Latest restoration completed by Transal Aero Services at Midden Zeeland

Beech D17S N192H made its maiden post-restoration flight at Midden Zeeland in the Netherlands during June. The ‘Staggerwing’ is owned by Dick de Ruiter boss of Transal Aero Services, a company which has become specialised in the type. Work had been under way in earnest since 2018, de Ruiter — who acquired the machine the previous December — being joined in the effort by his son Lukas.

The April 1944-vintage aircraft, construction number 6723, was intended for the US Army Air Forces as a UC-43, but it was transferred while still on the production line to the US Navy, becoming a GB-2 with BuNo 23706. Put onto the American civil register as NC68113 during 1956, it became N192H 15 years later. The Beech was sold to a Dutch owner in 2009, being stored in Eindhoven before the purchase by de Ruiter.