Happy 2010 From Boots!!!!

Well folks, we are starting a brand new year, and are just as busy as ever despite the economy.  (However, as a cat, I don’t really care much about any of that as long as I have food and a hanger to sleep in.)  Barnstormer’s Workshop completed the long awaited Fairchild 24 project at the end of October, and I wanted to tell you a little about the owner of the airplane as he has an interesting life.  The Fairchild is owned by Thomas Griffing, III.  from Sandusky Ohio.  Thomas is part of a family owned aviation business.  Their company was founded by his grandfather, Harry T. Griffing, Sr. and his grandmother T. Sue Griffing in 1937 with a Piper J-2.  Harry Sr. was a truck driver and drove between Cleveland and Chicago.  The main route that was taken in those days was Route 6, which goes right by the airport in Sandusky, Ohio.  The airport had been there since 1928 and Harry became interested in aviation while driving past.  He learned to fly in his home town of Canton, Ohio, in an Aeronca C-3.  After acquiring his license, he met Sue at the truck stop 1/2 mile from the airport in Sandusky, where she was a waitress.  They later married and formed the company together in 1937 when Harry taught his bride to fly.  Their main business at the time was flight instruction and they soon became a Piper Aircraft dealer and remained so until the early 1990’s.  When WWII broke out, Harry used a Waco UPF-7 that he owned to teach people to fly for the war under the Civilian Pilot Training Program in Toledo, Ohio.  Sue stayed home and ran the business while Harry was gone. 

Harry T. Griffing, Jr. (Tom), Thomas’ dad, was born in 1946 and was taught to fly by Sue, his mother.  Sue handled most of the longer charter trips for the company that were beginning to become more frequent at this time, and Harry Sr. was concentrating on flight instruction.  Harry, Jr.  grew up in Tri-Pacers, Apaches, and Comanches.  Harry, Jr. also had a sister, Melodie, who learned to fly but focused her attention on the bookkeeping end of the business.  She retired in 2006. The Griffing’s company today provides service to the six Lake Erie islands that have airports.  Their fleet includes 2 Archers, 1 Saratoga, a Britten-Norman Islander, and two Beech King Air B200’s for charter flights.  

Harry, Jr. married and Harry T. Griffing III (Thomas), was born in 1982.  Harry hung around with his grandmother and grandfather, and as a result, became fascinated with classic aircraft.  Thomas has a brother, Lee, who flight instructs with a Warrior.  Harry’s sister is also involved in the business with bookkeeping.  As for Thomas and his family, they purchased the Fairchild in early 2002 from Camille Barrett in Louisville, KY at an estate sale 

We love to hear about other family run aviation businesses, and have enjoyed getting to know the Griffings during the restoration of the Fairchild.  As you can see from the photos, the airplane is beautiful.

Harry, Sr. (Tom), Thomas, and Caitlyn (Thomas' girlfriend)

Hello from Boots,

Barnstormer’s Workshop has been busily finishing up projects just in time for Christmas.  We completed the Taylorcraft restoration owned by Mark Woodworth of Madison, Ohio.  We delivered the fresh restoration to him in early October.  I had really hoped to make that trip, but was told that I needed to stay here and guard the remaining airplanes.  Life as a guard cat sure does get boring. 

Mr. Woodworth’ s Taylorcraft is a 1939 BL-65 and has been in his family since 1939 when it was purchased new.  He had taken the aircraft to the Taylorcraft Factory in Texas for restoration.  After the Taylorcraft Factory went bankrupt for the second time, Mr. Woodworth was contacted to come and get what was left of his aircraft.  Unfortunately, there was not much left.  When Mr. Woodworth contact Barnstormer’s Workshop to see if we could fix his airplane, there were no wings, no tail feathers, a piece of an old Lycoming engine, and very few parts. 

We were not only able to put it in flying condition, but turned it into a beauty. 

1939 BL-65 Taylorcraft

It’s really great to see these guys at Barnstormer’s take an airplane that potentially might not ever have flown again, and turn it into such a nice airplane.

