Pilot Scratch-Builds Vintage WACO

The advent of spring in the northern hemisphere means lots of aircraft restoration and construction projects will be rolling out onto runways for their first flights. At James Clements Airport (3CM) in Bay City, MI, 61-year-old Andy Kolak plans a first flight in one of the more ambitious.

The Bay City Times reports that Kolak, who retired after a career at General Motors, acquired blueprints from the Smithsonian Institution, and has scratch-built a 1930s-vintage WACO biplane. The bright red, 1600-pound bird sits in his hangar next to a Starduster he finished 10 years ago.

Kolak says of his upcoming test flights, "This is the third one I've built, so you're always apprehensive the first time you line one of these up on the runway and push the throttle forward. It's serious stuff. Even though it's a proven design, you just never know what's going to happen when you get it off the ground."

As inspiring as Kolak's story if the airport itself. It dates to 1912, when one of the locals brought back a Wright Model B and put it on floats. Airport manager Doug Dodge says the historic plane was in restoration a year later after a crash into Saginaw Bay, when a tornado destroyed it and the barn which housed it.

All that's left is a brass data plate showing serial number 15.

While many small airports across the country fight off developers, Bay City has been moving to preserve James Clements Airport and make it self-supporting. Revenues from a new 24/7 fuel station, a deal with AT&T to put a cellphone tower on the property, and new seaplane hangers are all part of the plan.

Deputy City Manager Steven Black tells the Times, "They do incredible things out here and every hangar has an interesting story."

Dodge adds that the airport is more than just his job and his home. "I kind of grew up on this airport. I started at 15 pumping gas and washing airplanes, and learned to fly."

James Clements appears to have a bright future, It's home to about 65 planes, ranging from business aircraft to seaplanes, and is said to be a favorite of Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm when she flies into Bay City on official business.

FMI: http://bjmi.us/maps/clements-airport.html