AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2024 - 29

Grandnephew Presler became a
private pilot largely because of the
encouragement he received from O'Hara,
and Presler later opened his own flight
school and avionics firm near Nashville,
Tennessee. While visiting O'Hara in
2008, Presler remembers being bowled
over by the P-38 project, and he offered
to buy it if O'Hara, then 79 years old, ever
decided to sell.
" When I die, " O'Hara told him, " you'll
have first right of refusal to buy the P-38. "
The two never discussed the matter
again. Fourteen years later, however,
when O'Hara passed away in 2022 at age
94, Presler thought his granduncle had
likely forgotten his one-time expression
of interest in owning the P-38. But in his
will, O'Hara specified that the airplane
would be sold to Presler for $50,000. That
was roughly the value of its engines, props,
and instruments.
Presler went to San Angelo with a
team of technicians and friends to return
the P-38 to flying status. It hadn't flown in
five years and needed a great deal of work.
The electrical, hydraulic, and fuel systems
all needed attention, and many engine oil
lines and cables were replaced during
three intensive weeks of detailed work.
Also, O'Hara was a small guy, and
the rudder pedals had to be moved for
Presler-or just about anyone else-to sit
in the front seat and operate the rudders
and brakes.
" Uncle Jim and Aunt Mitzi were
pretty short-and the airplane was built to
fit them, " Presler said. " I'm not a big guy,
but the pedals definitely had to be moved
forward for me to fit. "
Presler had no doubts about the
airframe itself. Its structural integrity
was the result of O'Hara's careful calculations,
high-quality materials, and
impeccable craftsmanship. He also
expected the airplane's flying characteristics
to be similar to those of a full-sized
P-38 because that's what his uncle had
intended, and that's what O'Hara thought
he'd achieved.
" He just knew aerodynamics so well, "
Presler said of his uncle. " He had studied
and deeply understood every aspect
of this airplane. "
" He just knew aerodynamics so well. He had studied and
deeply understood every aspect of this airplane, "
William Presler said of his uncle, James O'Hara.
On Presler's first flight in the " TTP-38 "
(TT stands for two-thirds) at San Angelo,
he said he " never felt so focused or so alive
as in that moment. "
The airplane performed as expected
with " smooth, forgiving " flying characteristics
during normal flight with both
engines operating.
Presler describes his three-leg trip
from the airplane's current home in central
Tennessee to Oshkosh as " terrifying. " The
weather was perfect, and the airplane
performed normally-but the thought
of flying into what becomes the world's
busiest airport during airshow week, and
his own high expectations, brought a great
deal of pressure.
The airplane, with a roughly 2,500pound
empty weight and 3,167-pound
gross weight, holds 80 gallons of fuel
and cruises at about 160 knots at the low
power settings that Presler chose. It's IFR
equipped with four Garmin GI-275 attitude
instruments and engine monitors as well as
a Garmin GPS navigator, but Presler only
intends to fly it in visual conditions.
Presler said he was overwhelmed by the
public response to his uncle's obsession.
The airplane drew crowds of
knowledgeable onlookers who appreciated
the pride, perseverance, and skill required
to make such an extraordinary aircraft.
And Burt Rutan, the legendary aircraft
designer, stopped by to tell Presler that
O'Hara's masterpiece, in his opinion, was
the single " most important " airplane at the
massive event.
" For me, the dust is still settling, " Presler
said. " I'm still just trying to make sense of
it all. But I'm very gratified that, after all
this time, my Uncle Jim's accomplishment
is being widely recognized and appreciated
for what it is. "
dave.hirschman@aopa.org
View the video
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november24
AOPA PILOT / November 2024
29
DAVID TULIS
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2024

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