Discovering a Dream: Restoring an Aeronca C-3
Hundreds of Aeronca C-3s were built in the 1930s, opening up the skies to those who dreamed of owning a small airplane.
I have wanted to build a small airplane for years. To actually reach the end of my first project, rather than starting from scratch I concluded it would be best to do a restoration. I eventually decided on the Aeronca C-3. The C-3 goes by several names, with the most common being “Flying Bathtub” due to its shape. For me, it was love at first sight.
Although hundreds of C-3s were built in the 1930s, over time many of the airplanes have made their way into museums and history. I finally located the perfect airplane. The C-3’s owner, Ken Hyde, had purchased the airplane when he was 17 and is now in his 80s. After flying over 2,000 hours in the airplane (in addition to having a fantastic aviation career), he was reluctantly ready to place the C-3 into the hands of a new owner.
Once we agreed on a price, I returned home and began planning how I was going to transport the airplane across the country from Warrenton, Virginia, to Bozeman, Montana. Due to the distance and possible weather along the route, I needed to have the airplane protected in an enclosed space, so an open trailer was not an option. The best option was a one-way U-Haul moving truck rental.
I returned to pick up the airplane about a month after purchasing it. Although it is a small airplane, the C-3 has an admirable wingspan of 36 feet. Fortunately, the 26-foot U-haul moving truck dimensions fit the wings perfectly and we started the loading process by placing the wings on each of the walls and then positioning the fuselage between them. Baby mattresses came in handy to rest the fuselage on and we used stacks of U-Haul blankets to position the wings above the wheel wells before securing them in place using tie-downs.
It was time to start the 2,155-mile drive. At the last minute, a good friend decided to make the drive across the country with me. Careful to avoid major cities and hazardous winter roads, I estimated that it would take four to five days. As it turned out, we arrived into Bozeman in three days, pulling in late one evening just ahead of a major winter storm.
My unloading crew was waiting at the airport and everyone pitched in to move the airplane into the hangar. As the winds picked up with the approaching storm, we got creative moving the wings so that they did not fly from our hands in the short distance between the truck and the hangar.
Before I knew it, the C-3 was settled into its new Montana home.
The following day, as the winds howled and the snow fell outside, we built a wing stand. The Experimental Aircraft Association offers a great article with plans that walks you step-by-step through building one. This has been a necessary addition to the hangar in order to move the wings on my own and keep them properly stored and secured.
With the Aeronca C-3 project settled into the hangar, I messaged Ken to let him know that his beloved little airplane made it safely all the way across the country. After talking about the fabric and answering some questions I had about the engine, Ken said that he would love a ride once the C-3 is restored. I cannot wait to grant his wish.
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