CAPE MAY AIRPORT — Like a champion prizefighter, Yankee Lady, the
meticulously restored Boeing B-17, spends the offseason strengthening
and conditioning. The B-17 will be visiting Naval Air Station (NAS)
Wildwood Aviation Museum at the Cape May, NJ airport June 10, 11 and 12,
2013. She has been nestled in her hangar since late October receiving
attention from her handlers under the watchful eyes of Yankee Air
Museum B-17 Crew Chief Norm Ellickson and Chief Mechanic, Paul Hakala.
Together with teams of volunteer craftsmen and master mechanics they
spend countless hours through these winter months to keep this Flying
Fortress in top-flight shape.
Virtually every inch of the World War II four-engine heavy bomber is
inspected and touched in preparation for the flying season beginning in
April. There is a specific schedule for routine maintenance and
overhauls, but this ground crew pours over the finest details to keep
Yankee Lady in the award winning condition her fans have come to expect.
“Since the Yankee Air Force completed the nine year restoration of
this B-17 in 1995, we’ve clocked about 2500 hours of flight time at an
average speed of 150 mph,” said Ellickson. “That’s about 375,000 miles,
or nearly 15 times around the world, without any serious problems.”
Ellickson explained that every autumn, after completing an FAA
certified inspection and comprehensive maintenance list of more than 500
items, Yankee Lady is typically stored for the winter. This year, for
the first time ever, the Yankee Air Museum has a full time mechanic and
the plane is in the heated Hangar 1 at Willow Run.
“This is huge,” exclaimed Ellickson. “A heated hangar and full-time
mechanic means we can get at some projects we couldn’t ordinarily do in
winter. For example, we’ve been able to repaint the vertical stabilizer
and wing tips, we’re overhauling the main landing gear, replacing all
brakes and much more.”
Ellickson was among the original group of aviation enthusiasts who
raised the $250,000 to buy the aircraft in 1986. Originally built in
1945 by the Vega Division of Lockheed Aircraft (under license by
Boeing), this “G” model B-17 was one of the last ever delivered to the
United States Army Air Force. In fact, when the plane was delivered,
World War II was drawing to a close so it was never flown overseas. The
combat strength of a B-17 is legendary and Yankee Lady has always flown
peacetime missions contributing to her pristine condition.
“It’s interesting to work on this plane, said Paul Hakala. “I’m
impressed with the technology of the late 1930s and how much thought
went into this craft. It’s well built and should last many more years!
One challenge I’ve found is finding replacements for damaged or worn
parts. However, depending on the part, the museum’s skilled craftsmen
are able to repair or fabricate new ones.”
Hakala should know. His interest in aviation dates back to when he
was a teenager and obtained his private pilot’s license. An Army
Veteran, he spent 3 years working on a variety of helicopters. Upon
leaving the service he returned to school and earned his FAA Airframe
and Powerplant License.
Hakala then went to work at Environmental
Research Institute of Michigan. At ERIM, which was later acquired by
General Dynamics, he maintained and flew as flight mechanic on a variety
of aircraft used for research. His first was the De Havilland DHC-4A
Caribou, now proudly displayed in the museum’s airpark. For more than
26 years he served as a mechanic, then Director of Maintenance and Chief
Inspector. Still, he seems humbled by the B-17 and the volunteers
working along side of him.
“Once the plane was parked for the season, we drained the engines of
oil and began working the inspection items, doing pressure checks and
the usual electrical tests,”
said Hakala. “We found one engine cylinder to be a little under the
specs in compression testing so it was overhauled and replaced.”
Hakala added that the Yankee Lady’s Ground Crew, comprised of
stalwart Yankee Air Museum volunteers, work on some major projects as
well. The entire 36,000-pound aircraft was recently put on jack stands
so the wheels could be removed and brakes replaced.
“We noticed the trunnion bushings were slightly worn so this is a good opportunity to replace them as well,” continued Hakala.
Hakala described the trunnion as a cylindrical shaft on which the
landing gear shock strut assembly pivots when the landing gear is
retracted after takeoff or extended for landing. A fully loaded, combat
ready B-17 weighed about 65,500 pounds and the trunnion bears the
weight. The bushings are the replaceable greased sleeves that provide
the primary bearing surface at which the landing gear supports the
aircraft.
“To me, the most significant accomplishment has been painting the
tail and wing tips,” offered Hakala. “It’s the same as restoring an
historic flag. We want people to see and respect the colors of the
381st Bombardment Group which this plane honors.”
Hakala explained that as a late G model B-17, the plane was
originally delivered in natural metal finish. The aircraft has been
painted in the markings of a typical B-17G assigned to the 8th Air
Force, 381st Bomb Group as a memorial to the late Joseph Slavik who flew
35 missions as a pilot with the 381st. Mr. Slavik made a significant
contribution to help purchase the plane. The “Yankee Lady” name and
nose art do not replicate an actual combat veteran B-17 but are meant to
be representative of the era. The wing tips, vertical and horizontal
stabilizers have been repainted Spectramaster Red making the gleaming
skin and lettering really pop.
“I’ve seen the other B-17s, seven were here at Thunder Over Michigan
in 2010,” said Hakala, concluding “I can truthfully say, Yankee Lady is
the best, most true B-17 still flying. We aim to keep her that way.”
Keeping the Yankee Lady in her award winning condition requires
special talent and lots of financial resources. It also requires a
network of friends who are engineers and artisans. Norm Ellickson,
began his career as an aircraft mechanic when he was 19. He retired
from Northwest Airlines as Regional Maintenance Manager at Detroit/Wayne
County Metropolitan Airport. He was the leader of the Yankee Lady
restoration effort. His warm and affable nature is as legendary as the
aircraft on which the labors of love are focused.
“I’m a pretty lucky guy,” he says. “I get to work on history’s
greatest airplane with the greatest people in the world. Whenever I
need a rare part or advice, I can pick up the phone and help is there.”
Ellickson talks about his friends all across the country with whom he
shares aircraft parts and expertise. Whether it is sewing new,
authentic seats, to fabricating major assemblies from blueprints,
Ellickson seems to have a contact for everything.
“There are only nine B-17s still flying and we stick together pretty
well,” he continued. “It’s very costly though. We needed to overhaul
the number four engine in July and that cost us about $35,000.”
Ellickson speculates that as more B-17s retire, the availability of
parts will decrease and the costs will increase. Just a few years ago
it cost $400.00 to recap a tire. Today, that cost has risen to $995.00.
Ellickson just sent five tires out for recapping.
Ellickson said that every hour the Fortress flies costs about
$3500.00 in fuel, supplies and maintenance but that sponsorships defray
some of the cost. While on station or at an air show, the museum will
also sell Flight Experience (FLEX) Rides, tours and items from the
museum store to further raise funds.
“I don’t mind a high-cost, high-maintenance lady at all,” chuckled Ellickson.
“When we’re at an air show and we see a World War II B-17 Veteran
reunite with this airplane, the point of our freedom is driven home and
all this effort is worth it,” added Hakala.
“We’ll keep her flying as long as humanly possible, our Veterans
deserve nothing less,” concluded Ellickson. Please mark your calendar
and be sure to visit the Yankee Lady at the Cape May airport this June.
NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum and Yankee Air Museum are both
non-profit 501 (c) (3) organizations. For more information about visit www.yankeeairmuseum.org or wwwusnasw.org
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