The Art of Aircraft Restoration

There are several different 'schools of thought' regarding how to properly restore
a vintage aircraft, especially when it comes to War-Birds.

One type restoration is found in those restorations driven by unlimited financial
resources. In this type restoration, the owner generally is NOT the person
performing the actual restoration. Oftentimes the owner is unaware of what is
even required in order to restore the aircraft.
Therefore, it is left up to the discretion of the restorer to make all determinations
on whether or not a part is airworthy in it's current condition,
or if it can be repaired to airworthy condition.
In most cases, the restorer will have liability issues related to the restoration and
then often leans toward replacing the part with a new one, rather than salvaging
an old part and taking a chance on how that part will perform.
This leaves one with a very low percentage, 'original', aircraft restoration.
This is NOT to say that these restorations are not
totally authentic, airworthy and beautiful to behold!
I tip my hat to the people who are able to perform this type restoration.

A second type restoration is found in those restorations performed by
inexperienced restorers who have not had enough opportunities
to make accurate determinations on whether or not a part is airworthy.
The same liability issues are present for this type restorer as well.
These restorers lean toward replacing everything with new,
in order to be assured the parts will perform as required.
Often it seems, these are the restorers who are unable to complete their projects,
and we sometimes see the projects advertised for sale.
What the economy is doing has a lot to do with whether people are able to
complete their projects or not. When one chooses to replace everything with new,
the budget can be depleted much faster than one anticipates.

Finally, the theory we subscribe to, is one driven by the desire to maintain the
accuracy of the original artifact, and hold onto that little bit of history.
Once again, the liability issue is the same for me as it is for the other type
restorers. However, I have been in the aircraft restoration business
long enough to be able to determine whether or not a part is airworthy,
and whether or not it can be restored to airworthy condition.
In my opinion, I would rather have a patched bullet hole in the aircraft skin,
than a whole new skin.
That bullet hole is a part of the aircraft's history,
and adds character to the final product.

At this point in my restoration of AM274, we have an aircraft that is
approximately 65% original Hawker Hurricane. In other words, it has been
restored using original parts off several Hawker Hurricanes that are no longer
flying for one reason or another. There is virtually no way to restore
an airworthy Hawker Hurricane to more than about 70% original due to
the massive amount of wood on the aircraft.
To be airworthy today, requires all the wood be replaced with new.
I have made every effort to utilize every part of AM274 possible, before moving
on to other 'donor' Hawker Hurricanes for the parts needed. Prior to actually
building a new part, I get in touch with my many contacts throughout England,
Canada and Russia in an effort to find an original replacement part.

The end result may not be an "Oshkosh" winning aircraft,
but it will be an authentic, airworthy Hawker Hurricane
restored to as original a condition as could possibly be accomplished
... down to the last nut and bolt.

I am not in the habit of 'wasting' money on my restorations,
but I don't hold back on the expense where it is necessary either.
I go the extra mile by treating the tubes on the inside as well as the outside,
even though that is not how they were originally built.

My thought is:
"If I am going to the trouble and expense to restore an artifact in the first place,
I want the restoration to last longer than the original product did!"

Thank you for your interest in this restoration project!

John Norman

The Art of Aircraft Restoration

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