This plane has an amazing past! From War to Alaska to photo platform, this L1 has seen it all. I even saw an old B&W of it on a Disney set between takes (it was a photo platform) parked at Upper Newport where someone had erected a clothes line and was drying clothes on its struts. Well, all those modifications done to the L1 has been removed and it has been painstakingly with TLC put back to the smallest detail as it was when it came out of the factory.
Even the wire, “tiger stripe,” has been reproduced to modern code, to look like it is cotton wrapped so it is accurate. It is simply amazing! And for the second time in a month, I had the very good luck to be present when the last connection was being made and the starter was being tested for the first time on a restored aircraft.
With a “Clear!” the power went to the starter. This has an inertia starter that when the switch is thrown, spools up and when the ignition goes live, turns over the engine. The spark plugs were pulled so it wasn’t going to turn over, but Paul had the great joy of the first time it was tested, all worked perfectly. All the photography was done the same way. Shooting 1/5 – 1/8, f/5.6 – f/8 with the SB-900 with the LumiQuest Softbox handheld. It was a great day, lots of learning, fun photography and all part of a project that will culminate when I shoot the L1 air to air. I wanna thank all the folks at Fantasy of Flight and especially Paul for a great day!