Eagle Scout spends 3 years restoring early jet aircraft
A U.S. Air Force image of a Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star. Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) – It took passion, commitment and paint. A lot of paint.
Florence teen Frankie Slemmer invested three years into the restoration of a decades-old Lockheed T-33 “Shooting Star” airplane that had been ravaged by time and neglect.
Slemmer saw the old jet airplane sitting out front of the Darlington County Jetport several years ago and didn’t fully know then that it would become a shining example of his dedication and perseverance.
He decided he wanted to refurbish the plane as a service project to get his Eagle Scout, and it just so happened he was trying to get his Aviation Merit Badge, too.
“I wanted to do something original that would reflect my patriotism and love for aviation, so I asked about this airplane in front of the airport,” Slemmer said.
He proposed it would only take three months but it ended up taking three years and 222 hours of work.
The aircraft had been moved to the Darlington Jetport some years ago and been sitting there decaying for over a decade. Originally, it was a gleaming example of polished aluminum that was used as a jet trainer for pilot trainees starting in the 1950s.
Once he got approval from the airport commission, Slemmer set to work and spent virtually every minute of spare time polishing, painting and repainting every square-inch of the airplane.
Needless to say, it was a big project. Slemmer said it was tough, but he wanted to look back and say that he had accomplished what he set out to do and be proud of it.
James Marsh, a family friend and a member of the Darlington County Jetport Commission, lent his aviation expertise along with tools to the cause.
Slemmer said he sometimes spent a whole day on one small portion trying to get the plane to shine again.
Marsh said he admired Slemmer’s dedication to remove more than 10 years of oxidation that had dulled the plane’s finish.
“It was an enormous task and not an easy project,” Marsh said. “I really enjoyed seeing the progress week-to-week, especially from a young man that’s doing something for the community.”
Slemmer said he couldn’t have done it without the help from friends and family.
“It feels weird now that it’s done. I spent every summer out there and would come home covered with grime and paint,” he said.
Because of Slemmer’s efforts, the airport has plans to continue keeping up the plane’s appearance.
“Having that airplane out there shows that we take pride in our airport,” Marsh said. “It’s gone from an ugly duckling to a pretty white swan and will last indefinitely.”
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Information from: Morning News, http://www.scnow.com
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AP-WF-05-09-12 1356GMT
ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE
A U.S. Air Force image of a Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star. Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
