7th EMS Airmen volunteer to help refurbish plane in Dyess Air Park

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joel Mease
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A half-dozen Airmen from the 7th Equipment Maintenance Squadron are helping to repaint an F-86 located in the air park as part of this year' air park refurbishing effort. 

The plane was in desperate need of a paint job before members from the 7th EMS volunteered to take on the project, said "Doc" Warner, Dyess Air Park curator. 

"We jumped at the opportunity to take care of a piece of Air Force history," said Airman Jonathon Shepherd, 7th EMS. "It means a great deal to us to work on something that used to fly on a daily basis." 

When the crew from the 7th EMS plans to work on aircraft in the air park they treat as if they do on the flightline. 

"I've worked with this group before. From their shop chief right down to the Airmen on the floor they are truly outstanding people," Mr. Warner said. "These guys are absolute professionals when they told me they wanted to do this they said they wanted to do it right. They don't cut any quarters as this is what they do for a living!" 

For Airman Shepherd and his crew they know when they get done their work will be noticed by thousands of people as they drive by every day. 

"We want this plane to stand out from the rest when we get done," Airman Shepherd said. "We also want it to look just like new, so if an old crew came out it would look just like it did when they flew it." 

The project has been an on-going plan to refurbish planes in the air park. Three more planes are scheduled for paint jobs later in the summer.