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Surprise! They also found a sad- looking Tri-Pacer while there, struck a quick deal for it, and put it on the trailer with SM1.”
more than just flying, and seeing any type of neglected or abandoned was often more than he could bear.
Over five decades as an aviator, he’s acquired over 20 aban- doned, neglected, or basket-case aircraft and returned them to airworthiness, including several twins. He does this with the capable help of his good friend, Jim Keenan, a local A&P/ IA. After returning to flight status, some of the planes have been quickly passed on to new caretakers. Several are still on the flight line of Jet Air Group, the FBO and flight school he now owns at Green Bay’s Austin Straubel Int’l Airport (KGRB). Others remain in his personal collection. His favorites have been the twins, most of which he’s hung on to for long peri- ods of time, using them for personal transport and pleasure.
Singles Seeking Companionship
The fleet Dr. Anderas and Mr. Keenan have returned to flight is a mix of ultra-rare types, common trainers, antiques, classics, and contemporaries. It’s not the rarity of a type that attracts Pep. It’s usually just that the aircraft is forlorn and awaiting rescue. He says that many find him rather than vice versa. Pep’s goal is not award-winning restorations (though that has happened along the way). His goal is simply to save a plane from near-certain death and return it to flight.
It all started when two pre-WWII Aeronca Chiefs (abandoned for 40 years each) were returned to flight. He flew each briefly before selling them to new caretakers. For common types, there have been multiple Cessna 172s of various vintage and sub-models and a couple of C-182s as well. All purchased non-airworthy and returned to flight. There were no less than four Stinson 108 models, the first of which became an Oshkosh award winner. The last was trucked home from Colorado and is currently an ongoing project. There have been two Citabrias. Pep still owns and flies the ‘76 model
Anderas, Keenan and crew in Phoenix after loading their two rescued birds (SM1 and a bonus Piper Tri-Pacer) to transport home to Green Bay. [Provided by Anderas]
Anderas’ recently rescued Cessna RAM 414 is a near-future project he hopes to get airworthy by next year, barring any major surprises in its condition. [Anderas]
The panel of Anderas’ 1965 Skymaster has only been updated in its radio stack (partially) since rescue. The empty slot at the bottom of the power quadrant is where the inoperative autopilot was removed. [Matthew McDaniel]
August 2024 / TWIN & TURBINE • 23