N2103A Accepted into the Ensign Dean R. Van Kirk Aviation Heritage Museum
N2103A Accepted into the Ensign Dean R. Van Kirk Aviation Heritage Museum
Brothers, Malcolm (left) and Steve (right) Van Kirk,
of the distinguished aviation family, graciously accepted N2103A into their Aviation Heritage Museum.
The Van Kirk family has a long and very distinguished tradition of aviation history. Their uncle, Theodore "Dutch" Van Kirk had a distinguished career including as a navigator on the USAF flight of the Enola Gay, when it dropped the first Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima.
Their Aviation Museum has many other interesting historical aviation artifacts. Malcolm and Steve Van Kirk personally knew and respected the work of Mary S. Feik.
They have supported our DC Youth Aviation - Build a Plane project and have hosted our students at their museum.
The Honor Guard of the Civil Air Patrol performed a Flag Color Presentation
The Honor Guard of the Civil Air Patrol performed a Flag Color Presentation
At the induction ceremony, the Honor Guard of the Civil Air Patrol performed an impressive Flag Color ceremony.
This CAP was renamed "the Colonel Mary S. Feik Composite Squadron" and is based at Lee Airport KANP.
They meet every Tuesday 6:30-9 PM to learn about aviation.
Then there was a lovely and respectful ceremony.
N2103A is now at the Museum home:
Ensign Dean R. Van Kirk Aviation Heritage Museum;
Frederick Municipal Airport, Hangar D1
N2103A is now at the Museum home:
Ensign Dean R. Van Kirk Aviation Heritage Museum;
Frederick Municipal Airport, Hangar D1
Documentation of the Restoration Project
Documentation of the Restoration Project
Co-Director, Lucia Mencia, documented the entire airplane rescue, donation, restoration efforts and technical process done by Joe Vala, IA.
Mr. "Joe" Vala, IA documented the rebuilding process, supervision and student participation - (Highs and Lows) of this three year complete restoration project.
At times, Mr. Vala was assisted by Shahram "Chuck" Amirkhanian, AP, who was also the pilot, taking her from Washington Executive Hyde KW32 to Frederick KFDK airports.
"How We REBUILT a REAL Plane !!!"
"How We REBUILT a REAL Plane !!!"
There is also a student Scrap-Book with some of the thirty (30) student's own comments and observations.... including baffled gripes about the "hundreds of knots" (fabric wings)
that they did (under supervision)..... They worked hard !
However,.... their enormous pride, imagination, teamwork and learning process of stripping down and rebuilding a plane and, getting it to flight, clearly shows through. What a project !
Co-director Lucia Mencia organized over six hundred "progress" photographs, fabric samples and tags that were put into two leather bound Photo Journals. These photo-scrap books show the airplane's restoration from it's
RE-birthday (when Mary Feik's daughter donated it)
to the fly-out and commencement into the Van Kirk Aviation Museum.
A successful project ! A lot of work!
After the airplane was completed, Mary Feik's daughter, Robin Vest, graciously donated numerous personal artifacts and objects that belonged to her mother, including her flight jacket, numerous flying awards, documents, numerous magazines containing articles about Mary S. Feik, the original owner of Piper Pacer - N2103A a true aviation legend.
N2103A says, "Come Visit Me"
N2103A says, "Come Visit Me"
(RESERVATIONS ARE REQUESTED:
423 803-7423)
at Frederick Municipal Airport, KFDK,
Ensign Dean R. Van Kirk Aviation Heritage Museum.
