Next stop a plane of my own. In 2000, looking on the Internet, I found a Piper Cub project in Bonita Springs, FL, with all of
the pieces of an airplane but an engine. Sue and I took a trailer to Florida over the Fourth of July and bought the “basket”
of parts from Jack Bills for $8400. I could not have been more thrilled. That is when the odyssey illustrated in this
website took off. I have worked on the project for 10 years, making more progress when out of work, but making a little progress
all of the time.
In 1999 I took two weeks of training in restoring aircraft at the Experimental Aircraft Association EAA Academy in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. I was in heaven—building wood ribs, bending and riveting aluminum sheet into recognizable forms, welding, covering with Ceconite,
and spray painting. By the end of two weeks, the class and I had covered and nearly finished a “Cubby” (Piper Cub replica). I have since learned more skills in the EAA Sportair Workshops—hint, hint!
