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WITH THE SAN DIEGO AIR & SPACE MUSEUM  | The collection of aircraft and spacecraft of the San Diego Air & Space Museum (formerly the San Diego Aerospace Museum). Few realize the skills that are involved in preparing these vehicles for public exhibition. The museum restores air/space craft through a talented group of volunteers. Museum aircraft and spacecraft vary from early wood-and-fabric to modern composites. Most of the aircraft are constructed from either wood/fabric or metals; the volunteers with the most experience in either of these types of practice tend to be retired people who like to work on projects, and it is for this reason that the museum has opened restoration shops for work on weekdays (both at their main facility in Balboa Park, and at their secondary facility in El Cajon at Gillespie Field). As the skills involved in using the fabrication and construction techniques for these aircraft become less frequently taught, and the average age of the museum volunteers seems to creep up, it has been decided that the museum should try and make restoration a volunteer option for not only those who enjoy working on museum pieces in their retirement, but to open the restoration hangar at Gillespie Field for volunteers to work on Saturdays. |
| What is required to get involved?
 | One need not be a pilot, mechanic, engineer, or any other specialty by trade to volunteer. Many of our volunteers have been, and learning from their experience is a benefit available to other volunteers. Getting involved in restoration projects can be as simple as letting the museum know now that you plan to take advantage of some of the restoration opportunities if they were to be offered on Saturdays. Beyond that, it is just required that you have enough interest to come out and get involved... special techniques you may need for a project can be learned by doing. |
What do the volunteers do?
 | Restoration volunteers at Gillespie Field do work including the restoration of wind tunnel models, display aircraft like an AV-8A Harrier, flyable aircraft like a Spirit of St Louis replica, and there are even plans to restore a second rocket. The hangar in El Cajon can be found from anywhere near the airport by going toward the rocket (shown above), and there are hopes of bringing a larger rocket to the hangar for restoration before placing it in front of the main museum in Balboa Park. |
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| INTERESTED? LET US KNOW! Without sufficient volunteer interest to open the hangar on Saturdays, the facility will continue to remain an active shop only on the present schedule. If you would like to get involved, or would like more information, please email your name, email, and phone number to Jeff. 
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