Rebuilding a Golden Age gem takes skill, perseverance, timing JOHN MACHAMER WAS FLYING for American Airlines on that day in July 1994. He recalls walking into the operations room at John F. Kennedy International Airport and spotting an " Aircraft for Sale " sign on the bulletin board. Nothing unusual about that-except for the aircraft that was for sale. " For Sale " " Damaged 1930 Davis D1K N158Y " " Ser No 508 " " I looked over my shoulder and wondered, 'Does anybody else see this?' " Machamer knew that, damaged or not, a rarity like a Davis monoplane wouldn't wait long for a buyer. A Golden Age racer and sport plane built by the Davis Aircraft Corporation in Richmond, Indiana, the Davis is a parasol-winged, fabric-covered airplane with steel tube fuselage. Just 45 were produced in 1929 and 1930 before a fire burned down the factory and put the company out of business. Perhaps five or six are still flying, with a few more in museums. AOPA PILOT / May 2024 77