She stood in the middle of the hanger covered in dust. Orange and cream colored she looked more like a pile of rust than two distinct colors.

The hanger doors were frozen from disuse and took several men to pry them open. The sun suddenly appeared over her fuselage; little tassels of orange dangling from her. The tassels were placed to prevent heads from being bumped.

She was built in Australia and had a bright orange kangaroo decal on her tail. A strange little aircraft all and all with a bumblebee body, stout lower wings, long upper wings and a twin boom tail.

The Team was here to revive her and return her to flight. Discussion ensued as to whether she would start after 12 long years of sitting idle.

It was determined more tools, parts, fluids, and people where needed.

  It had been a long cold winter in most of the USA, March would be a better time than February for the next attempt at restoration to the air.

Flying out of Oklahoma presented another problem with no plows to plow the runway.  Several trips to smash down the snow finally resulted in something that could be flown from and off we flew.

The day dawned with a four letter word……..SNOW!!!

Does it snow in Oklahoma?  Apparently no.  Not a snow plow in sight.  Everyone heads out to the hanger for round 2.  It is cold and there is 8 inches of blowing snow.

Full of ideas Rusty is rolled out of the hanger.  Dennis is excited that today will be the day she flys.  He even gives a pep talk!

Multiple tries and not even a turn of the prop, a click of the ignition. Several hours pass in the snow and cold, notes made and parts ordered.

The first, the second, the third attempt and no joy.

Ignition and a slow turning of the prop was all that was obtained as the twilight progressed.  Excitement once, twice with a pop of the cylinders and then it was dark.

The exhausted, frustrated crew finally decided to roll Rusty back into the hanger for the night.  Determination in their eyes, she would fly tomorrow.

The time had come to move outside into the Oklahoma evening.  The winds were calm and the air cool.  A perfect evening for a run up and test flight.

New fuel and a ready crew and the pilot made a long climb into the cockpit for one.  It was cozy but he was excited.

The first attempt and nothing, the assembled crew frowned.

The cowling was opened to reveal the engine and inspection was made of the cylinders, ignition and fuel systems,   They had come prepared with new parts and fluids.  Tire where kicked and fires were expected soon.

Lights and scopes revealed nothing. No interior rust or corrosion on this under 300 hrs bird on interior inspections.