Spring 2025 Update

Spring 2024 Summary

First off we would like to thank our donors for supporting us to acquire the necessary supplies and parts for our members to begin learning and restoring pieces of aviation history. Without them, none of this would have been possible.                          

However, this is just the beginning. What started as a vision began to become a reality. A small group of students came together with the mission of restoring Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Boeing 737-200. These students knew that the only way of achieving their goal of restoring the plane and getting it to taxi again would require lots of hard work and dedication. This small group of students eventually grew into a larger organization and became known as the Aircraft Restoration Association (ARA). While the ARA has only been an organization for one school year, they have accomplished much more than they had ever imagined would be possible. Throughout the school year, these students gave the aircraft a much-needed exterior and interior deep-clean, stowed passenger oxygen masks, replaced several exterior and interior lights, made new cushions for flight deck seats, serviced the hydraulic system, ran the Auxiliary Power Unit, diagnosed and repaired part of the air conditioning system, replaced engine fuel filters, dry and wet-motored both engines, and finally ended the year by successfully starting both engines! The ARA was also able to host, participate, and assist in several events at Southern Illinois Airport and SIU, including providing tours of the plane on SIU United Airlines and American Airlines Career Days, providing tours and demonstrations on our engine run day, movie nights on the plane, and even getting to tour maintenance facilities with American Airlines at Chicago O'Hare!

This is only the beginning of the Aircraft Restoration Association! We have a lot more projects and activities coming and are prepared to work even harder this year on our 737. To say that I am proud of our students and my board members would truly be an understatement. These students have allowed this organization to go further than I would have ever imagined, and I am very confident that we can get our beloved 737 taxiing in no time!

Connor Quinn

President and Co-Founder, Aircraft Restoration Association RSO

Brandon Powroznyk 

Vice President and Co-Founder, Aircraft Restoration Association RSO