Builder In Brevard County, FL Rebuilt The Airplane For The Author

Author Richard Bach was landing his SeaRey amphibious airplane on an island off the coast of Washington State when he clipped some power lines and flipped over. The author, who was rescued by some campers on the island, was in a coma for a week.

The airplane took somewhat longer to repair. Bach contacted Jim Rattle, a Florida-based expert on building and repairing SeaRey airplanes, and brought him to Seattle to survey the damage. The plane’s wings and fuselage were badly damaged, but Rattle, who had sold the SeaRey to Bach, told him it could be repaired.

Four weeks later, it was on a truck to Florida, according to an enterprise report in Florida Today.

Bach was re-united with his airplane, which he's named "Puff", last Thursday. Rattle said that he prefers to re-build damaged airplanes than start from a new kit, even though it's more difficult. He likened the plane to an erector set ... that costs $90,000 and not just any kid can play with.

Rattle said it was clear that Bach loved the airplane, and he was "overcome with emotion" when he came to Rattle's Valkaria, FL hangar to fly it home. As he got ready to leave, Rattle said the same thing to the famous author as he does to all his clients ... "don't hurt my airplane."

(SeaRey pictured in file photo. Not Bach's airplane)

FMI: http://searey.com/