Thanks to the generosity of Mike & Margaret Wilson of Cedar Rapids, IA, the APM has received a large donation of Ryan PT-22 projects and parts.
Just a portion of the Ryan parts/projects in one of Mike's hangars (Brent Taylor photo)
Mike, an active pilot into his 90's, was a P-38 & P-39 pilot in the 11th AF (Aleutian Islands) during WWII. He has been a check pilot with the Warbirds of America, was heavily involved in the restoration of the P-38 "Glacier Girl" but is probably best known in antique airplanes circles for his expertise in the rebuilding of Kinner engines and Ryan PT-22's. Mike still has his much traveled PT-22, N49049, that he has put well over 1000 hrs on over the years, including a dozen + trips from Cedar Rapids, IA to the West Coast for the annual Ryan Fly-in. Mike is also a long time supporter of the APM having served on the Board of Directors for several years during the 70's & 80's
Mike's well traveled Ryan PT-22, N49049 (Scott Fisher photo)
Margaret Wilson is one of the first of a generation of female motorcyclists in post-World War II America who took up the sport and began changing the image of the motorcycling as an exclusive domain of men. Margaret has ridden her bikes over 550,000 miles, is a tremendous motorcycle supporter and is an inductee into several motorcycle Halls of Fame. Beginning in 1950 and for the next 25 years Margaret and Mike were business partners in Wilson's Motorcycle Sales of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Margaret has also been an active supporter of Mike's aviation endeavors and the APM as well.
Getting one of the fuselages down (Scott Fisher photo)
APM Founder/Chairman Robert Taylor had been talking with Mike for several weeks about this donation and APM Treasurer Brent Taylor made an inspection trip to Mik'’s hangars, at the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids, to gauge what was there and what it would take to get the projects/parts transported to Antique Airfield and the APM. Then early on Sat April 27th a group of APM volunteers from around IA and MO headed to Cedar Rapids to inventory, load and transport the materials to the APM. From Columbia, MO came Harman Dickerson, Don Miles, Bob Edginton & Don Grimm with a 20 ft trailer and a van full of packing material, tie downs, etc. From Davenport, IA, APM Director Scott Fisher drove over to help with the loading. From Montezuma, IA came APM President Mike Gretz towing a 20 ft enclosed trailer courtesy of Sig Modeling Co.. From Ottumwa came APM Director Mark Lancaster with a box truck courtesy of Bob Lancaster Oil Co and from Antique Airfield, Brent, Marcy & Ben Taylor.
Sorting the parts for loading while Marcy Taylor inventories all parts coming out of the hangars. (Scott Fisher photo)
The next several hours were spent moving the parts/projects out of the hangar, sorting, inventorying and loading them into the various vehicles and trailers. Once back on the road, a stop was made at the Colony Inn, Amana, IA for a GREAT home style meal and rhubarb pie for the whole crew. Then it was onto Antique Airfield. With the help of local APM Volunteers Bryan DeWitt, Kevin Chitwood, Rusty Landers and even RLT himself, the unload went quick and smooth with all being stored by around 6pm.
One load ready to strap down and transport (Scott Fisher photo)
We'd like to "Thank" all the above named for taking the time, expense and effort to help load, transport and unload all the donated Ryan parts and projects, it couldn't have been accomplished without your efforts.
To Mike & Margaret go our most humble and gracious "Thanks" for thinking of the APM with this donation. Their donation of Ryan parts and projects reflects their ongoing support of the APM and its future.
Brent Taylor
Unloading at the APM (Brent Taylor photo)
