AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 72

PILOT BRIEFING

'We fly the old stuff'
Pemberton & Sons Aviation bring aircraft back to life
B Y J U L I E S U M M E R S WA L K E R
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS ROSE

WE STUMBLED upon Addison Pemberton at Spokane's Felts Field on a sunny
May afternoon. Scouting for stories about the historic field for AOPA's preview of the Washington airport before the association's fourth 2014 fly-in,
there was Pemberton climbing into a 1931 Laird Commercial for a test flight
with his friend Larry Howard. Howard had just finished the restoration and
Pemberton was happy to test-fly it with him. This is a little unusual-usually
it's Pemberton who has done the restoration.
Pemberton & Sons Aviation has been restoring very, very old aircraft at
Felts Field for more than 20 years. Sons Jay and Ryan, along with wife and
mother Wendy, support Pemberton-an engineer-in his labors of love. Jay
and Ryan's wives also participate. Hangars 65 and 66 at Felts Field contain an
amazing collection of memorabilia, works in progress, fabric, gear, signage,
wheels, tires, engines-you name it-to help in the family projects. There's
even a couple of double beds for when the work lasts into the night.
Pemberton is probably most famous for the restoration of a 1928 Boeing 40,
an airmail carrier that crashed in Oregon in 1928. The aircraft had been left derelict in the Oregon mountains for more than 80 years when Pemberton bought
its parts and frame from the Oregon Aviation Historical Society for $5,000 and
a propeller. Wife Wendy said he didn't buy a project, he "brought home DNA."
The seven-year, 60-volunteer restoration resulted in the oldest flying
Boeing airplane and the only flying Boeing 40. Pemberton has restored more
than 16 aircraft, including a Beechcraft D-17, 1942 Grumman Goose, Travelair
4000, Waco EQC-6, and 1929 Stearman 4DM Sr. Speedmail. The company's
motto is "We fly the old stuff."
EMAIL julie.walker@aopa.org
LARRY HOWARD restored a 1931 Laird Commercial (top left and right). Addison
Pemberton (center right). Pemberton & Sons Aviation hangar (bottom right).

72 | AOPA PILOT August 2014



AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014

AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014
Contents
President’s Position
Letters
Visual Approach
Waypoints
Proficient Pilot
Safety Pilot
License to Learn
Pilot Counsel
Flight for a cause
First Look
Giving Back
Aerial Adventures
Pilot Products
Airport Stories
Fly-Outs
News
Test Pilot
Flying Clubs
Pilot Products
AOPA Fly-Ins
Soul-Stirring Airplane
Stand Up and Salute
Big City Seaplanes
Tall Tale That's True
Airlift Provides Lift
Proficiency
Technique
Technique
Frugal Flier
Frugal Flier
Wx Watch
Wx Watch
Avionics
Avionics
Ownership
Ownership
Never Again
Never Again
AOPA Action
AOPA Action
State and Local Action
State and Local Action
AOPA Foundation
AOPA Foundation
Member Services
Member Services
Insurance Services
Insurance Services
Fly by Wire
Fly by Wire
Tips from PIC
Tips from PIC
Pilots
Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - President’s Position
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 10
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Letters
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Visual Approach
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Waypoints
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Proficient Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Safety Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - License to Learn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 28
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Flight for a cause
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - First Look
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Giving Back
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Aerial Adventures
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Pilot Products
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Airport Stories
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Fly-Outs
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - News
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - D-1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - D-2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Test Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Flying Clubs
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Pilot Products
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - AOPA Fly-Ins
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - R-1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - R-2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - R-3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - R-4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Soul-Stirring Airplane
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Stand Up and Salute
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Big City Seaplanes
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 95
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Tall Tale That's True
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 102
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 106
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Airlift Provides Lift
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Proficiency
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 113
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 114
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 115
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Technique
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 117
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 118
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 119
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Frugal Flier
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 121
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Wx Watch
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 123
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 124
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 125
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Avionics
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 127
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 128
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 129
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Ownership
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 131
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Never Again
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 133
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 134
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 135
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - AOPA Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 137
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - State and Local Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 139
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - AOPA Foundation
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 141
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Member Services
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 143
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Insurance Services
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 145
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Fly by Wire
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Tips from PIC
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 148
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 149
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 150
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - 151
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2014 - Cover4
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