Some airplanes evoke the appearance of grand luxury, but inside they are full of macho, fire breathing toughness. The Howard DGA-15P is one of those airplanes. It evolved out of the intensity of the air racers of the thirties and was appreciated by those with the means of purchasing the finer things in life.

The Howard got its hold on me while I was searching for a family station wagon airplane/floatplane -- which had to have a radial engine! -- that could take me and the family to faraway lakes and inlets. We had sold our 1929 Bellanca Pacemaker float plane that had filled that bill wonderfully.

My friend Pat Russell told me he was ready to part with his Howard DGA 15 “Jobmaster,” the seaplane version created by the legendary Clayton Scott. Years earlier he had retired from his adventurous Alaska life along with his trusty bush plane, the Howard. He had flown it down to their new home in Oregon and parked it in his barn. (See story of Howard Rescue – link coming soon). A price was established and we carried it back to Big Sky and began a survey of its condition. 

It became apparent that this veteran Alaska float plane had “been rode hard and put up wet.” It was not going to be an “extensive annual” after all. It would be reduced to a basket case with every screw turned and wood chip carved to bring it back to life. It was going to be a big project.

We began the work, stripping the plane apart, cleaning and prepping for reassembly. I redesigned the cabin to have two additional seats. The engine was soon apart for overhaul. Even with the distractions of life we were able to add fabric cover to the empennage and fuselage. Yet Eventually I realized this plane wasn’t going to be my family station wagon after all. I didn’t have the time to complete the amount of restoration it required. I needed to offer the project to a new caretaker to carry on the restoration or it would never be finished. The airline pilot Tyler Appleton took ownership and made it possible for this beast to come back to life. 

A kaleidoscope of talents was necessary to do that. Kevin Pearson and David Nixon overhauled Pratt Whitney. Brian Pipher and Jeremy Harris built the new wood wings - a massive job from scratch. Pipher and Harris ramrodded the bulk of the project with their exceptional skills. Chris Nissen worked on the sheet metal and hammered rivets. The crew fabricated new landing gear struts, a new instrument panel with fresh instruments and a complete IFR Garmin suite. And I got the paint gun.

It was Big Sky’s primary shop project. Then Covid hit and our airline pilot was flying only 6 passengers out of Denver to Chicago in his Airbus 320. He managed to keep flying throughout the year, but every day is a gift. 

Together we made it through. With 98% finished it looks every inch the Art Deco, macho, fire breathing, growling tail dragger of the period. Soon we will have the myriad of final details finished and will return this Howard DGA-15 to the sky. Stay tuned.

- John Pike, Big Sky Stearman (Jan. 2021)