AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 63

HANDS-ON
FABRIC trimming

and preparation,
woodworking, and
welding are little
changed from the
1930s when some
of these aircraft
were first
manufactured.

Outgoing and personable, he also markets the airplanes, represents Rare Aircraft at airshows
and public events, moves exotic aircraft around the country, and provides dual instruction
for many clients. Both sons are pilots, A&P mechanics with inspector authorization-and
neatnicks.
The last half-hour of every workday is spent cleaning up the shop, and every airplane in
the hangar is left carefully chocked with
oil pans in place to catch any errant drips
BEN REDMAN
that might find their way to the etched
performs most of
cement floor.
the test flights at

'THEY BUY THEM TO FLY THEM'

Almost all Rare Aircraft customers visit the facility before buying an airplane, and the
company's hangar/office complex is kept ready for inspection. All employees wear
Rare Aircraft uniforms, and the radio volume on the shop floor remains at
a subdued level.
"Our customers are regular visitors here, and so are FAA inspectors,"
Roy says. "We want to instill confidence and trust, and running a tight ship
is part of it. We build quality into every aspect of our work. You simply can't
have a messy shop and add quality at the last minute. Craftsmanship has to
start at the very beginning."
AOPA turned to Rare Aircraft in 2002 to build the Centennial of Flight
Sweepstakes Waco UPF-7. The two-year restoration project celebrating
the 100th anniversary of the Wright
brothers' first powered flight was one
of the most popular AOPA sweepstakes
ever. In fact, then-AOPA President Phil
Boyer became such a Rare Aircraft fan
that he bought a UPF-7 from the company for personal use. And current
AOPA President Mark Baker liked the
Centennial of Flight Sweepstakes aircraft so much that he and a partner
bought it from the winner shortly after
it was awarded in early 2004.
Most buyers are seasoned aviators
who seek out the company for its track
record of award winners. Rare Aircraft
has restored about 40 antique aircraft

Rare Aircraft and
flies open-cockpit
biplanes, like this
Taperwing, year
round.

"Our customers regard their airplanes as treasured possessions, but not museum pieces.
They buy them to fly them." -Roy Redman
over the years, and the vast majority of those airplanes are actively flying. "Our customers
regard their airplanes as treasured possessions, but not museum pieces," Roy said. "They
buy them to fly them."
Rare Aircraft scours the country for antique aircraft that have fallen into disuse and
surplus parts to buy. The company has an inventory of about seven undamaged but nonairworthy Waco UPF-7s stacked in upstairs storage areas. The base price for a frame-up
restoration is $297,500 and takes about six months to complete. The company also takes
on special restoration projects from time to time and charges an hourly rate plus parts and
materials. In November, a Stinson Reliant V77 with a 450-horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-985
www.aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 63


http://www.aopa.org/pilot

AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014

AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - February 2014
Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - February 2014
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 9
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 12
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 21
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 26
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 28
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 34
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 36
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 95
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 102
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 106
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - 112
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2014 - Cover4
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