XL191 Restoration fund

Katrina Hodges is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Hello fellow aviation enthusiasts. My name is Katrina, member of ASK Hodges Aviation and we are starting a 501C3, our museum will be located in Iron Mountain, Michigan and I am reaching out to fellow aviation enthusiasts for help.

Our museum is in the process of moving a Handley Page Victor XL191.

She began life as a B.2 Variant rolling off the factory floor on June 5th 1962.

This Victor, XL191, was a participant in the Transatlantic Air Race.

She was later converted to a K.2 in May of 1970.

Unfortunately she landed short of the runway in Hamilton, Ontario in 1986, being written off as a total loss, luckily the crew was safe.

The cockpit section was recovered by the late Walter Soplata and there the Victor remained.

Now, we have purchased the Victor with hopes of restoring it to be a static interactive cockpit display in the United States. Normally you would have to travel all the way to England to get up close to one of these incredibly unique V-Bombers, but hopefully that doesnt have to be the case.

With help from friends in England who have acquired a vast collection of all the pieces needed to complete this project, ranging from the overhead hatches, the Radome, Seats! Our goal is to raise the money needed to purchase the collection and ship to the United States.

We are handling the aquisition if XL191 however we simply cannot complete this restoration with out help. We are taking on a massive venture, but with your help. We are sure XL191 can become the magnificent Victor it once was.

Our plans for this restoration include reskinning. And repainting her in her original B.2 colors, fabricating part of the leading edge of the air intakes to display their uniqueness, as well as have a fully fitted panel, chairs for people to step inside and see what it was like to operate from the Victor.

If you are unable to donate monetarily, we would be grateful for any knowledge you may have concerning Victor's. As every bit of information will help us.

Again, thank you for taking the time to read this, we are not in this for any gain other than to see one of the famouse V Bombers get a new lease on life. I truly adore the Victor and want to see it thriving for many years to educate and impress fellow aviation enthusiasts. We will work tirelessly to make sure she is done right.