Despite the uncomfortable working conditions, a great deal of work was accomplished. Bob Johnson, Carly Faulkner and Everton Loney worked in the very cramped confines of the nose and cockpit to remove the throttle quadrant. A lot had already been done on the work day in June but there were still cables to be disconnected and frozen screws, nuts and bolts to be removed. Only a few more things remain to be disconnected and the throttle quadrant will be ready for restoration bench work.

While that was going on, Paul Whitson and Andy continued work on the fuselage interior, removing the headliner, side walls, bulkhead coverings, and plywood flooring. They also were able to remove a reluctant built-in coat rack and two magazine racks from the forward bulkhead. They also found an old pack of Kool cigarettes UNDER the flooring! How it got there is anybody's guess.

Brad Long helped with the flooring and then started removing the fuselage inspection plates, which in itself is going to be a tough job due to old paint, fastener corrosion, and awkward locations.

Perry Miller had started work on removing the tail wheel during the last work day but was finally was able to disconnect the entire assembly on Saturday. The heavy, awkward shaped unit is now on a work bench ready for work to restore it back to its original condition. It took a lot of liquid wrench, a bunch of mallet hits and a lot of sweat but Perry got the job done. A huge “Thank You” to Perry for a job well done.

Another big “Thanks” to Paul for bringing his shop broom from home and sweeping up some of the dirt, bird’s nests, and cabin insulation from around and under the fuselage. There’s no doubt it’s a dirty and messy job but it is a labor of love.

Charlie Hall continued the bench work on the Air Stair. Here again, there are lots of frozen screws, nuts and bolts so it can be a time consuming task. Not unlike other latching mechanisms on the airplane, the parts are rusted and will need to be thoroughly cleaned or replaced.

The project volunteers are extremely grateful to the museum for acquiring a portable building which we began using as an administrative area as well as a place to store tools and parts. Bob worked on getting the building organized and assisted many of the other volunteers during the day. A special tour group from the Museum were taken through the Back Shop late in the afternoon and Bob briefed the group on the work done to date and our vision of the final display.

So far, with the 4 Saturday work sessions, 213.65 man hours have been devoted to restoring the Potomac Pacemaker. A lot more time will be needed but progress is being made. The next work day is scheduled for August 21. If you’re interested in volunteering, let Bob Reed know. Help is needed and appreciated!

Robert H. Reed
NCTM Project Coordinator
Piedmont Airlines Potomac Pacemaker
118 Church Steeple Drive
Advance, NC 27006
336.940.5046

To volunteer to work on The Potomac Pacemaker Restoration Project, contact Bob Reed, the Project Coordinator, so that you can be added to the list maintained by the NC Transportation Museum (NCTM). His contact information is as follows:

Bob Reed
118 Church Steeple Drive
Advance, NC 27006
Telephone: 336-940-5046
Email: RobtHReed@aol.com
Alternate Email: PiedmontHistory@aol.com

A Section Coordinator will be assigned to each section of the aircraft to be worked upon and volunteers can choose which sections they prefer. If no preference is made, contact the Project Coordinator for a work assignment.

Bring your personal tools if you believe you will need them. After the first time working on the aircraft you will have a good idea of what tools you should bring. Arrangements will be made so that you can leave tools or other material at the work site in a secure locker. You will need to provide the lock. Specialty tools will be available at the work site. In addition, it is strongly advised that you have a pair of heavy work gloves, safety glasses, and a respirator/mask of some type especially if working in the fuselage.

The third Saturday of each month will be scheduled as a work day; however, other work days may be established from time to time by the Project Coordinator.

Contact the Project Coordinator or the Section Coordinator each time you plan to work, including the third Saturday of each month.

Volunteers may work any day, Monday through Saturday by contacting the Project Coordinator so arrangements can be made with NCTM for you to enter the work site. The project is being done in a large building called the Back Shop. Access to the Back Shop is restricted to museum staff and volunteers. Identification Badges will be provided by NCTM and should be worn at all times while working on the project.

Restoration has begun on N56V to eventually be a centerpiece display for the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, North Carolina.

This particular Piedmont Airlines DC-3 saw it’s last flight years ago at Charlotte, North Carolina. About that time, some new-fangled technology had come along called the turbojet that made demand stall for the old reciprocating propeller-driven queen of the skies. The venerable old girl sat for years at Charlotte and became essentially a derelict.

