tohad^ the^ good^ fortune^ I^ speak^ with^ the^ Museum^ Director,
Mr.shared^ Mike^ Potter,^ who^ his^ love^ of^ war‐
toand^ his^ commitment^ birds^ the^ museum's^ vision^ for
thebanker^ future.^ Mike^ Potter,^ by^ trade^ and^ private
ofwas^ just^ one^ pilot,^ the^ many^ passionate^ volunteers
whotime,^ gave^ generously^ of^ his^ when^ two^ and^ a^ half
ago^ the^ currentyearsmuseum^ director^ resigned.^ After
chasing^ warbirds^ for^35 years and^ being^ one^ of^ the^
Confederatemembers^ of^ The^ early^ Air^ Force^ (now^ called
The^ Commemorative^ Air^ Force), Mike^ quit^ his^ ca‐
opportunityin^ banking^ for^ the^ reer^ of^ a^ lifetime^ as^ the
Museumthe^ Director^ of^ Military^ Aviation^ Museum.^
a^ huge^ grin^ on^ hisofficeface,^ Mike^ explained,^ "it's^ an^ With
jobbut^ most^ of^ the^ time,^ five^ percent^ of^ the^ time^
get^ to^ look^ out^ of^ theIwindow^ and^ see^ this"^ as^ he^ pointsto‐^ the^ line^ of^75 year old^ war^ birds^ out^ his^ window.^
oftold^ me^ the^ story^ Mike^ Jerry^ Yagen's^ first^ war^ bird
acquisition^ ‐ a^ Curtis^ P40 Flying^ Tiger.^ This^ aircraft,^
to^ the^ Russian's^ undergiventhe^ lend‐lease^ program,^
itswith^ a^ red^ star^ on^ flew^ side.^ It^ was^ shot^ down^ while
Murmansk,the^ Port^ of^ defending^ the^ northern‐most^ port
in^ Russia^ that^ does^ not freeze^ in^ winter^ and^ conse‐
became^ home^ toquentlysupply^ convoys.^ Crashing^ above
the^ Arctic^ Circle,^ the^ P40 was^ found^45 years^ later.^
was^ a^ crash^ site,^ nothing"Itbut^ a^ field^ of^ rubble.^ And
thatnow^ field^ of^ rubble^ flys^ again,"^ Mike^ explained
with^ pride.^ great He^ says^ that^ Mr.^ Yagen^ went^ to^ "ridiculous"^ lengths^restore^ his^ P40,^ whichtorequired^ about^ three^ and^ a
work.years^ of^ hard^ half^ Following^ its^ restoration,^ the
FAAYagen^ would^ not^ allow^ Mr.^ to^ fly^ his^ P40^ because
taillacked^ the^ necessary^ he^ wheel^ certification.^ Not^ to
bepurchased^ deterred,^ Mr.^ Yagen^ a^ Stearman^ N2S‐^3
toa^ North^ American^ SNJ^ and^ train^ himself^ to^ "fly^ these
planesthose^ the^ same^ way^ all^ kids^ did^75 years^ ago,"
he'srecounts^.^ "So^ now^ Mike^ up^ to^ three^ planes^ and
asjust^ he^ says^ after^ that^ it^ got^ out^ of^ hand".^ The^ Mu‐
withcurrently^ has^70 aircraft^ seum^ at^ least^ half^ of^ the
planes^ airworthy^ at^ any^ given time.^ For^ this^ air^ show,
24 were^ scheduledapproximatelyto^ fly.^ Prepping^ for
ansix^ air^ show^ is^ a^ month^ project ‐ getting^ the^ planes
ready^ and^ inspected.^It^ the^ "magicians,"^ as^ Mike^ calls^ them,^ at^ the^ is^ FighterFactorywho^ ensure^ the^ air‐Museum's^ condition.intip‐top^ are^ full‐time^ craft^ Fifteen^ powertrainedplantairframe,mechanics^ FAA^ ‐^ currently^ employed.^ Mike^ describes^ themare^ asnot^ highly‐skilled^ but^ very^ determined^ and^ only^ saystheir^ craft.^ Hedevoted^ many^ of^ them^ to^ and^ their^ own^ planesowned^ worked^ at^ have^ more^ traditional^ airports.^ And^ although^ they^ could^ a^ lot^ more^ money^ elsewhere,^ these^ make^ work^ choose^ to^ dedicated^ with^ the^ mechanics^ day,^ "On^ any^ oneMuseum's^ they^ may^ aircraft.^ be^ swapping^ out^ a^ cylinder^ on^ a^ radial^ engine^ nextSkyraider^ and^ the^ the^ day^ they^ are^ onhand‐stitching^ fabric^ on^ a^ WWI^ plane,"^ Mike^ explaining^ the^ unique^ opportunityshares,that^ attracts^ their^ mechanics.^AA (^) German 88 mm famous^ gun,^ left^ The bottom (^) Junkers Ju52, right top (^) Mike (^) Potter, right middle Bf109G, right bottom