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News from the CAF Nevada Wing
By Joe Gonzalez
The Stinson AT-19 in WWII. (Courtesy of Joe Gonzalez)In an airplane hangar north of Las Vegas, a rare Stinson AT-19 Reliant has been undergoing restoration by the Nevada Wing, one of the smallest units in the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). After 11 years of painstaking work, the Nevada Wings is now on the threshold of returning this aircraft back to the skies where it belongs–but we need your help. With donations totaling just $15,000, this airplane can be back in flying condition–and back to honoring the men and women who built, flew, and maintained this aircraft in World War II. Will you help make this possible by making a gift today?
First Controlled Flight, 1885 Style
Editor’s note: Our friends managing the upcoming Golden West Regional Fly-in and Airshow in California (Yuba County Airport, KMYV, June 7-9) tipped us off to this year’s special attraction, a full-sized, flyable, replica of the John Montgomery glider Santa Clara. So what is the big deal about a glider? How about the fact that it was developed in the mid 1880s and successfully flown in controllable flight about 15 years before the Wright Brothers started flying their gliders! Given the current controversy about “who made the first controlled flight?” In Flight USA contacted the builder of this remarkable reproduction, Thom Taylor, and asked for a personal account of his adventure into the world of aviation pioneer, John Montgomery. Enjoy!
By Thom Taylor
John Montgomery standing by the Santa Clara, circa 1904-5. (San Diego Air & Space Museum)As a young child I always had an interest in airplanes and model aircraft. As I grew older I developed a keen interest in history around the era of the two world wars, and the way technologies advanced in time of conflict. I also studied the history of California. When I retired, I turned to woodworking as a hobby. I quickly learned woodturning, mastered woodworking’s other skills.
After reading a book about the Wright Brothers, I decided to build a 1/3 scale model of the 1902 Wright glider using period materials and construction techniques, from the stand point of a woodworker, having no personal flying experience. The glider, which took me 1,200 hours and a year to build, is on display at the California Aerospace Museum in Sacramento, Calif. The museum’s curator asked what my next project might be, and having no idea he suggested a John Montgomery type aircraft. Like most people with no knowledge of John Montgomery I set out to learn about this most amazing Californian.