Warbird Information Exchange

Are you an aviation enthusiast with an interest in how aviation museums restore and preserve aircraft or maybe your examining a future as a prospective aviation museum volunteer but are wanting to learn a good deal of what goes into a restoration and preservation process before you join a local museum?

The book "Restoring Museum Aircraft" written by well known author Robert Mikesh, is maybe just what you need to buy.
Down Under Aviation News has just completed the book review and highly recommends aviation enthusiasts consider buying this book even just for a reference book if you have a strong interest in understanding how warbirds and civil aircraft are put on display in museums.

This book will help you gain a basic to intermediate understanding of just how complex restorations can be,insights to the slow painstaking work to repair and recreate parts and the team work that goes into a restoration at a museum.

See the review at https://downunderaviationnews.wordpress ... -aircraft/

Great value at only $69.99 US from Schiffer books.

It's a good book, that. That and the other NASM books give a good insight into the restoration scene. They give a good theoretical understanding, and it's always interesting to see how other museums and people work, to compare and contrast with your own hands-on work.

But, there's nothing better than going to your local museum, seeing what happens in the local scene, asking questions, and getting involved. Worked for me thirty years ago. Start with cleaning, stripping, scrubbing, all under the supporting help of an experienced volunteer. Learn what happens, and move up. There's no greater satisfaction than that which comes from looking at a static or flying aircraft and knowing that you have had a part in returning it to tip-top condition. Or even the vital task of slowing the decay of aircraft outside. Hangars don't appear overnight, and the reality of having to care for static airframes that are exposed to the weather is one that many museum members understand. Get involved. Be a doer. Enjoy the working days and the barbecues afterwards. Learn from your successes and failures. Have a sense of perspective, a sense of humour, and an openness to constructive advice. And don't take yourself too seriously, there's always someone who knows more. Then you'll really enjoy aircraft restoration.

It's good fun.

_________________
Matt Austin - playing with warbirds since the early 80s.

See my Lee-Enfield videos at - http://www.youtube.com/user/Jollygreenslugg

I read this book awhile back and thought it was a pretty decent book. I would recommend that anyone interested in aircraft restoration read it.

_________________
A&P/I.A., A.A.S./Aviation Maintenance technology
Warbird salvage/recovery
One day I'll get that P-40!

Its an awesome book but its been out of print for a while. Prices can be quite expensive so shop around. I got mine about 7 years ago for $10 at a book sale. It offers a great break down on the museum version of CONSERVATION and restoration.

Drew

_________________
Andrew King
Air Museum Director with no Museum to Direct
Open to Suggestions

Andrew, this is a reprint of the original book and is available for $69.95 on Amazon.