What's New for Fall 2009
by Kyle Kirby
Don Barker has donated several items recently to the museum and worked for Piedmont Airlines during their halcyon days here at Hickory. I took this picture of him donating a Piedmont plaque that actually hung here at the Piedmont Terminal!! Thank you Don!!
Former pilot of our FedEx F.27 Ron Denuna visited his old mount recently at the museum. He signed the panel behind the cockpit reserved for those who were associated with this bird. His friend Hannah Reid looks on as he performs the autograph!! It is always special when people associated with our aircraft pop in to visit and very interesting to hear their stories.
Henry Busch is another new member of the museum staff here and we are glad to have him aboard!! This guy has many skills!! He grew up in Farmindale, NY and watched F-105s all day long at the Republic factory there!! Henry made the decals for the Slick Connie that Jim Malcolm did for Bob Morgan!! Jim said they were the BEST decals he ever applied!! Henry is also an F-4 guy and has been to all the Phan Cons that are annual get togethers to honor the F-4!! Also, like me is a Ford man and owned a 67 GT-500 Shelby Mustang!!
Henry Busch is also an expert on ejection seats!! Our F-4 seat had a US Navy pan and USAF gizzards!! We has a USAF pan in the inventory. Dr. Busch performed the surgery with special tools he had constructed, and we now have a correct seat!!
Gotta give special props to Mark Spencer for his help to Henry on the seat. I was supposed to help but an influx of folks wanting to bend my ear (yeah right....I know...I wind up doing most of the yapping) kept me occupied most of this time. Jim Malcolm, and Chris Knollmeyer also pitched in on the effort. Here, Mark and Henry evaluate their progress!!
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