Lack Of Funds + Rising Hangar Costs = No Hangar
Heavenly Body, a B-25 bomber well known in California's San
Fernando Valley, is facing eviction from Van Nuys Airport... all in
the name of progress.
The B-25 has been housed at VNY since 1972, but because her
hangar is scheduled to be razed this summer, owner Mike Pupich is
forced to find another home for the WWII warbird. But, with hangar
costs on the rise, things are looking grim.
"They have no room for us. They're moving us out," said plane
owner Mike Pupich. "This is a monumental problem. There's no place
to put the bomber. It needs a roof over its head."
Diane Sanchez, Van Nuys Airport spokeswoman said officials are
taking steps to temporarily relocate the B-25 as well as other
propeller airplane tenants to a tie-down area outside until a
future Propeller Park is built -- several years from now, according
to the LA Daily News.
The hangar, owned by Mark Sullivan of Skytrails Aviation, has
rented Pupich his current hangar at a reduced rate of $850 a month.
But that hangar is scheduled to be demolished to make way for more
space to accommodate corporate aircraft.
Sullivan said building another hangar for Heavenly Body is out
of the question due to cost, but he has done everything he can to
find a suitable tie-down area.
"There's a place for Mike's plane on the ground outside," said
Sullivan. "In a nutshell, we're here to accommodate these guys;
we're not telling them to leave the airport."
"Outside would be an option," Pupich said, "but it would be a
slow death of the airplane."
"I wouldn't say that they are being kicked out (of the
airport)," Sanchez said. "You can't fault Mr. Sullivan for
upgrading his facility."
The problem is space and money. The airport reportedly offered
to rent Pupich a hangar for $2,000 a month.
As for surrounding airport options, Pupich says the runway at
Whiteman Airport in Pacoima is "too small" for a medium-range
bomber. In Camarillo, the plane is subject to salt air corrosion;
in Lancaster sun, dust and desert conditions are a concern. The
next best option is the Chino airport which has a large collection
of war aircraft, but it's 70 miles away.
Pupich said these airports are too far away for the 10 expert
Valley volunteer crew members to continue to maintain and fly the
plane.
This saga began when Pupich fell in love with the B-25 as a
child. He bought the 29,000-pound movie star thirty-five years ago.
Yes, movie star. The bomber had a role in the 1970 movie
Catch-22.
Her war service includes 38 bombing missions including kills of
two Japanese Zeros, two ships, and a steamroller. In 1992, she took
off from the flight deck of the USS Ranger in honor of the 50th
anniversary of the Doolittle raid on Tokyo.
After bringing her home, Pupich
gathered a top-notch crew of dedicated and expert volunteers that
have worked to maintain the former crop
duster-turned-movie-star-turned-air-show-queen. Pupich demonstrates
the bomber at air shows across the nation.
"It's just part of history, part of everything I understand
pertaining to aviation," said Harold Knowles, 84, of North Hills, a
former Marine pilot. "It would be an irreplaceable loss to the
Valley."
"I've become attached to this airplane, like family," said
machinist Kiyo Mochizuki, 72, of North Hills, who has volunteered
for the past10 years making various aircraft parts. "I would hate
to see the airplane leave Van Nuys."
The old warbird has apparently had a similar effect on the
community. Nearly 500 petition signatures were gathered last week
in two days in support of keeping the bomber where she is.
Pupich would ultimately like to see his plane to become part of
a future aviation museum based at Van Nuys Airport.
"This is the airplane Jimmy Doolittle used. It changed the
course of history. It's an icon for the San Fernando Valley," said
Pupich.
"It would be a crime if it goes, but what are you going to
do?"