the aircraft now up on jacks, we can work on getting it on its gear, allowing us to move the aircraft and put it on static display for now.