A labor of Love!

The SNJ-4 as delivered to the SOCal wing for restoration!

SNJ4RestorationBeginningPartsonRamp

BlueBird was delivered to our Wing by truck in many pieces. It took 6 years to complete the restoration which was essentially from the ground up.

This labor of love was headed up by Joe Peppito

Crew Chief:

Joe Peppito

SNJ-4 Crew:
John Jones; Keith Bailey; Howard Ulm;
Wayne Brancato; Alex Ferrasci; Alan Nicholson; Sib Bosso.

North American SNJ-4 Texan N75964 #44 was manufactured in 1943. Its construction number is 88-9830.

Photo credit: Julie Sims

Joe Peppito at work:

snj4-02
Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1 engine for the SNJ-4 #6411D being rebuilt by Joe Peppito and his crew.
Note the P&W logo and the official nameplate. (11-24-05).

snj4-03
Col. Joe Peppito with his new Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1 engine for the SNJ-4 #N6411D being rebuilt.
snj4-04
Joe Peppito working diligently on SNJ-4.(11-29-05)
snj4-05Joe Peppito giving TLC to his airplane.(11-29-05)
snj4-06
Cols. Bedding, Goubitz and Sica, plus anthropologist Wayland working on the SNJ-4’s spar. It is critical to the integrity of the airplane to have a spar which is devoid of corrosion. This is one of the main concerns of the team – the possible replacement of part of the spar with new parts.
snj4-07
Cadet Anthony working on cleaning up a horizontal stabilizer.
snj4-09
snj4-10
snj4-11
snj4-12
snj4-13
snj4-14
snj4-15
snj4-16

snj4-08Cadet Jessica Bean, daughter of Col Kerry Bean, working on our SNJ-4 #N6411D in the restoration hangar. She is taking flying lessons locally toward earning her private pilot’s license. Her eventual goal is to be a U.S. Air Force pilot.

North American SNJ-4 #N6411D Restoration Crew
Joe Peppito, Crew Chief
Keith Bailey
Alex Ferrasci
Wayne Brancato
Sib Bosso
Alan Nicholson
Johnny Jones

Sponsorship of North American SNJ-4 “Texan”

If you would like to become a proud sponsor of our SNJ-4, please contact:
Col. Joe Peppito, Team Leader
Commemorative Air Force – SoCAWing
455 Aviation Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
Phone: (805) 482-0064
Your donation will be tax-deductible, and will be greatly appreciated and recognized.

Thanks to you, we can “Keep ‘Em Flying!