1994

  • CAF Purchases N7179Y in Feb 1994

1998

  • violent storm struck, flipping the aircraft onto its back and catastrophically damaging the wing in May of 1998

2009

  • Lake Superior Squadron obtains N7179Y, mating the wing from N324FA in Fall of 2009

Since 2009

  • With the help of Cirrus the red plane wing and motors were joined with the blue fuselage.
  • A completely new tail section and ailerons were installed on the fuselage.
  • All fabric has been removed from lifting surfaces as well as the complete wing which is over 104 feet in width, wider than a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
  • All electrical systems and hydraulic systems have been restored.
  • The closed nose has been modified and now includes a totally restored, thanks to the 148 Fighter Wing, and it will be outfitted with two Kevlar 0.30 caliber machine guns.
  • Landing floats have been rebuilt.

2018

  • Wing, engines, and tail were removed for transport to Superior, WI
  • Plane moved from Hangar 101 in Duluth, MN to the Richard I Bong airport in Superior, WI.

2019

  • Fabric completed on edge trailing sections, center sections remaining
  • Research on engines and props confirms major overhauls or replacements are not needed
  • New hangar prepped to work throughout winter for engines and fuselage

2020

  • Complete: Media blasting inside Fuselage
  • Stopped: stripping and preparation of engines for minor rebuilds
  • In Progress: Sheet metal fabrication – fuselage
  • In Progress: preparation of center wing section for remounting

2021

  • In Progress: Sheet metal fabrication – fuselage
  • In Progress: preparation of center wing section for remounting
  • In Progress: Fabric install of trailing edge

2022

  • Paused: Sheet metal fabrication – fuselage
  • Landing gear removed for restoration and shipped to AirCorps Aviation for restoration and NDT
  • Wheel wells stripped and inspected to prepare for restored landing gear
  • Center section of wing stripped, inspected, and repainted

Major work remaining to be done:

  • Mate wing, engines, and tail sections back to fuselage
  • Repair of keel, nose, and turret sections
  • Rebuild controls
  • Rebuild Electrical
  • Replacement tires for main gear and nose gear need to be acquired and installed.
  • Aircraft surface needs to be painted as does the inside of the fuselage.
  • Major engine rebuilds on 2 primary R-1830-92 engines