Well, that’s it for now.  Happy Holidays from Boots Blog at Barnstormer’s Workshop.

Wishing you Blue Skies!

Boots

June 26, 2009

Hello!

Welcome to my BLOG!  This month, I’d like to introduce you to one of our employees.  Vern Stephens is like family.  David and Diane, Barnstormer’s owners, have known Vern for over 30 years.  He is the Shop Foreman here at Barnstormer’s Workshop.  You can always count on Vern to be there in a pinch.  His reliability and trustworthiness is above reproach and his knowledge of aircraft is a valuable gift to our company. 

Vern has been involved in the aviation field, in one form or another, all of his life.  His father, Elbert Stephens, was General Foreman and Director of Maintenance for Southern Airways, where he retired in 1985. 

After Vern completed high school, he attended South Georgia Technical School in Americus, GA from 1976-1978 where he received his A & P license.  While going to school, he worked parttime for Roddy Aviation at Souther Field performing annuals and loading cropdusters.  After graduation, he was 1st employed by Hanger One and then Southern Airways from 1979-2005. (During his employment, Southern Airways became Republic Airlines and, later, Northwest Airlines.)  After leaving Northwest, Vern worked for Hale Aircraft and finally joined Barnstormer’s in October, 2007.  Vern’s vast aviation experience gives him a diverse wealth of knowledge on many types of aircraft.  He has truly been an asset to Barnstormer’s. 

Vern is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing and hunting.  He worked with the Boy Scouts for 25 years and currently coaches the Pike County 4H Shot Gun Team and Archery Team.  Vern has been married to his wife, Renee, since 1989 and has two sons and three adorable grandsons.  We are fortunate to have him as part of our team.

Vern working on a Fairchild 24 restoration.

 Well, that’s it for now.  Hope you enjoyed getting to know Vern.  Stay tuned till next time.

Wishing you Blue Skys,

Boots

Hi Folks,

It’s been a while since I last posted anything, and wanted to give you some updates.  Hope that everyone survived the winter months.  Spring is on its way.  We are managing to stay real busy at Barnstormers, despite the economy.  We finally finished the Citabria (See photo), and it, along with its owner, flew to its new home. 

Awaiting pick up

We’ve also been doing some general maintenance and repair on a T-28.

Now that’s a big airplane.  I could really get comfortable on the wing of that bird.  Work continues on the Taylorcraft, and should be nearing completion soon.  We’ve been doing annuals on a C-195, another Taylorcraft, Cessna 310, and Stinson.   

T-28

Life is good!  Come by and visit us when you can, and you can see firsthand the type of work we are doing.  In the meantime, wishing you blue skies.

Boots

I’ve got a lot to fill you folks in on. . .

Over the past couple of months, we’ve been completing an Aeronca C-3 project for one of our customers, Mr. Tracy Forrest.  Tracy bought the basket case to present as a surprise gift to the Wilson Family at the Wilson Air Center in Memphis, Tennessee.  The group here at Barnstormer’s completed the project in early December.  David Harwell and Vern Stephens, two of our important team members trucked the airplane to Memphis (Road Trip), assembled it, and were in atttendance for the presentation.  The airplane will be displayed at the Wilson Air Center.  Mr. Kemmons Wilson barnstormed in the 1930’s in a C-3.  In WWII, he flew the Hump.  After the war, he and his wife started a “little” motel chain called the Holiday Inn.  Mr Wilson, Sr. passed away in the 1990’s.  The airplane was a gift for his family and was painted and finished out just as Mr. Kemmons Wilson’s original Aeronca C-3.  Attached are some great photos of the presentation.

We hope that the Wilsons enjoy the airplane!!

Meantime, back in Georgia, we are working on the Taylorcraft and Citabria restorations.  We are in the painting stages, and I hope to have photos for you next month. 

Wishing you Blue Skys,

Boots

Hi Folks,

With all of the Christmas parties, shopping, etc., I just have not had a chance to update my blog.  I promise that I will get back on schedule next month.  In the meantime, myself and all of my peeps at Barnstormer’s Workshop wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Now, I think that it’s time to settle down for a long winter’s nap.

