(Image Credit: Sandbar Mitchell Restoration)
There’s been a significant development in a story we’ve been covering, the project to retrieve and restore to flying condition, a North American B-25 Mitchell bomber that has been sitting on a sandbar on the Tanana River, near Fairbanks, Alaska for the past 44 years.
(Image Credit: Sandbar Mitchell Restoration)
Cougar Helicopters has agreed to donate one of their massive Sikorsky S-92 helicopters to lift the craft from its resting place in Alaska and bring it to Fairbanks where it will be crated and shipped to Michigan for restoration. The two men spearheading this effort, Patrick Mihalek of Legend of Aces Aviation and Todd Trainor from the Aeronca Aircraft History Museum had been hoping they would be able to arrange for this lift, otherwise they were prepared to fit the fuselage to sleds and haul the plane down the Tanana River overwinter after it had frozen over.
Cougar Helicopters has a job over the summer in Barrow, Alaska and has committed to performing the lift while they are in transit past Fairbanks on their way North in late June or on their way back South in the fall, though the Sandbar Mitchell folks are hoping for June 27th, which would be 44 years to the day that the plane made her forced landing in 1969.
They are seeking donations for this ambitious rescue and restoration effort. More information is available at www.sandbarmitchell.org or you can visit them at their Facebook page or make a direct contribution at their Kickstarter page.
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
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