116 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1957 



RESTORATION OF STORED AIRCRAFT 



At the end of the previous fiscal year all the buildings at the Na- 

 tional Air Museum Restoration Facility in the Suitland, Md., build- 

 ing area had been erected ; a force consisting of a foreman, two air- 

 craft mechanics, a vehicular mechanic, and an aide had been engaged, 

 and they were setting up a shop in the largest building. In that shop 

 the stored aircraft, principally those World War II planes that had 

 been transferred from the Air Force by order of Gen. H. H. Arnold, 

 will be prepared for eventual exhibition and study. 



That large building, known as No. 10, and measuring 200 by 180 

 feet, was improved by the addition of a concrete ramp in front ; instal- 

 lation of gas heat in one of its 60-foot-wide sections, involving the 

 erection of a 200-foot partition to confine the heat to that area; and 

 insulation of the ceiling and walls. Electric service was increased and 

 extended to the newly installed power tools and equipment, including 

 a metal-cutting band saw, punch press, belt and disk sanders, air 

 compressor, plastic-heating oven, drill press, and other devices for the 

 fabrication and repair of aircraft parts. This shop area is becoming 

 a well-organized and efficient unit of the Museum. Using scrap ma- 

 terial for the most part, the facility personnel have constructed a tool 

 crib, sheet-metal rack, scrap boxes, parts bins, welding area, and 

 benches for special tools. 



Because many of these aircraft were stored at Park Ridge, 111., for 

 a long time in the open, and then subjected to the hazards of overland 

 shipment, they must be removed from their boxes and cared for as 

 quickly as possible in order to arrest deterioration. During the year 

 seven airplanes and seven rotorcraft were unboxed, inspected, and 

 corrective work started. One aircraft, the World War I De Havil- 

 land-4, was completely restored. This entailed splicing the broken 

 longerons; cleaning and repairing the transverse frame of the fuse- 

 lage ; re-covering the control surfaces, with assistance from the fabric 

 shop at Boiling Air Force Base; cleaning and redoping the wings; 

 cleaning the engine; and making numerous repairs to equipment. 

 This airplane is now ready for exhibition. In connection with the 

 work on other aircraft a number of pieces of shop equipment have 

 been made, including fuselage and wing cradles, engine covers, and 

 handling gear. Some special tools had to be fabricated from raw 

 stock. 



In response to a request from the Department of Justice all the 

 autogiros in the facility were moved to Building 10, unboxed, and 

 partly assembled for examination in connection with investigation 

 of patent claims against the Government. The information thus 

 obtained was helpful in studying details of the case. The DC-3 

 transport airplane, given to the Museum in 1953 by Eastern Airlines 



