Vintage Helicopter Restored To Be Unveiled Soon In West Chester

WEST CHESTER, PA — An 8-year restoration of historic aircraft was done completely in-house at West Chester's American Helicopter Museum and Education Center, and it will be exhibited for the first time starting next week.

The American Helicopter Museum and Education Center (AHMEC) announced the unveiling of one of the most important helicopters in United States Coast Guard (USCG) rescue history, the "Gander Express." It's a vintage 1945 Sikorsky HOS-1 that has been restored by the Museum's volunteers over an eight-year period, the Museum said.

The "Gander Express" earned the name for its role as one of two USCG helicopters that rescued 18 injured passengers from a crashed Sabena Airlines’ DC-4 airliner in Gander, Newfoundland, in 1946. The single rotor aircraft established helicopters as rescue vehicles and cemented a place for helicopters in the USCG inventory.

Douglass Schaeffer, AHMEC's Head of Restoration, began volunteering at the Museum in 2007, contributed to the project his extensive composite background that includes Reading Aviation and The Boeing Company.

"We're fortunate to have restored the first Sikorsky HOS-1 that was involved in the first Coast Guard air rescue," explained Schaeffer. "This is the first complete restoration from start to finish that was done entirely in-house. It will also be the only HOS-1 on display anywhere."

The "Gander Express" will be exhibited to the public starting on Oct. 17, the Museum said.

The American Helicopter Museum and Education Center, at 1220 American Boulevard, West Chester, is the nation's premier aviation museum devoted exclusively to helicopters. Established in 1996, the nonprofit organization collects, restores, and displays rotary-wing aircraft, including over 35 civilian and military helicopters, autogyros, and convertiplanes.

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