CAF Houston Wing’s L-17 Navion Returns to the Sky After 13-Year Restoration
Houston, Texas (Oct. 14, 2026) – After 13 years of restoration work, an engine upgrade, replacement wings, and countless hours of volunteer dedication, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Houston Wing’s L-17 Navion is back in the air.
On September 8, pilot Matt Brzostowski took the aircraft up for its first flight following the lengthy restoration, marking a major milestone for the Unit and the volunteers who worked to bring the aircraft back to flying condition. The flight followed a final inspection approved by CAF Headquarters in August.
Brzostowski completed a short initial flight, followed by two one-hour flights to begin breaking in the upgraded engine. After a few minor adjustments, the L-17 is ready to continue its break-in flights. While getting the aircraft airborne was a major accomplishment, the Houston Wing still has plans for its finishing touches, including a Korean War-era paint scheme and an official name.
A Restoration Years in the Making
The Navion was donated to the Houston Wing in 2013, and restoration work began soon afterward under original project manager Ulf Brynjestad, who recently went west.
One of the team's biggest challenges came when they discovered that the aircraft's original wings were corroded beyond repair. Rather than abandon the project, the Unit acquired a donor aircraft to provide replacement wings. The team also decided to upgrade the engine and propeller to give the Navion additional horsepower and speed.
Work continued over the years, but by 2020, competing priorities and the loss of several project team members slowed progress. The restoration gained momentum again in 2024, when volunteers addressed fuel system issues, and moved into high gear in early 2025.
Over the past 21 months, volunteers have tackled an extensive list of tasks, including work on the brakes, engine baffling, landing gear, cabin interior, and instrumentation. They also repaired sheet metal on the nose and belly and added ballast to achieve the proper center of gravity.
Each completed task brought the aircraft closer to the moment everyone had been working toward: seeing the Navion take to the skies again.
The Houston Wing’s L-17 Navion arrives on a flatbed trailer in 2013 the start of a restoration that would take 13 years |
Houston Wing members el Christenson, Dave Cole, Dana Cleland and first flight pilot, Matt Brzostowski stand with the restored L-17 Navion after its first flights . The aircraft will soon be painted in Korean War-era Army olive drab. |
The People Behind the Project
Like many CAF restorations, bringing the L-17 back to flying condition has been a team effort spanning many years. Numerous Houston Wing members have contributed their time and expertise, with key contributors over the past two years including Del Christenson, Dave Cole, Wayne Lober, Ray Maldonado, Lisa Sanford, Stan Turner, and Julian Zapp.
“I would like to thank everyone who has worked on this project in sometimes cramped and contorted positions, working on their backs, through heat and cold. You all have made this happen!” said project manager Dana Cleland. The team's dedication has also earned praise from CAF Headquarters.
“This Unit has done some incredible and dedicated work over the past 13 years to get this aircraft flying again,” said Noel Mareno, CAF Director of Maintenance. “We are excited to see what’s to come of this aircraft and Unit when all the work is complete.”
A New Look for a New Chapter
With the L-17 flying again, the Houston Wing is looking ahead to the next phase of the project. Once the engine break-in flights are complete and additional pilots have been checked out, the aircraft is expected to return to the shop for a new paint scheme.
The Wing plans to finish the Navion in semi-gloss, Korean War-era U.S. Army olive drab, complete with period-appropriate markings. The team hopes to unveil the aircraft's new appearance and announce its official name in early 2027.
For the volunteers who have spent years working on the L-17, its return to flight represents more than the completion of a long list of repairs. It means another historic aircraft is one step closer to fulfilling the CAF's mission of educating, inspiring, and honoring through flight.
Follow the CAF Houston Wing on its website and Facebook page for updates on the aircraft's transformation and the announcement of its new name.
About the CAF Houston Wing
The Houston Wing of the Commemorative Air Force educates, inspires, and honors through its vintage aircraft and collection of historical artifacts, sharing the stories of the men and women who served their country in times of war. Guided by the rallying cry “Keep ’Em Flying!”, the CAF believes one of the best ways to honor those who built, maintained, and flew these aircraft is to preserve them in flying condition and bring their history directly to the public.
The Wing began in June 1978 as the West Houston Squadron of the West Texas Wing, with three members and only member-owned aircraft. It became the Houston Wing, a direct-reporting Unit, in 2012. Today, it has more than 100 members and six assigned CAF warbirds.
