A commonly accepted definition of the phrase 'labor of love' is If any work exemplifies the phrase and the definition alike, it's the restoration of vintage aircraft, especially World War II-era warbirds. This labor of love is equal whether the aircraft is intended for static display in museums or to let them fly again. The rewards may not be monetary, but the reward of satisfaction in preserving history for present & future generations is absolutely priceless.
Simple Flying got some firsthand perspectives on the hard work that goes into these projects...
and the rewarding results that they reap. By virtue of the fact that Yours Truly has been a proud donor to various aircraft restoration entities, such as and their various chapters and subsidiaries, including (formerly the CAF Red Tail Squadron), I've been blessed to have made numerous friends and professional acquaintances among the hard-working men and women with hands-on experiences in these WWII aircraft restoration projects. One of these is Rob Harvan, a volunteer historian and correspondent with CAF.
Rob was kind enough to give us some very thoughtful commentary on these labors of love. First and foremost, he says this: "Vital Question Number One: are you restoring to ‘museum quality’ or ‘flight worthy?’" From there, Mr. Harvan adds this: "Find and/or develop a history of your aircraft.
This helps when you come to decisions about aircraft markings ...
Produce a fully documented vision of what the final result wi.
