Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California is home to one of America’s premier warbird collections, with more than 200 historic aircraft spanning early aviation to modern jet fighters.
Thirty-four year old Casey Wright is one of the museum’s top mechanics and restorers. He’s also part of an oft-overlooked segment of the warbird world—the extremely talented guys and gals who keep ’em flying. The specialist knowledge of the relatively tiny cadre of folks who work on warbird engines, airframes, and systems is a precious commodity. Bringing a new generation to this sometimes arcane business is essential for the warbird community’s survival.
Like Rathbun, Wright has aviation in his blood. His grandfather, Charles Nichols, began the Yanks collection in 1973 and still guides the museum today. Nichols, Wright’s father, and his sister…
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Flight Journal (Digital) - 1 Issue, September - October 2022