FLABOB AIRPORT DC-3

    Many of you are familiar with Flabob Airport located in Riverside, California. This is a historical airport having been home to many famous aviators and aircraft builders/restorers. In a future newsletter I will provide a detailed history of this airport. In the interim, there are several names you will recognize who have made Flabob their home. Ray Stits located his fabric covering business on this airport in the early 1960's. Stits covering process is now known as Poly-Fiber Aircraft Coatings and it is still located on this airport. The late Bill Turner restored several famous aircraft through the years such as the red DeHavilland Comet that you may have seen at airshows. Lou Stolp developed his famous Starduster homebuilt on this field. Ed Marquart called Flabob his home while developing several aircraft including the Marquart Charger. And of course, the first EAA Chapter was formed at Flabob - EAA Chapter One. Tom Wathen recently purchased the airfield. Tom has completed major renovations and new construction of hangars, taxiways, and buildings on the field. To read more about his plans please go to www.flabob.com.

Now, on to our DC-3 story.

This DC-3 is actually a converted C-47 that did wartime service with the Royal Air Force. A gentleman by the name of Jerry Barto grew up in Riverside and took his first airplane ride at Flabob at the age of 12. Jerry is a successful developer, oilman, and most importantly a collector of old aircraft. Jerry bought this airplane five years ago and it was promptly damaged in a windstorm. Being busy and not sure about how to tackle the repair, a group of Flabob volunteers offered to take on the job. After a year and a half of hard work, the Flabob Aviation Associates (FAA) volunteers returned the aircraft to flying condition. Jerry then donated the airplane to these volunteers who have formed a non-profit organization dedicated to operating it as a flying museum. The "Flabob Express" as the DC-3 is now named, will be used as the signature airplane and flying lab of the Thomas W. Wathen Aviation High School that was formed last fall at Flabob.

One of the volunteers working on the DC-3 has a very interesting history. Sam Pratt (pictured at right) is a private pilot who has been involved with aviation for many years. I can emphasize the word many because Sam is 94 years old. Sam is called the "Douglas Factory Rep" by his co-volunteers because Sam actually worked on the Douglas factory assembly line in Long Beach, CA during WWII. At the factory, Sam machined tailwheel spindles for C-47's. Sam is still a very skilled metal worker and machinist having recently repaired (rebuilt) the crushed right wingtip of the "Flabob Express" into a like new tip that flies on the aircraft today. Sam and his co volunteers work on the DC-3 almost every day. It is more than a labor of love for this interesting and dedicated aviation volunteer. I met Sam while on a visit to Flabob. The picture above was taken at the Flabob Cafe. Best of luck to you Sam, and to all of the volunteers who are keeping the "Flabob Express" flying.