Heritage Park Makeover

Airmen First Class David Lopez, right, and Kevin Hetzler, both 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron sheet metal journeymen, sand down an old A-10 at Heritage Park Jan. 25. All nine planes at the park will receive restoration over the next few months to get ready for the 355th Fighter Association 65th Annual Reunion April 24 to 27. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alesia D. Goosic)

Heritage Park gets facelift

Published Jan. 29, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Tim Beckham
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

DAVIS-MONTAHN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Heritage Park is getting an extreme makeover during the next few months to spruce up the planes that call the park home.

The repairs to the nine aircraft located in Heritage Park are scheduled to receive restoration over the next four months.

"We're doing a full restoration of the birds and basically making them look pretty," said Staff Sgt. Colt Peterson, 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron sheet metal technician and project coordinator. "The planes will be sanded, have all dry rot fixed and be repainted."

The planes, which have not had a facelift in nine years, should take about two weeks apiece to be restored with a full crew, according to Sergeant Peterson.

"On Feb. 1, we will also have 10 retirees out here helping with the process," said Sergeant Peterson.

The primary reason the planes are being updated is for the 355th Fighter Association 65th Annual Reunion April 24 to 27.

"The Air Park is one of the most important ways for the Air Force to showcase our history and advancements over time," said Col. Dennis Shumaker, 355th Maintenance Group commander. "As such it's open for all to see and enjoy and it therefore must look good and more importantly be preserved for generations to come. The truly remarkable thing is that 80 percent of the work is being accomplished by volunteers, both active duty and retired. This displays how proud we as Airmen are of our past."