Pilot Jerry Shiffer, 68, died on Nov. 29, when his twin Cessna 425 crashed in Montana. The same day, at his home field in Urbana, Ohio, the first pieces of a wrecked B-17 bomber arrived, ready to be assembled and restored to flying condition. Shiffer had planned to create a museum to showcase the airplane and its place in history, and now his three children will oversee the completion of the project. “This is something Dad wanted, and Dave and Eric and I want to see it completed,” Shiffer’s daughter, Andrea Tullis, told The Associated Press. Shiffer’s sons, Dave and Eric, are both pilots, and plan to learn to fly the bomber. The restoration process will be directed by warbird veteran Tom Reilly, and is estimated to take eight to ten years. Visitors and volunteers are welcome at the hangar, at Grimes Field. The project’s Web site includes a Web cam showing progress on the restoration.
Family To Complete Late Father’s B-17 Project
Key Takeaways:
- Following the death of pilot Jerry Shiffer, his three children are committed to continuing his dream of restoring a B-17 bomber to flying condition and creating a museum for it.
- Shiffer's sons, both pilots, plan to learn to fly the restored bomber, fulfilling their father's vision.
- The extensive restoration project, led by warbird veteran Tom Reilly at Grimes Field, is estimated to take eight to ten years and welcomes public visitors and volunteers.
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