Another "Warbird" on the road to recovery...
Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:10 pm
Hello fellow WIX'ers,
This is my first post after lurking around here for some time due to the awesome thread about Diamond Lil's tranformation done by Gary and crew. What a captivating, educational and inspiring display of dedication and hard work as well as talent. I, for one, am deeply grateful for the efforts of the many who work so diligently to preserve a part of history when so many courageous Americans rose to meet a great challenge. We will always be indebted to them. As a member of the CAF, I worked on the warbirds at the SoCal Wing, including the PBJ currently under restoration. I haven't been out there for a while but I'm heading back there because I feel the need.
Especially since I've taken the plunge. Yes, fellow Wix'ers, I bought a warbird, sort of, ya' might say! Last year I bought a 1956 US Army Hiller OH-23C "Raven" helicopter badly in need of restoration. Got it from a museum with no logs or anything that would detail its history. Well, after many months of phone calls to the Army I was able to get some history on her. She served as a primary trainer at FT. Wolters in Texas from 1961-1972. She trained many pilots who then headed of to Huey school before heading off to Vietnam. The Army discharged the copter from service in 1996 and the records were destroyed in 1997. An Armor Museum somehow ended up with the copter and stored it inside one of the hangars for about 8 years before selling it to me. I like a challenge!!
That's when the fun began, trying to get it registered with the FAA. Which after months of research to establish the ownership trail and getting notarized paperwork and affidavits, I finally received the registration certificate two weeks ago....yippeee!
Anyway the copter now sits again at Ft. Wolters in Texas at a shop where the owner specializes in working on Hillers. I plan on making a trip out there soon to pick her up and begin the lengthy restoration process to flying staus. I have people with know how who have volunteered to help and I'm gonna need it.
I have a passion to restore this "warbird" because I've known friends and pilots who served in Vietnam. They are no less heroes to me than the heroes I've met who served in WWII or the heroes who serve now! This restoration will be my small tribute to them. I will fly this copter one day and I will always remember the reason she flew...to train men for war!
Sorry for the long post but it's my first and I wanted to say what a great place this is. I love the old photos and stories as well the fabulous information shared here.
Let's keep 'em flying!
Dave
This is my first post after lurking around here for some time due to the awesome thread about Diamond Lil's tranformation done by Gary and crew. What a captivating, educational and inspiring display of dedication and hard work as well as talent. I, for one, am deeply grateful for the efforts of the many who work so diligently to preserve a part of history when so many courageous Americans rose to meet a great challenge. We will always be indebted to them. As a member of the CAF, I worked on the warbirds at the SoCal Wing, including the PBJ currently under restoration. I haven't been out there for a while but I'm heading back there because I feel the need.
Especially since I've taken the plunge. Yes, fellow Wix'ers, I bought a warbird, sort of, ya' might say! Last year I bought a 1956 US Army Hiller OH-23C "Raven" helicopter badly in need of restoration. Got it from a museum with no logs or anything that would detail its history. Well, after many months of phone calls to the Army I was able to get some history on her. She served as a primary trainer at FT. Wolters in Texas from 1961-1972. She trained many pilots who then headed of to Huey school before heading off to Vietnam. The Army discharged the copter from service in 1996 and the records were destroyed in 1997. An Armor Museum somehow ended up with the copter and stored it inside one of the hangars for about 8 years before selling it to me. I like a challenge!!
That's when the fun began, trying to get it registered with the FAA. Which after months of research to establish the ownership trail and getting notarized paperwork and affidavits, I finally received the registration certificate two weeks ago....yippeee!
Anyway the copter now sits again at Ft. Wolters in Texas at a shop where the owner specializes in working on Hillers. I plan on making a trip out there soon to pick her up and begin the lengthy restoration process to flying staus. I have people with know how who have volunteered to help and I'm gonna need it.
I have a passion to restore this "warbird" because I've known friends and pilots who served in Vietnam. They are no less heroes to me than the heroes I've met who served in WWII or the heroes who serve now! This restoration will be my small tribute to them. I will fly this copter one day and I will always remember the reason she flew...to train men for war!
Sorry for the long post but it's my first and I wanted to say what a great place this is. I love the old photos and stories as well the fabulous information shared here.
Let's keep 'em flying!
Dave
Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:27 pm
Very cool. Welcome aboard Dave.
Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:32 pm
Welcome aboard Dave...please try to post pictures of your project when you get a chance!
John
John
Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:54 pm
Wicked! A Warbird helo!
Welcome aboard!
Welcome aboard!
Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:03 pm
Welcome aboard! 
Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:10 pm
Welcome. The A&P school I went to had one of those Hiller's. Good luck with your project.
Robbie
Robbie
Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:27 pm
Welcome to WIX, Dave. As a frustrated rotorhead wannabe, I look forward to hearing about your restoration of the bird and it's return to flying !!!! Based on dates bet my IP either trained in it or in latter years instructed in it. Please keep us posted on your progress.
Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:57 pm
Hello Dave, welcome. Ft Wolters is just down the road from here, I would be upset if you didn't stop by the shop(with helo in tow 
) to see the P-38 and what ever else might be in the shop and say hello. We like warbird helos too. That's really cool to be able to do what your doing. Keep us posted!
) to see the P-38 and what ever else might be in the shop and say hello. We like warbird helos too. That's really cool to be able to do what your doing. Keep us posted!
Will do...
Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:25 pm
Thanks for all the warm welcomes! I can't over-emphasize how exciting it is for me to watch the great job done by Gary and the others who post regularly with updates and photos about the restoration work done on their particular projects. It truly is inspirational that so many are willing to fight the good fight to keep 'em flying.
As for my project, I will post photos and updates as I get into it. The WIX hangar has been so instructional on how to do the photos that I'm looking forward to it. Folks, don't hesitate to ask questions along the way as I will probably ask many of you as I get underway.
Steve Dickey...I have tentative plans to pick up the helo in August, funds permitting. I am trying to locate a trailer that will safely handle the transport of the helo. I would surely love to see the P-38 as she is truly a looker!!! Just love the warbirds! I will PM you when I have a more definite plan. Thanks for the invite!
Lady02pilot... If your IP did fly in a Hiller, ask him if Serial # 56-2300 rings a bell in his logbook. If he's got time in her I sure would love to hear any stories he could tell about her history.
Talk to you all later!
As for my project, I will post photos and updates as I get into it. The WIX hangar has been so instructional on how to do the photos that I'm looking forward to it. Folks, don't hesitate to ask questions along the way as I will probably ask many of you as I get underway.
Steve Dickey...I have tentative plans to pick up the helo in August, funds permitting. I am trying to locate a trailer that will safely handle the transport of the helo. I would surely love to see the P-38 as she is truly a looker!!! Just love the warbirds! I will PM you when I have a more definite plan. Thanks for the invite!
Lady02pilot... If your IP did fly in a Hiller, ask him if Serial # 56-2300 rings a bell in his logbook. If he's got time in her I sure would love to hear any stories he could tell about her history.
Talk to you all later!
Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:23 pm
Hi Dave,
As a fellow member of CAF's SoCalWing, welcome to WIX. Looking forward to meeting you in person at the hanger and tracking your restoration project.
The Other Dave
As a fellow member of CAF's SoCalWing, welcome to WIX. Looking forward to meeting you in person at the hanger and tracking your restoration project.
The Other Dave
Fri Jul 20, 2007 5:35 pm
LadyO2Pilot wrote:Welcome to WIX, Dave. As a frustrated rotorhead wannabe, I look forward to hearing about your restoration of the bird and it's return to flying !!!! Based on dates bet my IP either trained in it or in latter years instructed in it. Please keep us posted on your progress.
KB, I know the CHP flew TH-55's there. He has a story where he crashed one in the pasture behind the old Holiday Inn that we stayed at during an airshow there about 10 years ago.
Z
Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:25 pm
The good news is all the parts are available for civil Hiller UH-12s...the bad news is I bet it's gonna be expensive! The Mineral Wells company has a nice site..and i guess lots of parts, I saw it through Trade-a-Plane.
Mr. Smith started Evergreen aviation with a pair of UH-12s (both now at his great museum at McMinville, Oregon). And he has an H-23B on display there too.
The museum also houses several aircraft (a H-5, H-19, H-13B and E as well as the H-23B) restored by a Mr. Lennert from Hubbard , Oregon.
Perhaps they might have some parts they could donate...if the ship will be a flying museum piece with all the tax paperwork). Maybe the Hiller museum could help too.
Good luck...I'd like to do the same thing and for the same reasons ...with a H-13. Keep us informed.
Mr. Smith started Evergreen aviation with a pair of UH-12s (both now at his great museum at McMinville, Oregon). And he has an H-23B on display there too.
The museum also houses several aircraft (a H-5, H-19, H-13B and E as well as the H-23B) restored by a Mr. Lennert from Hubbard , Oregon.
Perhaps they might have some parts they could donate...if the ship will be a flying museum piece with all the tax paperwork). Maybe the Hiller museum could help too.
Good luck...I'd like to do the same thing and for the same reasons ...with a H-13. Keep us informed.
Sun Jul 22, 2007 7:01 pm
Welcome aboard. I can't wait to see the progress as time goes by on your project.
Sun Jul 22, 2007 7:03 pm
Centurion....IP soloed in D model and has a single 200+ hrs entry for all 23D time in his log book....not broken down by date/time entries. Oh well...next time I speak to him, I'll ask if he has any stories about Cs.
Z....I had forgotten that crash story.....wow...old memories. Remember driving by to see the chopper blades in the ground too.
Z....I had forgotten that crash story.....wow...old memories. Remember driving by to see the chopper blades in the ground too.