Plane prepped for final landing spot

BLOOMINGTON — After removing the left wing of the 1932 Tilbury Flash, a tiny but fast airplane popular with children visiting the McLean County Museum of History, Don O'Neall took a good, long look at it.

"Sad, isn't it?" said the president of the Bloomington Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 129. He and chapter member Tom Swearingen were charged with removing the wings and preparing the plane for storage.

While the historic single-seat monoplane on the museum's ground floor was a sad sight, it's story is far from over.

While that part of the former county courthouse is being turned into a new Route 66-theme visitor center, the plane is being packed away until it can be displayed after the first of the year at Central Illinois Regional Airport.

"Kids love this plane," O'Neall said. " But the great thing is that a lot of people are still going to be able to see this at its new location and our goal is to promote aviation and a whole new generation of children will be able to look at a great piece of our local history."

The plane was built by Owen Tilbury and Cecil Fundy and flown by Art Carnahan, who was the pilot for The (Bloomington) Pantagraph.

"Art was wild," said museum curator Susan Hartzold. "He would do just about anything."

Once recorded at 115 mph in flight, the plane set a world speed record for the smallest class of plane. It flew in and won aircraft racing competitions, often sponsored by governments interested in the military potential for small, highly maneuverable aircraft.

It is 11 feet 10 inches long, has a wingspan of 14 feet 8 inches and is powered by a Church-Henderson four-cylinder, 45-horsepower motor.

It's principal drawback was the small landing wheels, which could be used only on the smoothest of runways. It's pilot also had to be relatively small to fit into the tiny cockpit.

"We're going to miss it," Hartzold said. "It is one of the more popular exhibits, especially for the kids. We are sad to see it go. But we also understand that it is going to be seen by a lot more people and so we can live with that."

The plane was stored in a barn in 1935 and sat there for 40 years. It was recovered in 1975 and restored by members of the Bloomington EAA chapter, including Swearingen's grandfather, Tom Swearingen, who died about three years ago.

"He loved doing things like restoring a plane like this," Swearingen said. "That is why I feel a special connection to this plane. Knowing he worked on this plane and how important it was to him, makes it a special honor for me to be helping with this move."

Officials with CIRA have not yet decided where the plane will be displayed, but they are expected to make a final decision in the next few weeks.

"We are thrilled to be collaborating with the airport on this and know that whatever they decide to do with it — whether hang it or let it sit on the ground — it will be a great display and very popular," said Beth Whisman, museum director of development. "It's a special plane and if it can't be here, the perfect spot for it is at the airport."

- Source:   http://herald-review.com