1941 Aeronca Chief Restoration Project

For Fred Machesney, flying was a lifelong passion. A pilot for 57 of his 79 years,

In  1927, Machesney founded Rockford’s first official airport. He ran the  airport continuously himself for 47 years. Machesney Airport was a  beacon for aviation in the area from the lean years of the depression  era until the late 70s. With his airport, Machesney not only created a  commercial center for local industry but a community as well. The  airport was a popular stop and hang out for many local aviators and  those around the country including the National Guard, Army Air Corps  and Navy. Machesney himself was figure larger than life and inspired  countless youth and adults to take up aviation. Today, the aviation  industry is a large part of the Rockford area identity. That industry  owes a lot to Fred Machesney who almost single handedly introduced  aviation to the region.

In  1941, Fred Machesney purchased a new Aeronca Chief (NC36529) to  supplement his flight school fleet. In the mid 1960s, the same chief was  purchased by Dick Thomas, founder of the Poplar Grove Airport. Like  Machesney the Thomas family has taken up the aviation torch and created a  flying community and neighborhood surrounding the airport. The Thomas  family sold the chief in the following years and it took its last flight  in 1973.

Today,  the Chief is still inspiring community. Around 2005, the the Thomas  family re-purchased the Chief to serve as a restoration project for the  Vintage Wings and Wheel’s Youth Exploring Aviation group. For over 10  years, the group worked to restore the Chief to flying status in 2018.

 The  Aeronca Chief was gifted to the YEA by the Thomas family in the mid  2000s. The Chief at this point was pile of parts on a flatbed trailer  only vaguely resembling an airplane. The aircraft’s previous last flight  was in 1973. Armed with original blueprints and eagerness to the learn,  the youth with the help of their mentors began piecing together and  rebuilding the derelict Aeronca Chief from scratch.

The  aircraft features a steel tube frame and wood wings. The wings are made  up of individual pieces of wood and the aircraft is covered in fabric.  The aircraft engine was gifted to the program by Scott Ross. The engine  had to be rebuilt and restored by the group. Before working on each  aspect of the aircraft the youth had to learn and practice each skill to  accomplish the task. The restoration took over 10 years to complete.  Former students of the YEA have entered careers with airlines, NASA, and  the military.

 1928

Aeronca Aircraft Officially opens its doors in 1928, Aeronautical Corporation of America in Cincinnati Ohio. The company was started by several local business leaders inspired by Charles Lindbergh and financially backed by Robert Taft, son of the 27th President of the United States. Despite starting out with no product to sell, Aeronca flourished through the great depression and became a major aircraft manufacturer. Aeronca produced 55 different aircraft from 1928 until 1951.

1931

Aeronca C-3 

The C-3 was a two-seat variation of the popular C-2. The second seat made this aircraft a popular choice for flight training. It featured a very similar design to the C-2 and a slightly more powerful 36 horsepower E-113 engine. Like it’s C-2 cousin, the C-3 proved quite popular due to its low price. An example of the E-113 engine is featured in this exhibit.

1937

Aeronca K Scout

The Scout featured a more modern design including an enclosed cockpit with side-by-side seating. The

 aircraft was powered by the same E-113 engine that powered the C-3.

1938

Aeronca 50 Chief

With the effects of the Great Depression beginning to wind down, demand for more comfortable aircraft

began to rise. The Chief was a further refinement of the K model featuring a wider more comfortable

cabin and a more powerful 50 horsepower engine, boosting both speed and range.

1938

Aeronca 65 Chief and Super Chief

The Chief was also offered in a 65 horsepower option. The “Super Chief” was a deluxe version offering a number of small improvements including an additional 8-gallon gas tank.

1941

The museum’s Aeronca Chief 65CA Super Chief NC36529 is purchased by Fred Machesney to use

as a rental aircraft and for flight training at Machesney Airport. The Aircraft continued these duties into the 1960s.

1951

Aeronca Aircraft ceases production on its own aircraft. The Company instead begins to focus on building parts for other aircraft. Aeronca over the years has had its hand in building parts for aircraft such as the Boeing 747, Boeing B47, Chinook Helicopters, Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Airbus airliners and many other aerospace-related projects, both government and civil. Aeronca has also had its and in the space program, building parts for the Apollo missions and the space shuttle. Aeronca is now a part of Magellan Aerospace.

Early 1960s

The NC36529 is sold by Machesney and transferred to Cottonwood airport where it continues to serve as

a rental and trainer.

1968

NC36529 is purchased by Dick Thomas on April 22nd, 1968. Dick continues to fly it out of Cottonwood airport.

1968

NC36529 is sold by the Thomas family to Henry Outzen on August 5th, 1968. The Chief is flown by Outzen until taking its final flight on November 30th,1973. The aircraft remained in the Outzen family possession until repurchased by the Thomas family over 30 years later.

Mid 2000s

NC26529 is repurchased by the Thomas family to serve as a restoration project for the Poplar Grove Vintage Wings and Wheels Youth Exploring Aviation program. The Thomas family initially did not realize it’s own connection to the Chief at the time of the transaction.

2018

After over a decade of restoration by the Youth Exploring Aviation program, NC36529 takes to the air again for the first time since 1973.