Lake Michigan recoveries happening soon?

[Pat Carry]

Anyone have a scoop on when recoveries will be taking place this summer in Lake Michigan? I know it was mentioned here that one or two recoveries were in the works for this summer.

[John Dupre]

I think there is an arrangement where at least one aircraft will be recovered and immediately transported to Oshkosh for the big airshow.

[shepsair]

Pat,

Yep, FM-2 planned. Just need to complete an environmental assessment I believe (even though much be the same as the last 30+ or even last three if you cover Quagga mussels etc).

As soon as I know will be booking tickets I hope.

When is Oshkosh?

regards

Mark

[Dan K]

When is Oshkosh?

Heh, good one.

Oh wait...you're serious:

7/23 - 29

http://www.airventure.org/

[Pat Carry]

Pat,

Yep, FM-2 planned. Just need to complete an environmental assessment I believe (even though much be the same as the last 30+ or even last three if you cover Quagga mussels etc).

As soon as I know will be booking tickets I hope.

When is Oshkosh?

regards

Mark

Interesting. This recovery will be happening very soon then! I had better be keeping my eye on the Waukegan lakefront.

[Wildchild]

It would be intresting if they recover a plane every year for display at Oshkosh, then send it off for restoration...

[Warbirdnerd]

It looks like Taras is working to have a Wildcat at AirVenture...

Taras Lyssenko is eagerly awaiting an upcoming air venture on Lake Michigan.

Unlike tourists flocking to picturesque sunrises and abundant water-play, Lyssenko knows this Great Lake holds historic gems in her depths. His eye is set on a WWII FM2 Wildcat, 200 feet below the surface.

Ensign William Forbes was in the plane on Dec. 28, 1944, when the Wildcat's engine unexpectedly quit during a take-off run in a qualification training exercise for the U.S. Navy. A restart attempt failed and the plane rolled over the bow of the ship, sinking into Lake Michigan, according to Navy records.

The Navy was always prepared to minimize the damage from such accidents – two boats were always nearby to rescue men and buoy any planes that needed help – but on that December day in 1944, the pilot was saved; the plane was not.

Lyssenko has a passion for finding sunken ships around the southern basin of Lake Michigan, a hobby that began in the 1980s. But as his familiarity with the lake's floor grew, he realized, "I'm finding more airplanes than ships out there." That led him to join forces with likeminded hobbyist Allan Olson to create A&T Recovery, which secures funding from museums and donors to recover and restore the curiosities of sunken aircraft.

Thanks to a strong working relationship with the U.S. Navy, A&T Recovery boasts close to four-dozen airplane recoveries.

Upon surveying an underwater airplane, Lyssenko turns into a detective, using licensing numbers to pinpoint the plane's history. The military record of the accident is obtained; the pilot identified. The team works with a genealogist in England to search for the pilot or living relatives. When possible, they obtain the pilot's personal flight records. By the time A&T Recovery brings an airplane to the water's surface, a respectable history lesson has been developed.

Lyssenko's got his sights set on recovering Forbes' Wildcat for display at EAA AirVenture 2012 (The Northwestern's AirVenture magazine went to press before the project was approved and recovery was attempted.) Check our web site for the latest information). The Navy's final approval for this recovery was pending as of press time. A lengthy approval process included deciding which of two airplanes to recover first. The other current airplane of interest is a Douglas SBD Dauntless Dive-bomber.

Once Navy approval is obtained, Lyssenko's main concern is the weather.

"The Great Lakes have turbulent weather," he said. "We need very calm waters. The weather is our enemy."

Then, the enormous task of recovery begins.

"It's an awful lot of work to recover from this depth," Lyssenko said. "It's a logistical nightmare."

Gleaning understanding of the airplane's structure from the original manuals and engineering drawings, A&T Recovery will use a robot to attach lines to the structural parts of the airplane. They have developed their own Heave Compensation System, which allows them to recover items in one piece. The lift is conducted slowly, with airbags, until they reach the OSHA-designated depth for an un-tethered dive team to guide and complete the recovery.

After display at AirVenture 2012, the Wildcat would be transported to the Naval Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla., for full restoration and permanent display.

Following this mission from Seattle, Wash., is Christine Smith, the daughter of the ensign who had flown the craft in 1944. Her father passed away in 2008, but she said she is sure "he's just smiling at the thought going into this and in appreciation of all the efforts."

After the crash during the Navy exercise over Lake Michigan, she said he later had to make another unexpected landing, this time in the Pacific.

Her father was a storyteller, she said, and she remembers him talking about the "terribly frigid" temperature of Lake Michigan when he crashed. "I wish I could just replay the stories, or just ask him, 'Dad, will you please tell me that story again?'"

Found it here:
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/ ... ck_check=1

[happymeal]

Well, seems the recovery will not happen. On july 15th, A&T Recovery sent a circular email :

On behave of A. and T. Recovery I must regretfully inform you that I, Taras, have been unable to obtain permission, in time, to recover either aircraft that we had wished to present at the Experimental Aircraft Association 2012 Air Venture Osh Kosh.

Last edited by happymeal on Wed Jul 18, 2012 9:25 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Dan K]

Well, seems the recovery will not happen. On july 15th, A&T Recovery sent a circualr email :

On behave of A. and T. Recovery I must regretfully inform you that I, Taras, have been unable to obtain permission, in time, to recover either aircraft that we had wished to present at the Experimental Aircraft Association 2012 Air Venture Osh Kosh.

Time to make lemonade boys and girls...







I suggest that we begin flooding Herr Hightower's mailbox at EAA with requests that Airventure 2012 be extended for as long as it takes for Taras to gain permission (Seven days always seems a bit brief anyway).

[tulsaboy]

That's too bad! But Taras, from all of us here on WIX who appreciate your work, keep at it! More recovered aircraft is a wonderful thing, and right now you're the only game in town when it comes to Navy aircraft. We sure appreciate all you do, even if it didn't work out this time.

kevin

[Steve Nelson]

Well, if the weather here in Michigan continues the way it has been this summer the Great Lakes will have evaporated by Autumn, making recoveries much easier.

SN

[Chris Brame]

That's a shame. Maybe you could go get that Air Corps O-38 instead?

[Pat Carry]

Well, seems the recovery will not happen. On july 15th, A&T Recovery sent a circualr email :

On behave of A. and T. Recovery I must regretfully inform you that I, Taras, have been unable to obtain permission, in time, to recover either aircraft that we had wished to present at the Experimental Aircraft Association 2012 Air Venture Osh Kosh.

Bummer

[Pat Carry]

Will recoveries take place at all this summer, I wonder?