To find Joe Heaney of Hempstead in the midst of retirement means you will have to join him amidst the clatter and noise of what appears to be Long Island's last aircraft factory. But with Grumman and Republic no longer building bombers and fighters, John is actually a hard working volunteer at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City where he is putting his extensive aviation skills to work restoring priceless aerospace artifacts for future public view.

Heaney has been interested in aviation since his boyhood days in Hempstead where he built model airplanes during his spare time. By 1946, he had joined the Marines where he was trained to work as an armorer on aircraft such as the powerful Corsair fighter. After the service he attended college and graduated from Hofstra while also putting in stints at Western Electric and Capital Airlines. With the Korean War heating up, Joe returned to the Marines where he served as a transportation specialist.

His military experience, coupled with a college degree, enabled him to land a job with Northeast Airlines which was later acquired by Delta in the mid 1970s as deregulation began to reshape the airline industry dramatically. Through it all, Joe continue to enjoy aviation, serving as marketing and sales, becoming a station manager at LaGuardia Airport, an operations supervisor and an air cargo supervisor before retiring.

"I have been a volunteer here at the Cradle since 1989 and it is exciting to work on these airplanes because they all represent an important part of our aviation history," stated Heaney. "I have been able to work with colleagues to put the Grumman Goose back together (an amphibian that dates back to the early 1940s) as well as a CG4 troop glider used to bring troops into Normandy on D-Day and the Grumman F3F, the last biplane ever built for the Navy."

Heaney is excited about the potential of the museum on the grounds of the former Mitchel Field. "I know my work will be seen for generations to come. Even in retirement, many of us are doing something we love to do while giving something back to Long Island."

While the restoration work is being powered by volunteers such as Joe Heaney, the Cradle of Aviation is seeking individual and corporate donations to ensure that it will be able to open its doors on time. Contributions as small as $125 secures a place on the Museum's permanent Honor Roll for those who worked in one of Long Island's many defense plants, served in the military or simply want to salute Long Island's air and space heritage.

Gerry Kessler, president of The Friends for Long Island's Heritage, explained, "For many families a place on the honor roll will serve as a lasting tribute to loved ones who used their skill to expand our knowledge of aviation or to strengthen our nation's defense of freedom. All told, the Museum is seeking to raise $8 million as part of its renovation and expansion program and we are doing it by directly connecting with the people whose families played a role."

Josh Stoff, curator of the Cradle of Aviation Museum, notes, "Joe's dedication to this project is mirrored by the incredible work offered by our volunteers. It is through their work that this institution is becoming a world class museum. But even with his priceless volunteer expertise, the Cradle still needs the support of the public through individual donations. We hope Joe's efforts will be complimented by the financial support from individuals who appreciate what a unique role Long island has played in aviation history and how we now have a unique opportunity to preserve that legacy far into the future."

Housed along the historic flight line of Mitchel Field, in Garden City, the Cradle of Aviation will feature historic Long Island aircraft in authentically restored hangars as well as the multi-story Leroy and Rose Grumman IMAX theater featuring some of the most breathtaking films in the world. In addition, an interactive aerospace display that highlight man landing on the moon thanks to a Grumman built Lunar Module will be featured.

To find out more about the Honor Roll and the Cradle of Aviation Museum, contact The Friends for Long Island's Heritage at 571-7606 or reach them at their web site, Friends for Long Island's Heritage at www.fflih.org or at the Cradle's web site, www.cradleaviation.org.