Completed Nomad is ready for the kids!
Destined to become a museum hands-on demo display, the restoration crew puts the final touches on an Australian built Nomad N22. This display, when complete, will allow visitors to sit in the cockpit to experience the feeling of a real aircraft and provide a photo-op for those who are Kodak friendly.
The Nomad is a small, high-wing, short-field takeoff & landing (STOL) aircraft. It was designed as a multi-role transport aircraft for civil and military use, and included two versions; the short-fuselage N22 (13 passenger) and long-fuselage N24 (17 passenger).
The Nomad was designed by the Australian Government Aircraft Factory (GAF) in 1965. The first prototypes were flown in 1971 and 170 aircraft were built until production concluded in 1984. Just over half of these twin turboprop aircraft are still in service.
The restoration on our Grumman COD C-1A Trader was completed in early 2005. The above pictures shows her the moment she taxied from the museum's restoration facility.
The C-1A was designed to carry nine passengers and cargo from ship to shore, or vice versa. The first C-1A flew in January 1955, and the last of the 87 built was delivered in December 1958. Our C-1A was the last prop driven aircraft to be retired from the Navy inventory. She is pictured above during engine run-up cycling her wings.
22,000 volunteer hours culminated in the completion of the SBD restoration project. Pictured above is Roy Sorensen addressing the guests, visitors and members of the Palm Springs Air Museum. As the last pilot to fly this airplane, it was a rare pleasure to have Roy and his family help us celebrate this auspicious occasion. In addition, our restoration crew lead by Larry Simon appear under the flying SBD provided by the Planes of Fame Museum at Chino, piloted by Steve Hinton.
The Restoration crew (volunteers) of the Palm Springs Air Museum has initiated its second restoration project thanks to the US Navy and its donation of an SBD-5 Dauntless Dive Bomber. After a fifty-five year rest at the bottom of Lake Michigan, the US Navy raised her and delivered her to the Palm Springs Air Museum for restoration and eventual display. (The first restoration is a Link Trainer and is almost complete).
On Dec 3, 1944 student Ensign Roy Sorensen departed from Glenview Naval Air Station in SBD-5 Serial #36176 to make his first carrier landing aboard the Sable. Upon his first departure from a carrier, Sorensen experienced an engine failure and landed upright in the cold waters of the lake.
The museum was able to locate the pilot and on March 16, 1999, Roy Sorensen was reunited with his old training plane (see picture below). Roy described the event, "I was a boot ensign and just beginning my carrier training out of Glenview NAS near Chicago. I had taken the SBD off and completed my first landing aboard the carrier. I was one happy guy. I had seven more landings to complete to meet my qualification. On my first departure from the carrier, my engine quit and I, fortunately, was able to land on the lake without flipping. I shoved out of the cockpit and swam a few feet away from the plane as it disappeared in a flurry of bubbles. The navy rescued me from the cold waters of Lake Michigan."
Roy went on to fly Corsairs until the end of the war then was recalled for the Korean War. During that conflict, Roy was called upon to lend all his clothing and flight gear to William Holden for the movie, "Bridges at Toko Ri". Roy now lives in Milwaukee.
Two projects on the restoration back burner. The Bell AH-1 Cobra and the Sikorsky H34 Choctaw.
