Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Kilo-7 project update


Completion is near for project K-7. The wings went on last week and we are rollin right along! All the paint work is complete except the lower wing and tail fairings which we are fitting presently. It wont be long and this beauty will be in the air. Insignia blue, cream with gold pinstripe is looking great but we're having a hard time capturing it's true personality with the camera indoors. We will be able to better share this combination once we get outside with this stunning ZPF-7. As a matter of fact we have a photo shoot already scheduled! Once the news of first flight hits the blog check the main site often to see a full gallery. I can't wait to kick off the flying season in this beauty! It's going to be great seeing the fun this airplane shares with people; High Def 1080P camera, I-tunes, XM Radio/Weather, Show Smoke and more in a classy package the retains an old school look. I do believe I just ended up in the throws of my latest airplane crush.....

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Lego WACO!!


Friend and customer of RARE Aircraft, Dave Sterling seems to have a bit of a Lego habit. He and his wife Stacy can build ANYTHING out of Legos. Proof is in the photos of the Waco he constructed and was kind enough to share with us! The Sterling's own a beautiful '57 Tri-Pacer, the nicest I've ever seen. Thanks for Sharing Dave and thanks to all for visiting our web-site and blog!!






Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Wet Paint



Project Kilo-7 is well into the paint process. The last K-7 update we were starting the cover process, now paint and soon final assembly. Photos make it appear black however its a very deep, dark blue with cream and gold pinstripe. We're very excited about this airplane and pleased to be again doing something out of the norm. The owner has been wonderful to work with and is responsible for all the fun details and creativity going into this one. We are merely guides to the whole process. It won't be long and this one will be ready for the air!! Stay tuned for more updates and thanks for visiting our website and blog.





Next project we're dropping the hammer on...completion of the Doyle Stearman!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

We have returned from Brazil after another successful mission with new found perspective, better forged friendships and plenty of great stories. We gave the F-2 a check up and found all to be well. It receives the best care and is flown regularly. The Fairchild received a check up as well and we placed the original brakes and wheels where they belong, the garbage can. An upgrade to Cleveland wheels and brakes gave it a new lease on life. The ZQC-6 arrived well and without damage. We assembled the C-6 with lots of help from all around. The upper wings are pretty good size so we were happy to have all the extra hands when it came time to hoist them up in the air. Of course the lowers went into place first. We were running and conducting the first taxi test in two days.
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The first flight went well as did the following flights. Some training with the chief pilot Cassiano was done as well as some pleasure flying in the F-2. Cassiano was kind enough to give me the back seat for the F-2 flight. I really miss that F-2 as it's my favorite. Having the opportunity to take it for a spin was a real treat. I snapped a photo of our flight in the F-2 while over the city. The other photo is of Cassiano and I in the Cabin during flight #1.


The weather there is nothing short of spectacular as was the flying and new sights. Many wonderful memories were made. I will definitely say the best part was being treated like family by the entire team. Being so far away from home can be difficult but the hospitality, enthusiasm and warm reception by all made it a wonderful experience. Many in Brazil have earned a permanent place in my heart as family. I truly feel as if I have new found family members. To be honest I really can't begin to put this experience into words. Yes, I know, even the guy who always has something to say about everything is at a loss for words. With that being the case I will say something about the stars of this show, the airplanes......
It never ceases to amaze me how these old airplanes take us on such adventures. Many of them offer an adventure when we meet them for the first time. The Fairchild, I met tucked away quietly in a Quonset on a little grass strip in Iowa. It offered a two day wrench turning adventure followed by flying it home. If at that time you told me on the other side I would be in Brazil with it a year later I would have laughed and called your crazy. The Cabin Waco, I met tucked away sitting in a quiet hangar on Washington Island. Dusty and lonely it had been left to sit. Its mags were tinkered with and left apart, fuel tanks empty and tires flat. Three trips and many hours were spent reviving the Cabin with a great adventure in the retrieval alone. It was with us for quite some time, received new cover and paint and well, you know the rest. Now having been through a few "meetings" with many old airplanes I always ask them the same question on our first introduction, "where have you been and where will you take me" because as I always say, airplanes are people too. If you don't think so, you're not listening to them.