Friday, February 22, 2013

Chico Air Museum gets first airworthy aircraft

CHICO -- The newest plane at the Chico Air Museum is very different than the others.

This new plane makes museum members wildly excited because of its firsts. It is the first operational plane acquired by the museum, which had it flown from New Mexico to Chico.

Because it can fly, it will enable museum members to achieve another first — fly to and participate in other communities' air shows.

There's one more first, but it's an unknown at this point — the first time the public will see the plane.

The Swiss-made Pilatus P-3 is tucked into a private hangar at the Chico Municipal Airport. It has not made it among the other planes in the museum's outdoor yard.

"It's in such beautiful shape that we're going to protect it until the weather is a sure thing," according to museum president Norm Rosene.

How the plane came to Chico is one of Rosene's new favorite stories. He credits Chico aircraft broker Dan Jay, who heard its owner was trying to get rid of it, along with another plane.

Always quick on the uptake when it comes to possible acquisitions, Rosene followed up immediately.

Knowing a plane like this — airworthy and in great shape — would be a plum acquisition for any air museum, Rosene worked quickly to convince the owner that Chico would be a worthy destination.

The Pilatus was a training aircraft for the Swiss Air Force, crafted in the late 1950s. It was designed for night flying, aerobatics and instrument flying, according to the museum's fact sheet.

"This is one of 86, and only 18 are still flying," Rosene noted.

The donation was made, and a couple of weeks later, Rosene and a pilot were heading to New Mexico, where they checked out the plane with air and ground testing, and then headed west.

It hadn't been flown in 10 years, but it had received detailed attention. "Leads like this fizzle out. It never happens. But this time, everything fell into place. It unfolded incredibly quickly."

Rosene also wrote a personalized letter that talked about the role of Chico Air Museum and the dedication of members, to convince the owner.

"For a museum of our size, a mid-size one, we depend on short reaction time and enthusiasm about getting everything done to get the aircraft. To hear that we'd gotten it was unbelievable."

There's no air show penciled on the museum's calendar yet, but Rosene doesn't believe it'll be long.

While flying a beautiful plane is a perk, being part of an air show will help attract visitors to Chico, he said.

Other members of the air museum's membership will be trained to fly the Pilatus, and will be able to handle air show appearances as well, Rosene said.

"This is a way to promote the airport, the city and the museum. People look for places like this to go for a day or weekend."

What makes the acquisition even sweeter to the air museum folks is its lineage.

"This is the great-grandfather to the plane currently being used by the Air Force as a trainer," Rosene said.

The museum is looking for a permanent hangar for the aircraft.

To see the other 10 planes, the museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 170 Convair Ave. at the Chico Municipal Airport.

The other planes are: Lockheed P2V-7, Lockheed T-33, Antonov AN-2, Aero Vodochody L-29, Luscombe 8A, Vonhune HP 11A Glider, Taylor Titch air racer, Dragonfly experimental, Hummel Bird experimental, Pietenpol Air Camper, and McDonald Douglas F-15A.

Story and Photo:  http://www.chicoer.com