Some years later, the Potomac Pacemaker was given to City of Durham as a display attraction when they updated a city park. This park was home to the airplane for for a long time until it was removed several years ago in serious disrepair.

The North Carolina Transportation Museum decided to accept N56V as a potential indoor display attraction for a planned major renovation of “the Back Shop”, a huge carnivorous building located on the museum property. The airplane was moved in pieces into this building where it sits today.

In April 2010, major renovation began to restore N56V to museum display status. It sits in major sub assemblies including the fuselage, the wings, the tail section, the center “wing box” section, and the engines. Work is being done by volunteers who formally meet for a full day of work one Saturday per month with other work being done throughout the month and by students of the Aviation Program at Guilford Technical Community College.

We do not have a formal timeline when the airplane will be finished, but it will undoubtedly be a couple of years at best. The plane is dirty, corroded in many areas and will require enormous work from thorough metal cleaning to seat refinishing to freeing up frozen controls, recovering of the control surfaces and rebuild of the cockpit area. The Guilford Technical Community College Aviation Program has been and will continue to be a major contributor of both work and expertise. Their help and involvement is greatly appreciated. The Piedmont Aviation Historical Society is also closely involved with this long-term project.

Jetpiedmont.com will keep you posted on major milestones for the restoration of N56V. If you are interested in helping with the project, simply show up at 9:00am at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer on the third Saturday of the month. WEAR OLD CLOTHES and bring gloves – you’ll get dirty but you’ll have fun!

- Drill Bits: 10 each #40, #30, #21, and #10 in jobber sized (standard) along with one or two 12” bits in 40, 30, and 10 size.

- Phillips Drill Bits, #1, #2, and #3

- Hand Hacksaw w/extra blades

- Pop Riveter, light weight heavy-duty (rivet sizes 1/8” and 3/32”)

- Sheet Metal Snips, right, left, and straight

- Files, flat, half round, and rat tail

- Wire Wheel Brushes, ¼” shaft

- Clecoes:1 doz. 3/32, 2 doz. 1/8, 2 doz. 5/32 and 1 doz. 3/16 plus a few draw clecoes in larger sizes

- Cleco Pliers

- Standard Wrenches

- Ratchet Sets

- Screwdrivers, Standard & Phillips

- Pliers, diagonal, slip joint, arc joint, long nose

- Pliers, locking

- Hammers, regular claw and small claw

- Mallets, rubber, lead shot

- G-clamps (3” & 6”)

- Drill press

- Screw Knocker/Extractor

- Rivet Removal Tool

- Bolt cutter

- Pry Bar, flat

- Rivet Knockout Punches w/.401 shank, 1/8, 5/32, 3/16, and ¼”

- Pin Punch Set w/center punch

- Cold Chisel

- Cape Chisel

- Sheet metal bucking bars

- Sheet metal working tools, various

- Plasma Cutter

- MIG Welder

Pneumatic Tools:
- Drill, light weight, variable speed (teasing trigger)

- Screw gun

- Impact

- Ratchet

- Shears

- Riveter (Pop rivets)

- Rivet Gun Screw Knocker

- Panel Saw

- Coupling Plugs

Aircraft Parts (DC-3/C-47):
- Main landing gear

- Instrument panel

- Instruments

- Control Yokes

- Cockpit seats

- Other parts to be determined as restoration progresses.

Miscellaneous:
- Portable lights

- Extension cords

- Flash lights

- Welding helmet

FAY has changed locations. Check EVENTS for latest location.

PIEDMONT: Flight of the Pacemaker is a wonderful book. It is one of those ‘must haves’ if you ever worked for Piedmont. You will enjoy it even if you did not work for Piedmont. It is about a lot of people who worked together toward a common goal to pull off one of the greatest success stories ever. It is both captivating and fun. It is a genuine pleasure read and to have.

PIEDMONT: Flight of the Pacemaker is a 9x12 hardcover 400-page volume is loaded with over 600 photos in 16 very easy-to-read and insightful chapters. You can read a little or a lot at one time. Each chapter is complete within itself. The whole thing is very well done.

Copies are available directly from the Piedmont Aviation Historical Society (PAHS) and in select book stores. If you care to order your copy directly from PAHS, just click the link and download the order form.

Makes a great gift, too!

Andy Ray
JETPIEDMONT.COM Forum Moderator