AAA National Director Gary Van Farowe and his wife Carol stopped by AAA Headquarters last week on their way to warmer climes and updated us on the progress to the APM's American Eaglet, being restored by EAA Chapter 211 (Grand Haven, MI).

It's said that pictures speak louder than words so here are a few pictures showing the progress and current status of the Eaglet.

"Thanks" to Gary and EAA Chapter 211 for their dedication and hard work on the Eaglet project.

Just a reminder as to how the Eaglet looked when Gary picked it up here at the APM in November of 2011.

The fuselage being covered. Note the new landing gear V's.

The tail surfaces through silver

Repairs to the left wing are almost complete and it will be ready for cover soon.

Luscombe flyer Deb McFarland devoted a recent column in GA News to the joys of planning out her trip to this year's AAA/APM Invitation Fly-In at Blakesburg. This will be a great year for you to come too!

Click for the GA News article.

Here's the Texas Chapter March 2013 Newsletter.

The Northwest Biplane Fly-in will be at Felts Field, Spokane, WA July 19-21. See the full fly-in schedule for 2013.

The newly-formed, 3EX-based Northwest Missouri Chapter of the Antique Airplane Association held their inaugural meeting on Saturday, February 16th with about 30 attendees present. The chapter even had a couple of airplanes from Fulton, Missouri drop in for the lunch and meeting! Thanks go to Marlyn Atkinson for providing much of the food and the grilling expertise, and to AAA Executive Director Brent Taylor for driving down from Blakesburg, Iowa for the meeting. We really appreciated his input in getting the chapter off on the right foot!

Future meetings will be held the 3rd Sunday of every month at 3pm, however it should be noted that next month's meeting will be held on Saturday, March 16th immediately following the pancake breakfast fly-in. Nominations for chapter officers will be taken until March 1st; if you are interested in running for office please email info@thenew3EX.com. The election will take place on the March 16th meeting immediately following the pancake breakfast (10am).

We hope to see all of you at the pancake breakfast fly-in as well as the AAA meeting that follows!

Here's the Nebraska Chapter February 2013 Newsletter. Reminder the next chapter meeting will be this coming Sunday the 24th at the SAC Museum in Ashland, NE. See the newsletter for details of this fun event!

Back in Dec we received a phone call from Clu "Buster" Clovin, of Big Cabin, OK wanting to know if the APM would be interested in the donation of a basket case Stinson V-77. Clu stated that he had purchased this particular V-77 (sn#3) to garner some parts to help with his restoration of his V-77 (sn#2) and did not need the rest of what remained of this aircraft.

Part of our philosophy here at the APM includes saving parts and projects that may help our AAA members keep their antique/classic aircraft flying but also may help in the restoration/preservation of those said aircraft as well.

So it was with that philosophy in mind that we accepted Clu's offer.

Flash ahead to yesterday, Feb 13th, and the arrival of Clu with the V-77 in tow. With the help of some of our great local volunteers, who showed up on short notice, the V-77 was unloaded and has been temporarily stored outside (due to soft ground on much of Antique Airfield at present). As soon as conditions allow it will be moved to inside storage. "Thanks" to Buster Colvin for the donation of Stinson V-77 sn#3. "Thanks" also to the crew that helped unload it: Erik & John Edgren, Ken Marth, Mark Lancaster, Ben Taylor and especially Luke Pieper for his help and use of his skid loader.

We're hopeful that more V-77 parts/projects will be headed to the APM later this summer and may be able to put together a restorable project at some point. Keep watching the website for news.

Brent Taylor

The V-77 arrives at IA27

Mark Lancaster, Erik & John Edgren inspecting the wings upon unloading.

Clu Colvin and Ben Taylor working on getting the V-77 unloaded.

The V-77 awaits for the ground to firm/dry up so it can be moved to inside storage.

We await bids on spray foam insulation for the interior walls of the APM Restoration Center, and in the mean time we have ordered the pre-cut steel siding for the interior of the structure. That material should be delivered and on hand by the end of the month. Another volunteer work day is planned for March 23rd (weather permitting) and we hope at that time to finish the interior framing and begin hanging the interior steel.

Currently 2806 square feet (98.8%) of the available 2840 square feet has been sold in the "Buy-a-Foot" campaign to finance construction of the Restoration Center. That leaves a scant 34 square feet available. If you haven't purchased your "plot", consider buying a square foot (or more) and help us reach our goal with this most important fundraiser.

To all those AAA members, APM Donors, AAA chapters, EAA Chapters, families, corporations, foundations and trusts that have participated in the "Buy-a-Foot" Campaign, the Officers and Directors of the APM offer our sincere "Thanks."

Our latest donors are listed below.

Brent Taylor
Treasurer

• Lamar Bevil
• Clifford A. Ives
• Len J. Buckel
• Ted Camp
• Robert E. Martin
• Michigan Antique Airplane Association
• Frank R. Schelling Trust
• Lynn & Sandy Jorgensen

Here's an photo gallery from the Star-Telegram newspaper about Harry Hansen's Travel Air 5000 project, which might be available as a project.

Sunrise at Antique Airfield yesterday, photo by Brent Taylor.