I heard some thing a few months ago about how CAP had in house mechanics for all of their airplanes in the 40s and 50s. Is this true?
Even in the 80s. When I attended what is now the Johnson Flight Academy in 1981, we had a guy who was an A & P who was also a member. Or at least he was working for US exclusively.
Even in the 2000s. It wasn't until consolidated maintenance and the requirement that the mechanic shop have a $1,000,000.00 bond that we stopped using an in house mechanic here locally.
We still have A&P's that can do minor repairs, oil changes, bang dents out, etc.
Bang out dents? :)
Sounds like Cleco-Central, to me.
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(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/8541/earlofscheib.jpg)