Cool....one of my favorite subjects! I grew up in/around the aircraft industry. My Dad spent 20 years in the Air Force from 51 to 71 and then his entire career after that till 2012 in the private aircraft maintenance sector. He maintained everything from Lears to Jet Star, Citations, Hawker, Gulf Stream & many in between.
He was well known in the industry for his sheet metal work and while based at G.O. Carlson airport in Coatesville PA he did some incredible work on some antique fighters that were/are based there.
Tagging along as his kid I managed to score rides in some amazing machines....everything from Ed Shipley's of The Horsemen Aerobatic Team fame (was owner then) P-51D "Big Beautiful Doll" to his T-6 Texan. Sat in tail gunner position in an Grumman TBF-1 Avenger during a test flight to New Garden piloted by Al Sheaves.
My Dad's boss during his final years was the owner of Synthes, Mr. Hansjörg Wyss (Hans to his friends) who brought home 2 retired Swiss military fighters. A Hawker Hunter and a De Havilland Vampire were the last 2 aircraft my Dad laid hands on for someone else. When he retired we purchased him a Bede BD-5 kit out of Florida that the previous owner had not completed in order to 'keep him off the streets', unfortunately he passed before completing it. Him being a certified A&P would have made it easy for him to complete but since I'm not one, I've taken to just tinkering with it and at some point will donate the air frame to a museum to use for display.
Below pic of my truck at the time with the Hunter and Vampire in background.