I’m still,

Boots from the Blog

Well, it’s me again-Boots from the shop.  A lot of activity has been going on at Barnstormer’s these days.  So much so, that it’s hard for me to get my cat naps in.  The guys have been busily restoring a C-3 (flying bathtub) for a customer.  It’s a funny looking thing with its belly hanging so low.  But, they tell me that it is probably a little too slow for my taste, as I have a “need for speed”.   Work has continued on the Fairchild and it looks like we may have finally located an air box for it. (Yeah!!!)  More work has also been accomplished on the Culver Cadet, the Taylorcraft, and Mr. Harry’s Stinson wing has a new spar.

We just got in a Pitts fuselage that needs recovering.  The owner is a Navy F-18 pilot. (He likes cats!)  More about him in a future blog.  In addition to all of the aircraft work, we put together a trailer to transport people at Fly-Ins and donated it to the Candler Field Museum located here at Peachstate Aerodrome.  I will be adding photos to my blog page in a day or two.  It’s pouring rain here today, and I will get my fur wet if I take photos today.

Wishing you Blue Skys,

Boots

Harry Ballance is truly one of the nicest people that I have ever met.  He’s one of those unique individuals who always has a smile on his face and seems to know everyone.  I had the pleaseure of talking to Harry the other day, as he speaks fluent cat.

Aviation must run in Harry’s blood, as his father began flying in 1928 at Candler Field, where he soloed a Fleet.  As the Southern Division Manager of 20th Century Fox Film Company in Atlanta, Harry’s father used his aircraft for business travel, but flying was mainly a hobby for him.  He owned several airplanes including a SR5 Stinson.  After WWII, Harry’s father gave up flying, as he had two small children and it was rather expensive to fly.

Harry is a native of Atlanta, a rare species these days. His passion for airplanes began as a child, building model airplanes and reading books on flying.  While attending college at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia where he majored in Chemistry, Harry learned to fly.  After college, he was commissioned in the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant.  Following his army days, Harry was a civilian for only two days before Delta Airlines hired him as a pilot, where he was employed for 35 years.  Currently Harry is retired form Delta and is a corporate pilot for Pro Care RX.

Harry Ballance in his stearman

 He has four grown children and two grandchildren.  He resides in Atlanta with his wife Carol, and is building a 2nd home and hanger here at Peachstate Aerodrome.  Harry owns a J-3 cub, a Stearman (restored by Barnstormer’s Workshop), and recently purchased the same 1934 SR5 that his father owned many years ago.  Barnstormer’s Workshop is currently restoring the Stinson for Harry.

Harry believes that in order to be a truly good pilot, you must have a passion for it.  It’s evident that Harry still has that passion.  We are so fortunate that he does, and that he shares his enthusiasm with us.

Wishing you Blue Skies,

Boots

August 13, 2008

Hi!

My name is Boots and I am an airport cat.  I was a stray, until I found these nice folks here at Barnstormer’s Workshop.  I get free room and board in return for providing airport security.  The guys here at Barnstormer’s decided that I was getting a little too fat and lazy, so they have given me another job—Barnstormer’s Blogger.  YIPEE!!!

Not a bad gig, but it is difficult to type when all you have are paws.  I tend to make a lot of errors, so please be patient.

This is the first of what will be a monthly update to let you know what we are working on here at Barnstormer’s as well as some human interest stories.  Yes, I know,  I’ve really got you curious now.  That’s what a good writer does. 

The guys have been real busy working on a Fairchild 24W.  By the way, if anyone knows where we can find a carburator air box for a 165 Warner engine, please let us know. The Fairchild is owned by Thomas Griffing, who lives in Ohio.  

Also in progress is Harry Ballance’s Stinson SR5 restoration, a BC12D Taylorcraft repair as well as a BC12 Taylorcraft restoration.

Well, that’s all for now. My bed awaits for my afternoon siesta.  I’ll be updating you again in a few short weeks.

Fairchild 24W

  Wishing you Blue Skys,

Boots