WATCH: Back to Life | The Aircraft Restoration Team

Connecticut Public Radio | By David Wurtzel

Published June 22, 2023 at 10:01 AM EDT

O’Neil Langley sits in the restoration hanger at the New England Air Museum. From Connecticut Public Mini Doc ‘Back To Life’ — O’Neil Langley sits in the restoration hanger at the New England Air Museum. From Connecticut Public's Mini Doc ‘Back To Life’

The Aircraft Restoration Team are the volunteers behind the scenes at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT. In a joint effort to preserve and restore historical aircrafts, the volunteers, from all walks of life, are preserving their personal stories through their shared love of aviation. While the public enjoys the finished aircrafts, many are not aware of how they were brought back to life or by whom. Watch the film below. For more Connecticut Public's original Mini Docs, visit ctpublic.org/minidocs.

"I am surviving because I do have these volunteers here" - O'Neil Langley, 90

Video by Dave Wurtzel

O’Neil Langley, restoration volunteer, stands in a storage hanger at the New England Air Museum. From Connecticut Public Mini Doc ‘Back To Life’

Restoration volunteers work on the F-89 Scorpion at the New England Air Museum. From Connecticut Public Mini Doc ‘Back To Life’

John Smith, restoration volunteer, polishes propellers at the New England Air Museum. From Connecticut Public Mini Doc ‘Back To Life’

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David Wurtzel

Dave Wurtzel is an award winning Visuals Journalist at Connecticut Public.

See stories by David Wurtzel

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The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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