restoration work training requirments??

[JSHiggins]

hi, i have wanted to get involved in aircraft restoration for as long as i can remember, but obviously without the right training theres not a lot i would be able to do on an aircraft thats ever going to fly again.
I am now at a point in my life where i im in a position to be able to uproot my life and move up the country - im planning to enrol on a training course that will lead me to gain my B1.2 aircraft maintenance licence - which will allow me to sign off my own work and issue 'certificates of release to service' - but i wondered if anyone on here could confirm that this will get me in to the world of historic aircraft/warbirds?
any information would be greatly appreciated
cheers,
josh.

 

[Snautzer01]

Perhaps Spitfire Steve or E Engineman could give a hint. They have expierence in these matters i think.

 

[Tony Kambic]

Perhaps Spitfire Steve or E Engineman could give a hint. They have expierence in these matters i think.

Where do you live, what country? I can point you to a number of places in the US.

Tony

 

[JSHiggins]

Where do you live, what country? I can point you to a number of places in the US.

Tony

im in birmingham UK :/ the US does seem to be the place to be for aviation

 

[JSHiggins]

Perhaps Spitfire Steve or E Engineman could give a hint. They have expierence in these matters i think.

brilliant thankyou

 

[cvairwerks]

Josh: Sounds like you are in the UK. First place to start looking, is with any of the smaller museums around. Most are always looking for volunteers. There isn't any formal training program that I know of, outside of some short programs from NASM, here in the states. Unfortunately, those are very small and usually have waiting lists for years down the road. I would suggest that you start on the formal side with taking all the sheet metal and fabric classes that you can get into at school. High quality sheet metal and fabric people are always in demand. Good sheet metal people are also snatched up by the commercial side of maintenance, so that can help on the financial side of things.

One thing to understand, is that with most restoration groups you will be starting from the bottom, and learning, but not being full trusted for a while, until they are comfortable with you and the work you do as well as how you handle things.

 

[JSHiggins]

I should probably have mentioned i do have an engineering background, i am a trained welder/fabricator so have quite a bit of experience working with mild steel from thin sheet upto strucural work, and a fair bit of working with aluminium sheet/fabrication processes. also spent years maintaining my cars/motorbikes so have a fairly solid foundation to build on.
thank you all for your advice its really helped

 

[Tony Kambic]

I should probably have mentioned i do have an engineering background, i am a trained welder/fabricator so have quite a bit of experience working with mild steel from thin sheet upto strucural work, and a fair bit of working with aluminium sheet/fabrication processes. also spent years maintaining my cars/motorbikes so have a fairly solid foundation to build on.
thank you all for your advice its really helped

I will add to cvairwerks comments, that sheet metal work is a highly sought after skill. Since you are in the UK, learn the rightly named English Wheel workings, and all other tools and forms for shaping skins, etc. Become Cleco fluent. I have witnessed numerous landing gear doors rebuilds, carb scoops and fuselage skins manufacturing, and did help build some PBY skins. I also started as a volunteer which is a great suggestion.

 

[Crimea_River]

I would suggest that your ability to enter the field depends entirely on the organization, its goals, experience of the team, and the willingness of the team to bring in and train new people. Airworthy restorations demand higher skills and quality whereas a static display can have more relaxed requirements. As I said, it all depends on the organization's goals.

 

[Spitfire Steve]

I will add to cvairwerks comments, that sheet metal work is a highly sought after skill. Since you are in the UK, learn the rightly named English Wheel workings, and all other tools and forms for shaping skins, etc. Become Cleco fluent. I have witnessed numerous landing gear doors rebuilds, carb scoops and fuselage skins manufacturing, and did help build some PBY skins. I also started as a volunteer which is a great suggestion.

English wheel, now that really is a skill. I can do wing tips and small stuff, but when it comes to leading edges , nah, not for me. If you can get trained in that you could make a fortune, We use someone in the UK that charges £140 PH $185 PH But he really is good, and quick.

 

[cvairwerks]

Josh: If want to add some long term reading to your learning, become a member over at allmetalshaping.com. We've got a lot of site members that do everything from artwork to aircraft work to auto builds. Unfortunately we lost one of the greats over there, Kent White, in an at home accident recently. Still, lots of great reading and lots of photos. Kent did everything from copper bowls to antique cars to U-2 nose skins. He was also one of the metalwork guys on the replica Hughes H-1 project.

 

[herman1rg]

I should probably have mentioned i do have an engineering background, i am a trained welder/fabricator so have quite a bit of experience working with mild steel from thin sheet upto strucural work, and a fair bit of working with aluminium sheet/fabrication processes. also spent years maintaining my cars/motorbikes so have a fairly solid foundation to build on.
thank you all for your advice its really helped

We need engineering people where I work

 

[mjfur]

Before you go and get your license give these shops a call and ask/explain to them what you want to do.

Spitfire Restorations by Aircraft Restoration Company's Historic Flying Ltd.

Supermarine Spitfire and other warbird restorations undertaken by Historic Flying Ltd. HFL is now a part of the Aircraft Restoration Company specialising in the meticulous rebuilding, fabrication and restoration of Spitfires and other rare vintage aircraft right up to airworthy condition)

www.aircraftrestorationcompany.com

Hawker Typhoon RB396 – Resurrecting a Forgotten Legend

HTPG is a registered charity in the UK that is raising funds to restore a Hawker Typhoon, RB396, to airworthiness. Become part of something special.

hawkertyphoon.com

https://www.wingsmuseum.co.uk/our-work/aircraft-restoration/

Hawker Restorations | World Leaders in Hurricane Restoration

hawkerrestorations.co.uk

I was unable to get their website to work. Try The Fighter Collection at Duxford.
The Fighter Collection - Wikipedia

Facebook

www.facebook.com

 

[Crimea_River]

Also here:

VOLUNTEER – de Havilland Aircraft Museum

 

[pinehilljoe]

I'm not far from Udvar Hazy, I thought of asking if I could volunteer to count screws or sweep in the restoration shop.

 

[cvairwerks]

I'm not far from Udvar Hazy, I thought of asking if I could volunteer to count screws or sweep in the restoration shop.

Don't think the shop has any volunteers. They used to run a hands on class for 5-10 people, once a year, but there was as much as a 5 year wait list to get into the class. I don't see the classes referenced on the website, but can't hurt to ask about it.

 

[JSHiggins]

sorry for the delayed reply, thank all so much for the replies and suggestions - unfortunatly most volunteering placements are a bit far for me to travel to from here, im going to go to for my licence either way i think as itll add another trade should i need it (even if i end up on GA from time to time itll be indispensible to have to hand), and cheers for the tip to allmetalshaping i dont know how ive never found it ! ive done a bit of work on an english wheel but nowhere near enough to master it.

 

[Airframes]

I believe you're in the Birmingham area, so RAF Museum, Cosford may be worth contacting. Apart from the Sir Micheal Beetham conservation center at the Museum, where I believe there are "apprentices", there are also volunteer staff doing maintainance and other restoration work on the "on display" airframes. One of these Rodd, is a member here on the forums.

 

[Maty12]

Josh,

While not located near you, ARCo at Duxford has an apprenticeship program. I applied myself earlier this year, and while I was not qualified for the position (I did not have the right to work in the UK yet) you might very well be, especially given your preexisting experience. Applications have closed for this year but should reopen in a few months if you don't mind the wait, or you might already qualify for a career position:
Careers at Aircraft Restoration Company
This should allow you to go straight into training for aircraft restoration work.

-Matt

 

[SaparotRob]

Keep 'em flying!