On August 12, 2003 I purchased Vintage Air Restoration's first project and in two trips over the course of the week I managed to get it and all it's associated parts and pieces transported to the VAR facility (my back yard) and set up in a temporary shelter. The aircraft is a 1946 Luscombe 8A that was converted to an E model with an 85 hp C-85-12F engine and wing tanks. It's all metal and has about 1600 hours of total airframe time throughout a very intersting history that has now spanned 57 years (the airplane's birthday was August 14)

On these webpages: links the chronicle of the restoration progress of N72004:

THE GOAL    - What's it gonna look like when I'm done?
AUG 12 2003 - After handing over my hard earned money I collect and transport the first load to the Vintage Air Facility in Antioch
AUG 14 2003 - After the second haul to transport the wings and cowl work continues on the shelter, named V.A.R. H-1
AUG 15 2003 - Hangar One nearly complete, things begin to look a bit more organized
AUG 16 2003 - Snug as a bug in a cocoon, bring on the tornadoes.
AUG 31 2003 - The first shipment of Nuvite arrives
SEP 07 2003- Consider yourself warned - stripping paint is a nasty, nasty, nasty job
SEP 14 2003 - Building The "Shish-Kabob" and other tools plus more stripping
SEP 27 2003 - Consumed with guilt for being a slacker last weekend - I put the coals to the fire!
SEP 28 2003 - The new instrument panel
OCT 03 2003 - Moving day, abandon plan "A" and switch to plan "B"
OCT 05 2003 - Frozen hardware and stress management
OCT 10 2003 - Pulling the gear out
VACATION        - Coast to Coast flight in my brothers new M7
NOV 03 2003  - Continuing the gear removal
NOV 08 2003  - Oleo submission day
NOV 16 2003  - Schelleville - what, taking another day off to go flying? sheesh!
NOV 22 2003  - For a change of pace, this page features nice shiny, zinc chromated parts going back together
NOV 30 2003  - The last of the Mohicans, I finally get the right side strut mount bolt removed
DEC 13 2003  - Odds and Ends
DEC 14 2003  - Metal work
DEC 25 2003  - Merry Christmas from Project Luscombe

JAN 25 2004  - Back at it - I finish the doubler patch on the lower boot cowl skin
JAN 31 2004  - The sun blasts out on a crystal clear day and I bolt for Tracy, the Maule and the Sierra snow line - sorry...
FEB 01 2004  - Death of a compounding buffer
FEB 07 2004  - Some serious buffation going on here
FEB 15 2004  - I've been diagnosed with HDF
FEB 22 2004  - A buffer named Jim
MAR 07 2004  - You worthless slacker....tsk,tsk,tsk
MAR 14 2004  - Experiments in polishing - trying to 'cheat' the system
MAR 20 2004  - Finally I make it up to Pine Mountain Lake, meet Kent and see all of his wonderful toys
MAR 29 2004  - Big Jim's Gymn
APR 05 2004  - No Mo Nuvite :-(
MAY 09 2004  - TUBS of  Nuvite :-)
MAY 21 2004  - The Blankenberg's luau at Pine Mountain Lake
MAY 22 2004  - 28th Gathering of Luscombes at Columbia CA
JUL 04 2004  - Fourth of July - What the heck happened to June!!!
JUL 05 2004  - Unpeppered Ribs - FINALLY the slug works on the project
AUG 14 2004  - A trip to Johnson Creek Idaho for the Maule flyin
AUG 28 2004  - Give me some skin baby
SEP 26 2004  - Notchers clicos ribs and nests
OCT 10 2004  - As Astro, the Jetson's dog, often said - "ruh-roh"
DEC 22 2004  - Bagman's blowout and a week on wingstruts
DEC 25 2004  - Merry Christmas (again)