This month, emotions were running high at the Orlando Veteran’s Day Parade as over 50 veterans of the 138th Aviation Company walked alongside their restoration in progress Beechcraft RU-21A. Despite a setback during the loading process a couple days earlier, the march was a major milestone in a multi-year ongoing project. The 138th have made it their mission to restore the aircraft and put it on permanent display at Orlando International Airport. It will serve as a centerpiece of a memorial to honor all those who served in Vietnam, Desert Storm, and today.
138th Aviation Company Memorial President Andrew Rodriguez witnessed the event:
“There was a sense of amazement, that after so many years this day has come, amazement that this day has even come at all. (They’d been) reunited with something that played such a big part of their lives, with a sense of gratitude that they were all still here to be reunited, and a sense of bittersweet regret wishing there were others still with us who would have also enjoyed the day,” noted Rodriguez.
The setback was a huge scare that occurred during the loading process a few days before the parade. Despite every precaution, A buckle on a lifting strap failed as the aircraft was being loaded onto the transport truck to take it to Florida. The loading crew watched in horror as the rear fuselage dropped and struck the ground.
“The loading crew was heartbroken,” said Rodriguez. “They instantly began the evaluation process.”
It was determined that damage had occurred to the fuselage skin and some of the internal structure of the aircraft. Thankfully, it was mostly cosmetic and the RU-21A was still transportable and able to participate in the parade. Rodriguez said that while the damage was visible, most people hardly noticed it due to the aircraft as a whole being such an impressive sight.
After the parade, the RU-21A was offloaded at Orlando Executive Airport where the final stages of the restoration work will be done before the plane is moved to its permanent memorial home at Orlando International. Dynamic Aviation in Bridgewater, Virginia, (who have been instrumental in the restoration process), were able to send a replacement tail section that will be used to replace the damaged structure.
The 138th Aviation Company have launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds to finalize the restoration. This includes painting and preparation of the aircraft for long term outdoor display, building the display pad, and to cover its insurance and maintenance for the future.
The campaign is accepting donations in any amount. To show appreciation, a special gift will be sent if a donation matches/exceeds one of the levels listed below:
- $10.00 – 5×7 Profile Card of the Beechcraft RU-21A
- $25.00 – Official 138th Aviation Company Memorial T-Shirt
- $50.00 – Official 138th Aviation Company Memorial Poster
- $100.00 – A Personalized Engraved Brick for Memorial site
- $250.00 – 24×36 Canvas RU-21A over Kuwait Lithograph
The rewards look absolutely incredible with the art for the profile card, t-shirt, memorial poster and lithograph featuring the RU-21A prominently. The personalized engraved brick will be used in the building of the display pad and can be customized as the donor wishes.
The campaign will go till Saturday, December 12th 2015. The goal is to raise $75,000 in pledges. It’s a great cause, and an chance to support the RU-21A legacy and the men and women who served alongside it.
The Kickstarter page features a video and written history of the RU-21A in addition to photos of plane and of the rewards. It can be accessed at the following link:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/302941792/138th-aviation-company-memorial-project/description
The project’s website:
http://www.138thavnco.org/RU21A-Memorial-Project.html
Flickr gallery of the RU-21A at the Orlando Veteran’s Day Parade:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/17670376@N02/sets/72157661353560261/with/23116813591/