Former Austrian Airlines pilot restores Boeing Stearman biplane

Benno Beran started at Austrian Airlines as an aircraft maintenance technician in 1968, finishing that training with distinction in 1972. His own account of his working life in aviation is the source.

His father joined the then young carrier in 1960 as a maintenance technician and examiner, and would sometimes take his son to the hangar at Vienna-Schwechat airport to watch him work. Beran said his father never pushed him, but told him to learn a solid trade first.

Early in eleven years as a technician he worked on the four-engine Vickers Viscount, then the workhorse of the Austrian fleet. He became a first-class maintenance technician and a technical flight attendant on the newly introduced Douglas DC-9-32.

Later he flew Swearingen Metro, Fokker 50, Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 aircraft. He spent 43 years in the Austrian Airlines group, first as a maintenance technician, later as a technical pilot.

Retirement did not end his involvement with aircraft. Beran bought a Boeing Stearman biplane and spent 20 years restoring it, so he could keep doing what he said he loved: flying.