Jack Greiner loves antique airplanes. He’s been a pilot since the 1930s, but stopped flying commercially in 1953 when he contracted polio. Fortunately, that didn’t slow him down. He’s currently building a Pietenpol 1920 Air Camper from scratch, and has been an active member of the Antique Aircraft Association since 1972.

The airplane Greiner is currently working on has a wooden frame and Dacron-covered wings. It shares hangar space with a Taylorcraft airplane that area kids are rebuilding.

Many young pilots have gotten their start at Greiner’s hangar, swapping hard work for flight lessons and the chance to make a pile of antique parts into a viable aircraft.

Most of the Dacron fabric and parts for the airplanes are supplied by Colorado Classic Aircraft, LLC, owned by Carol and Bob Leyner. Carol, who has been involved for about 30 years with antique aircraft, takes pride in explaining the intricacies of shrinking the Dacron fabric when it is ready to be placed on the wings. The fabric is so strong and durable that hail that would pierce a metal wing bounces right off.

Carol thought when she and her husband retired and started supplying airplane parts that their lives would be more relaxed. But they are busier than ever, since grants from the aircraft association keep teachers and students busy learning and flying from Greiner’s property.

A group of airplane enthusiasts shows up at Greiner’s hangar on the first and third Saturdays of each month. The group includes incoming high school freshman Destiney Krell of Frederick, Colo, who works alongside the retired and middle-aged enthusiasts.

Reed Morrison, a freshman at New Vista High School in Boulder, is learning the ropes on the Taylorcraft and can explain how the metal nose was formed and how used pieces of sheet metal can be straightened and reused.

Several youths who started with Greiner have gone on to flying careers. Recently, some received commissions to West Point. Their pictures, and those of dozens of other volunteers and participants, adorn the end of Greiner’s hangar.

To celebrate Greiner’s love of flying, he is holding a fly-in at his property at 8195 N 81st Street on Sept. 25.