The post read, “This one will be looking for a new owner come springtime. On a smaller mobile device, often the photos look better if you don’t click on them and just browse through.Ī Facebook post featuring this photo of 65V partially disassembled caught Steve Compton’s eye. Recommended: On a computer, click on a photo for a popup slideshow. Truly a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a deal was made, and the hard work began. “Not only that but we were in on the ground floor and could have a say on what goes back on during reassembly.” “We were going to have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a practically new aircraft,” Steve said. Intrigued by the idea of inspecting the airplane before, during, and after restoration, as well as the opportunity to choose the finishes and upgrades, Steve, his wife Mary, and their A&P friend Dixon Smith made the trek from southeast Washington to northwest Washington to check out the project in the early stages. Six months into his search, he spotted that post online. After completing his instrument rating, he decided it was time for an aircraft of his own. After decades of life getting in the way, Steve had rekindled his love of aviation only a few years earlier. The third player in our story, Steve Compton, was the first to respond. However, knowing that a potential buyer might want interior or avionics upgrades anyway, a quick Facebook post was made offering the opportunity for someone to buy into the project at an early stage. The original plan was to spruce her up with new paint, install the stationary panel upgrade, and get her flying again for an entry-level buyer. The project would be a huge undertaking, but with each of them possessing a unique skillset, they partnered with Command Aviation - the local maintenance shop - to complete the project under the supervision of their crew of A&P mechanics. It also meant that with the new stationary panel, 65V would have the ability to be upgraded to newer, more modern avionics for many years to come. The purchase of 65V allowed for testing and a proof of concept before moving on to installing in his own airplane. He was just getting ready to test a new idea for a stationary panel structure for legacy 172 planes, a design that would allow for installation of 10-inch glass cockpit displays without reducing structural integrity.Ĭhambers hoped to have the conversion done in his own 172M, which he was in the process of planning upgrades for. His skill and knowledge of 172s would be a valuable asset to the project, and the timing was perfect. Phase 2: A Panel IdeaĬhambers brought the project to his friend Lyle Jansma, who also owns a 172 that he has thoroughly restored and flown for several years. The future installments will not be free. This article has been made free to all website visitors. He knew that he could take the restoration a little further in the form of some cosmetic updates as well. The hangar was the biggest draw of the package, but he also saw the opportunity to breathe some new life into a little piece of local history. Quentin Chambers purchased 65V and a hangar to put her in. Some work was done at that time to make the plane airworthy so that it could pass a pre-buy as a flying aircraft and head to a new home.īefore being listed as for sale, the first of our three players knew the owners and was offered the opportunity to purchase the airplane as part of a package deal. Eventually, the then-owners knew they needed to get it flying again before it was too far gone. Then the flight school that owned the plane shut down after many years and it was sold to new owners.Īs the airplane sat outside for quite some time, weather and time took a toll. For much of the past few decades, 65V had been a staple at Bellingham International Airport and was listed in the logbooks of many local pilots. The airplane in question was then known as N1965V, a 1974 Cessna 172M. The wheels of fate began to turn in fall 2020 as three Pacific Northwest pilots came together in a team effort to bring some life back to an old airplane. Steve Compton’s Project Plane Is Made Like New
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