THE first piece of the historic Albury DC-2 Uiver replica has been restored, marking a major milestone for the project.
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It may have only been a relatively small part, but the rebuilt aileron trim tab, found in the wing, was the first physical sign of the plane coming back to life.
Uiver Memorial Community Trust chairman Pieter Mol told The Border Mail it was a “huge booster” for everyone involved.
“You've got to start,” he said.
“But it keeps the enthusiasm up and shows something positive is happening.
“It's great we are able to repair it to a standard where it looks original.”
The aircraft sat on the grass at Albury airport for years, becoming weathered and run down by birds.
It was dismantled into its major components and moved to a Smartair hangar, donated by Mr Mol, in May.
The 82-year-old plane is expected to sit in the hangar for about six years, while it is restored.
Mr Mol said several Border businesses had donated steel, tools and other materials to get them to this point.
“We have started work on the ailerons, the undercarriage structure, the tail, the wheel structure and some of the engine cells,” he said.
“People have donated a lot of time.
“We have 50 to 60 registered volunteers, 12 people and organisations who have contributed in one form or another and about 10 board members.”
Inside the hangar sits a small model of the plane, blueprints and historic pictures.
Several steel benches and racks have all been made by volunteers using donated supplies.
The board hoped to eventually have schools involved with the restoration providing a history lesson and some hands-on experience for students.
There are just eight known Douglas DC-2 planes left in the world according to Mr Mol, who said Albury had the oldest one.
The most recent victory for the project came when John Love, who has an extensive aviation background, donated a green chair to the project.
The chair was taken from a WWII DC-3 based in Melbourne and is the same as World War II General Douglas MacArthur's personal flying chair. No paperwork exists to prove its authenticity, but project members believe it is as close to, if not, the real thing.
Mr Mol said the volunteers, sponsors and materials were still desperately needed.
The next barbecue fundraiser will be held September 3 at Bunnings Albury.
To stay up-to-date with the Uiver's progress, visit the Uiver Memorial Albury Facebook page.
