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Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty it is free at last!

September 4th, 1999

08:00 hrs we begin the descent from the second floor to the loading dock and eventually out to the street. Duration of extraction was roughly figured at 3 hours from descent to trailer loading. Elevator shaft descent was 5 minutes 30 seconds, seemed like four hours.

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Empty shop the night before

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Piles of parts ready to go

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Engine waiting for a home

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Poised for birth

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Pre-move inspirational speech and prayer

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Scott & Brenda view the pit

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Sure looks a LONG way down

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Paul, the mountain climber rigs the ropes

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Tod and Tom bring the tail to the brink

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2 Walts, 2 Rons view from 3rd floor

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Approaching the brink

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Todd assures the first floor is ready

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Tail suspended over 3 floors

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Tail almost in reach

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Tail breaches the door

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Final release down the shaft

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Over the edge

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Rolling down the wall

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Voila, the birth

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MEANWHILE...Hugh constructs ramp

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Ralph advises Hugh on ramp construction

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Finishing touches to ramp

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MEANWHILE...engine jockeyed into position

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Engine in place

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Charlie, Ron, Scott, Butch and Todd attaching side panels

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Scott and Todd adjust cowling...

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MEANWHILE...Derek and Matt supervise wing movement

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Down the ramp, Hugh holds on

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Scott and Tom catch the tail

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Scott and Tom guide it down the ramp while Butch watches and sweats

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Into the sunlight for the first time

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The baby breathes free

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Attaching Starboard wings

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MEANWHILE...Wayne and Polo attach prop

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Polo doing final torquing

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Port wing being attached

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Plane holding Butch up

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Scott takes a turn in the seat

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Hugh tries a fly

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Indicted co-conspirators share a moment


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One happy guy


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View from 3rd floor


 

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September 5th, 1999

We journey from Chicago Heights to Freeport, Illinois to deliver the plane for final tuning of the engine by the master, Rick Giles.

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Potty break

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Note classy prop protector

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Rick revving the engine

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Two generations of Nieuports

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A long awaited meeting

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Note, our "correct" wheels

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Clipped N12 takes a taxi

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Speeding around the first turn, the LS N12 is ahead

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Giles tries in vain to catch me

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Scott takes a taxi

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Note the smile

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Rick takes a turn

 

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