By Michael Stephan
Last month we travelled to Hidden Valley where Joe and Milissa Migis hosted a visit to see their aircraft project; the restoration of a 1938 Rearwin Speedster.
This is an amazing find. Not your average barn find here. This was a very meticulous restoration and reproduction project that Joe is continuing from the originator Ralph Luther. Included in the project is a second set of plane parts. Several were duplicated from the original and one set given to Ralph. Also included were two original Menasco inline 4 cylinder engines. One of them has zero time on it. Two props were also on display. One was the original and one was new.
The most amazing part is Joe has all of the original documentation that Ralph collected over the many decades of working on the project including the engine logs for both engines. This airplane is better documentation than both of mine put together. Incredible.
Joe was very good at explaining the history of the restoration. Mr. Luther did a great job keeping this plane and it history together, and Joe has now picked up that mantle.
We plan to follow Joe and Melissa as they put this plane back in the air. After a morning of 1938 nostalgia, Joe and Milissa had lunch for us. It was quite generous and delicious. A perfect ending to a fascinating and enjoyable morning.
Thank you Joe and Milissa Migis!
