Air museum pieces together historic planes

Aviation enthusiasts at Air Classics Museum in Sugar Grove were delighted last month to receive four fiberglass replicas of rare WWII-era fighters. Now all they have to do is put them together.

The full-size reproductions, on long-term loan from their owner, at the moment are a smattering of wings, fuselages, and other bits scattered about museum property on the far west end of Aurora's municipal airport along Route 30.

The museum is looking for people who are interested in aviation to help restore the pieces to their original glory.

"It'll be an educational experience," said Air Force veteran Spencer Rees of Sugar Grove, a volunteer who is coordinating the restoration project.

Rees said the planes were loaned to the museum by Steve Bartowski of the Illinois Signal Corps. Military History Museum in Burbank, Ill. Bartowski, he said, bought them from the estate of David Tallichet, a WWII pilot who displayed them at an aviation-theme restaurant chain in Maryland. They were disassembled for transport to Illinois.

The collection includes a compact, Nazi-era fighter called the BF-109 G-4 German Messerschmitt, which Rees described as the "nemesis of American fighters, especially bombers."

There's also a P-51 North American Mustang, a P-47D Republic Thunderbolt, and a P-40 Curtiss Warhawk, made famous by the Flying Tigers and known for the "shark-mouth" artwork on its nose.

Rees said the steel-frame replicas were made about 20 years ago from molds of actual WWII aircraft.

"Even the panel lines, rivets and screws are exact detail," he said, although the replicas weigh about three times as much as the originals.

Restoration work will include sanding, cleaning and painting. Cherry pickers and other equipment probably will be used to hoist and connect wings, fuselages, landing gears, canopies and wind screens, Rees said.

Museum membership is $30 a year and includes a program where participants can essentially adopt an aircraft or project to look after, Rees said. The organization is nonprofit.

"Many of our members are veterans, or simply have a love of history and aircraft," he said. "We want to protect (historical pieces) and keep them looking nice."

The museum's collection, which includes several original aircraft from a variety of wars and a walk-through display area of related artifacts, is free to view from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Donations are accepted.

The museum, at 43W624 Route 30, also schedules visits by appointment. For more information call (630) 466-0888 or log onto airclassicsmuseum.org.