Teens Fly Restored Plane to Wisconsin

July 26, 2006
After six years of repair and restoration, Flabob Airport's Aeronca Super Chief made it back into the air and all the way to Wisconsin.

RUBIDOUX -- The pilots skirted thunderstorms in New Mexico. Their escort plane battled electrical problems.

After six years of repair and restoration, Flabob Airport's Aeronca Super Chief made it back into the air and all the way to Wisconsin.

Two Inland Empire teens and two flying instructors made local airport history at 80 mph.

The tiny twin-seater and its Ercoupe escort took off a few minutes after 7 a.m. Wednesday, made one pass and headed into the sunrise, Flabob community relations director Kathy Rohm said.

She said it was an awesome moment for a plane that was once left to rot on the flight line.

"It was smooth," she said. "It was historic. It was quite a moment."

The crew landed in Oshkosh on Sunday. They'll spend the week at the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture 2006, then head home "the same way they got there," Rohm said.

Anthony Ward, of Jurupa, and Andrew Blaize, of Gavilan Hills, both 17, were chosen to make the flight to Oshkosh.

They were among the 35 teens ages 14 to 18 who worked three Saturday mornings a month ripping away rotting fabric and removing warped wood. The plane was in such sorry shape, its wings were good only as patterns.

Project director Roger Farnes, who took over for the original director, Al Gester, said the Aeronca was essentially rebuilt from the ground up.

The "Aeronca Kids" program is one of the centerpieces at Flabob, which is owned by the nonprofit Thomas Wathen Foundation.

The foundation promotes education and aircraft preservation, and includes a public aviation high school.

Foundation Chairman Thomas Wathen was on hand for a pre-flight inspection, a broad smile on his face.

"It's so exciting," he said. "We're having a good time."

Rohm said she's watched these teenagers grow up.

Ten have gone on to become pilots, including Ward. Andrew Blaize is working toward his pilot certification.

The progress of the Aeronca can be tracked at .

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