Successful 2nd Open door afternoon
Last Sunday October 5th, the Belgian Aviation Preservation Association organized her 2nd Open Door afternoon. The young nonprofit organization dedicated to save, restore and preserve the aviation heritage in Belgium officially launched in September 2013 wanted to invite friends, sponsors and aviation maniacs to share the results of the first year of operation.
It was also the occasion to show the B-25 Michell engines to the sponsors who helped to acquire theses essential parts for the "B25 back to Belgium" project.
The results of the year are quite incredible :
- Participation to the TV Show 1001 Belges
- Croses Airplume saved and preserved
- Phoebus glider saved and preserved
- Austria Glider restored and put on display
- Airfield lighting equipment gift put on display
- Lockheed P-38 display completed
- Progress on the Flying Flea OO-04
- Start of the restoration of the first Slingsby and manufacturing of a new support for flight simulation.
- Digital library of technical manual : volume increase of 20 %
- Gifts : Scale models, books, tools,
- Visits : Every Saturday and at least 3 groups visits.
- Successful experimentation of electrolyze to restore steel parts.
B-25 Mitchell
- Front undercarriage restoration completed
- Main undercarriage restoration started
- B-25 front compartment repairs anti corrosion treatment
- Engine crowd funding campaign, acquisition and transport
The event was also the occasion to remember a friend who just left us a few days before.
Georges Pradez was an unique animator on the Belgian national radio but he was also a talented scale modeller and an aviation lover. Since the early time of the BAPA, he was always there when help was needed. He was also a "no way to stop" story teller about aviation as well a permanent source of innovation and new ideas in our activities.
We decided to give his name to the workshop of the BAPA and in the presence of members of his family and friends a plate was unveiled wearing his name.
Further initiatives remembering the memory of Georges are already running.
We hope in the future to honour other great Belgian aviation figures.
The end of the official part of the open day was marked by a flypast by 3 flying machines piloted by friends including the most iconic Belgian aircraft : A Stampe SV4
As there was still a lot of things to eat and drink at the buffet, promising discussions continued long in the afternoon.
Thanks again to the ones who helped to make this year and this event successful.
If you wish to join BAPA, visit us or learn more about our activities, you are welcome to contact us at contact@bapa.be
Many happy landings
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