I don't think I've posted about this airplane before, but for several years I've had the great privilege of being involved in the maintenance and flying of the 1930 Brunner Winkle Bird BK that Charles Lindbergh bought new in August 1930 in order to teach his wife to fly. The machine has quite an interesting history even aside from being owned by the Lindberghs, having been owned by one man from about 1946 until just a few years ago. The Lindberghs owned it for a couple of years, then it went through several owners before being purchased by Joe Fichera in 1946 or 47 (the bill of sale has both dates on it). Joe was in the USAF at the time, and liked old airplanes (not that old then!), but before he had a chance to fly his new acquisition a wind storm blew it over and damaged it. A few years later it was repaired and ready to fly, and Joe got a good month or two out of it, then the engine failed, and he ended up on his back in a field, with more damage. Time passed, and eventually Joe became one of the senior restorers for the Smithsonian NASM at Silver Hill, but the Bird sat in storage. Eventually he realized that he wasn't getting any younger, and better get to work on the Bird. After several years of work the old biplane looked better than ever, and in 2012 it flew again in the hands of a family friend.
https://www.airspacemag.com/history-of- ... d-4133032/
Joe was 92 at the time, got a ride or two in the old Bird, and unfortunately passed away that winter. Ownership passed to his wife Anne, but the airplane was damaged in Ohio on the way out to Blakesburg in 2013, and was sent to Poplar Grove Airmotive in Illinois for repair. In September of the following year it was flying again at the hands of Tina Thomas at Poplar Grove, but needed to get back home to Maryland. Fortunately for me a neighbor of the Ficheras is a friend of mine, and he suggested calling me, as I had a number of flying hours in Birds. I flew it back home, and have been involved with it ever since, doing the annual inspections, and flying it "as necessary" (!). It has a new owner, another friend of the family, who keeps it in the hangar at Anne's house, so she is still a part of its life.
A couple of Saturdays ago my friend Charlie and I flew over there from our home base in Virginia, he in his Stearman, and me in my 1928 Travel Air (http://www.biplanerides1.com), and I finished the annual inspection and did a half hour flight.
It's an attractive biplane
Looking out at the Chesapeake Bay. The airport is off the lower wingtip
I brought along some white coveralls and a pith helmet so we could take a "period" looking photo...
Anne is standing on the tire.
I put the GoPro on Charlie's Stearman and got this photo as we left. The grass runway of the airport is visible below
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