Air Zoo’s PT-23 – The Story of a Restoration.

[VintageAviationNews]

Warbirds News contributor Jay Bess recently had the opportunity to visit the Air Zoo, in Kalamazoo Michigan. They literally rolled out the red carpet for him. Marketing and Communications Manager, Patrick Brent spent a good part of his day showing Bess this incredible museum.

WarbirdNews will have several articles covering our visit to the Air Zoo in the coming weeks. Here is the first one:

Air Zoo’s PT-23 – The Story of a Restoration.

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/aviation-mu ... ation.html

[kalamazookid]

Really enjoyed reading this. When I was a kid, my Dad and I used to go to the Air Zoo and take the Restoration Center tour multiple times a month. It was really neat to see this aircraft restored piece-by-piece over the years. When they first got it, the center section looked like someone had jumped up and down on the spars while wearing heavy boots! The restoration staff did a great job getting it back to the condition it's in now. I also remember seeing it overhead in formation with the Stearman on one of its first post-restoration flights. Beautiful aircraft!

[VintageAviationNews]

Really enjoyed reading this. When I was a kid, my Dad and I used to go to the Air Zoo and take the Restoration Center tour multiple times a month. It was really neat to see this aircraft restored piece-by-piece over the years. When they first got it, the center section looked like someone had jumped up and down on the spars while wearing heavy boots! The restoration staff did a great job getting it back to the condition it's in now. I also remember seeing it overhead in formation with the Stearman on one of its first post-restoration flights. Beautiful aircraft!

I am glad you liked it Matt. Jay had a blast up there and collected plenty of stories which we will publish in the upcoming weeks!

[marine air]

My dad once owned that PT-23. He bought it and kept it down in Zellwood, FLorida at the Trimble's place. He paid 6 and sold it to Tom Austin for $9k. Tom dumped a lot of money into it and then donated it to the museum before it was finished. It flew great but was in need of restoration when we briefly had it.

[marine air]

My dad once owned that PT-23. He bought it and kept it down in Zellwood, FLorida at the Trimble's place. He paid 6 and sold it to Tom Austin for $9k. Tom dumped a lot of money into it and then donated it to the museum before it was finished. It flew great but was in need of restoration when we briefly had it.

[marine air]

My dad once owned that PT-23. He bought it and kept it down in Zellwood, FLorida at the Trimble's place. He paid 6 and sold it to Tom Austin for $9k. Tom dumped a lot of money into it and then donated it to the museum before it was finished. It flew great but was in need of restoration when we briefly had it.

[marine air]

My dad once owned that PT-23. He bought it and kept it down in Zellwood, FLorida at the Trimble's place. He paid 6 and sold it to Tom Austin for $9k. Tom dumped a lot of money into it and then donated it to the museum before it was finished. It flew great but was in need of restoration when we briefly had it.

[marine air]

My dad once owned that PT-23. He bought it and kept it down in Zellwood, FLorida at the Trimble's place. He paid 6 and sold it to Tom Austin for $9k. Tom dumped a lot of money into it and then donated it to the museum before it was finished. It flew great but was in need of restoration when we briefly had it.

[marine air]

My dad once owned that PT-23. He bought it and kept it down in Zellwood, FLorida at the Trimble's place. He paid 6 and sold it to Tom Austin for $9k. Tom dumped a lot of money into it and then donated it to the museum before it was finished. It flew great but was in need of restoration when we briefly had it.

[marine air]

My dad once owned that PT-23. He bought it and kept it down in Zellwood, FLorida at the Trimble's place. He paid 6 and sold it to Tom Austin for $9k. Tom dumped a lot of money into it and then donated it to the museum before it was finished. It flew great but was in need of restoration when we briefly had it.