The blue Marine plane, which once stood out on Highway 210 by the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport, has been part of the airport’s identity for decades.
But that could change. And all because of a paint job.
Tuesday the airport commission considered options to repaint the plane, which has since been moved off the highway closer to the airport terminal. Recently, the airport learned it was not awarded a grant to cover the cost of paint.
The airport commission voted to seek a quote for the cost to refurbish the plane. Previous efforts to find donations to fund the paint have not yielded many results, although small donations were received.
Brad Davis, airport commission member, said the display aircraft is a bit of an eyesore in its current state so if the paint isn’t donated, consideration should be given to spend the money to repaint it or remove it.
The plane is on loan to the airport from the U.S. Navy’s department of excess property. Steve Sievek, airport manager, said if the airport no longer wants the plane it has to find someone willing to take it or ship it back to Florida.
Sievek said the American Legion Club in Aitkin is willing to take the plane. Previously, a company in Pennsylvania was interested in the plane but the airport commission then decided to keep it and try to raise money to paint it.
Kevin Goedker, Brainerd city council member and liaison to the airport commission, said shipping the plane back to the Navy will be costly.
“We need to let it go or paint it,” Sievek said.
Several decades ago Marine Corps League volunteers put a fresh coat of paint on the plane, but members are not in a position to do it again, Goedker said.
The commission learned a lakes area business with a Marine Corps League membership may be interested in sandblasting the plane at a reduced cost.
“I think it’s a great attraction for our airport,“ said Beth Pfingsten, airport commission chairwoman. “It’s unique. I think it’s a great (public relations) piece. I just think it adds a lot to us I know it’s an eyesore now and we do need to do something with it, but I’m a huge proponent of trying to do everything we can to keep it here.”
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
Comments (17)
Add commentAre you kidding me?
You're seeking donations to paint the airplane? For what, twenty gallons perhaps? Someone out there has a serious budgeting problem. Do you have funds for tissue in the wash rooms?
Two questions...
Why was it moved? How many times could it have been painted with that cost?
why move it at all?
here is a great idea-put a CLOWN on the pole! it would reflect the whole mess better!
Leave it there!! It is a
Leave it there!! It is a treasure- you can't afford to paint it??? Please.
plane
What a joke---millions and millions of dollars thrown at that complex and they have to beg for money to buy a few of gallons of paint. I say give the plane to the Aitkin airport----they seem to have their act together over there. This whole Brainerd Airport thing is getting more stupid by the day.
funny
Funny how Bob Olson fought so hard to keep the Gregory park fountain intact, but could care less about our airport, much less the plane that has been there for decades. Oops, that's right!...he doesn't live by the airport, therefore doesn't care. Bottom line..Bob is about Bob and what suits him best.
FYI
If the job is done right it will cost more than what most would think. I've always enjoyed it and what better way to 'sign' an airport. My only concern, and I may be more easily distracted than most is while I'm driving by checking it out there is an intersection there! Yikes.....
Paint it and put it back out
Paint it and put it back out at the entrance to the airport for all to see and appreciate.
Does anyone know why was it
Does anyone know why was it moved in the first place? I seem to remember something about the Hwy Dept making them move it.
There is alot of history with
There is alot of history with that plane!! LEAVE IT ALONE!
Clown
Sound to me like you're volunteering for the clown position Moonhawk. I think maybe a different town would suite you better.
Plane
I think we should try to do whatever possible to keep the plane. I remember that plane from when I was little. But, I keep thinking it had been a different color then. Anyway, I agree with painting it and putting it back out by the Highway.
Real cost?
Does anyone know the real cost of repainting the airplane?
Display airplane at airport
Some facts about the “Airplane on a stick” the F9F6 Cougar on display at the airport.
This aircraft is on loan from the US Navy and has been for several decades. Many will remember that this airplane used to be on highway 210 and was relocated to the interior of the airport at the request of MNDOT. You might be interested to know that this airplane is mounted on a pylon with bearings and actually rotates position in a 8-10 mph wind. A very rare and unusual way of displaying static aircraft.
In general the airport management is interested in either getting it into good condition or removing it from the airport. Management has been quite patient with those of us making an effort to save this historical artifact, however time is now drawing short. I for one am ashamed that this historic symbol of military aviation, and symbol of our airport is in such poor condition.
It is not quite as simple as “slapping” a coat of paint on this airplane. To do it properly the aircraft must be powder blasted to remove the old paint and the surface prepped with at least one good coat of primer. To restore the aircraft while on it's pedestal would require scaffolds, tenting and lifts. Alternatively the aircraft must be brought to the ground by crane. Either way it is an expensive undertaking. And the paint – we are not just talking 10 or 20 gallons but closer to 200 gallons including primer and finish coats. Even if we were not using automotive paint (several hundred dollars per gallon) we still have a major expense. If it was a simple as some brushes, rollers and house paint the job would already be done, however it would not hold up and in a couple of years would look as bad or worse than it already does.
For the last two years running, the airport has made application to the Valspar Corporation for them to supply paint under their Making Minnesota Beautiful initiative. Since the program is designated more for architectural beautification, we have not been able to procure the grant. Of course, even if we were to get the paint supplied, the majority of the additional cost to restore this aircraft still exists. The effort for this restoration is NOT funded by the airport at the present time and the restoration effort has been up to this point, purely volunteer. While significant expenditures are made at the airport to remodel the terminal and expand runways, these dedicated funds are not able to be used for projects such as painting the airplane. The Marine Corps League has been kind enough to sponsor this effort but it is not their responsibility to provide funding.
While we really do not at this time know the real cost of doing the project properly, the airport commission has now instructed the airport manager to begin procuring some estimates.
In the hopes that this project could still be done with volunteer labor and/or donations I would welcome any business or individual willing to participate by donating time or resources to contact me directly at the airport. I can be reached through Airmotive Enterprises at the airport.
I am dismayed that the BDD article regarding this airplane comes at a time when the airport and the airport commission is under unjust scrutiny from a few overzealous individuals. The restoration of this aircraft however is a separate issue from any of the rest and it would be sad to see this aircraft removed as a casualty of the other issues.
Mike Petersen
Brainerd Airport
Marine Plane
A great big thank you to all that are coming forward to offer help with this project. If the community support continues, this project might just get done.