Caravan Recap
Vice President Rich Sherman organized the 2008 Commemorative Air Force caravan for
NMCA members. Seven Corvettes and nine members gathered early Saturday August 16th
for an enjoyable cruise along old Route 66 to Moriarty, NM. Our destination was the
Commemorative Air Force hanger at the Moriarty airport.
We were given a tour of the aircraft restoration hanger by Frank Gasperich and
Dave McBride of the CAF. Frank and Dave updated us on the restoration progress of
their AT-11. They received good news from the x-ray inspection of the main wing
spar, no cracks. That allowed them to continue the restoration as a cracked spar
would have ended the project.
The weather did not cooperate so no one got to ride in the restored PT-26. Also,
the PT-26 engine had a bit of a meltdown shortly after our visit last year and the
engine needs a total rebuild. Maybe Lori flew it a little too hard last year. Dave
told us the story of trying to find rod bearings for the old Ranger engine that
sounded familiar to any Corvette restorer trying to find parts. We even got to see
Rich demo his expertise with a mop!
We were treated to a nice lunch of grilled burgers, salads, chips and sodas.
We caravanned back to Albuquerque dodging most of the coming rainstorm. Cindy
and I got rained on a little heading back up to Rio Rancho. Rich says that Moriarty
got drowned in rain later in the afternoon.
NMCA thanks our hosts at the Commemorative Air Force, and we wish them all the best
as they continue to restore and preserve history.