City instructed to repair display aircraft

The Milton City Council will discuss options to repair the Trojan T-28B static aircraft display at the April 2 Executive Committee meeting. [ALICIA ADAMS | Press Gazette]

MILTON — In January, the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola supplied the city with the results of the assessment of the static display aircraft located at Milton High School.

The aircraft — a Trojan T-28B — the NNAM loaned to the city in 2011. Earlier this year, the Naval History Hertitage Command and their contractor, PRES, LLC, inspected the aircraft and constructed a list of repairs the loan agreement required.

The repairs are as follows:

  • Remove advance corrosion (engine cowling, underside flaps and wings), sand and paint
  • Remove mold
  • Treat pedestal and podium corrosion
  • Investigate and repair pedestal and podium cracks
  • Conduct an engineering analysis on pedestal and mounting hardware to ensure structural integrity
  • Repair windscreen
  • Wash entire aircraft bi-annually (at minimum)
  • Construct and/or correct plaque to ensure NNAM is credited with the aircraft, as per loan agreement

According to City Manager Brian Watkins, the engineering analysis will cost approximately $2,500.

The report said the city may tap into maintenance resources at NAS Whiting Field that may be interested in donating their expertise to the repair and upkeep. The museum also provided a list of qualified companies who could complete the work.

The city is to submit a scope of work and estimated completion date to the NNAM within 90 days, which ends April 30.

According to Watkins, the first priority is to conduct the engineering study on the concrete pedestal and mounting bar. The city will then need to decide how to move forward with the repairs. Having the aircraft repaired on site will cost approximately $50,000, Watkins said, while relocating it will double or triple the cost.

“It’s not going to be cheap no matter what we do,” Watkins said. “The last option would be to give it back… but we will have to deliver it to them.”

Councilman Jeff Snow said he has spoken to people who may be able to volunteer their time and knowledge to help maintain the aircraft. The City Council will discuss options at the April 2 Executive Committee Meeting.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: City instructed to repair display aircraft