Post-WWII Aircraft | Materials Handling Case Study | Hyster

Aviation - Restoring Janet - A Post World War II Aircraft
New Richmond, Wisconsin
Aviation enthusiast, Shannan Hendricks, is restoring a one-of-a-kind and world-renowned Fairey Gannet T5 airplane to flight-ready status. The unique post-World War II aircraft, affectionately called “Janet” by Hendricks and her team, was built in 1954 as a three-crew, anti-submarine airplane for Great Britain’s Royal Navy.
A certified Hyster® lift truck dealer, Arnold Machinery Company donated a Hyster® H80FT lift truck, with an 8,000 lb. lift capacity, to safely move the aircraft’s heavy parts.
Challenge
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Shannan Hendricks and her team are restoring a unique post-World War II Fairey Gannet T5 airplane, nicknamed “Janet,” to flight-ready status. Disassembling and moving the plane’s heavy but delicate parts for inspection and a full paint strip proved to be a daunting task. The last of her kind, the team faced pressure to ensure that no parts were damaged in removal or transport. The team realized that they lacked the proper lift truck equipment to get the job done.
Solution
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Hendricks contacted Jonathan Dawley, VP of marketing for NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. (NMHG), the parent company of Hyster, in January 2011. After discussing the scope of the project, Dawley connected Hendricks with Randy Sabatka, manager of Arnold Machinery Company in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

Four months after Hendricks’ initial contact with NMHG, her team received a Hyster H80FT lift truck. The truck, donated by Arnold Machinery Company, was more than capable of moving heavy parts due to its 8,000 lb. lift capacity. In addition, the H80FT was equipped with precise fingertip controls for exact positioning and extended forks for handling disassembled pieces.
Impact
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A valued and integral part of Hendricks’ team, the H80FT has moved up the aircraft’s restoration efforts. Completion is ahead of schedule.
What Our Customers Are Saying
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The Hyster® lift truck has made all the difference when it comes to delicate part removal. It is a very valued and integral part of our daily restoration efforts. We feel 100 percent confident in its lifting capabilities and up-time.”
Shannan Hendricks - Aviation Enthusiast, Restoring Janet Project

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Restoring Janet a Post-World War II Airplane - Arnold Machinery Case Study