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The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, now known as CAL FIRE, operates one of the largest non-military “air forces” in the US. In 1974 CAL FIRE acquired 20 retired USAF Cessna O-2s that has been used as forward air controllers in Vietnam. CAL FIRE used the O-2s as air tactical, or lead in aircraft for about 20 years before they were replaced by the OV-10 Bronco. -
In the late 1970s and early 80s ex-RCAF Canadair F-86 MK.5 Sabre was owned by TWA Senior Vice President of Flight Operations Captain Ron Reynolds and painted in a scheme similar to the TWA scheme of the day. In 1982 the Sabre was acquired by Flight Systems, Inc and re-registered as N91FS. -
In 1967 Chuck Lyford’s N2869D “Bardahl Special” returned to Reno with clipped wings and stabs along with a new engine. "Bardahl Special" qualified second for Sunday’s unlimited gold race. After pulling out to a short lead over Darryl Greenamyer for the first three pylons, Lyford’s Merlin let loose on the back stretch and his Reno dreams were drenched in oil and smoke for the second year in a row. -
B-24 ‘Witchcraft’ joined the 467th Bomb Group in 1944. She flew the first mission of the 467th. Over the the next year, with various different crews, Witchcraft completed 130 combat missions. Over these missions, she never once turned back, and no crewman was injured or killed. She flew her last combat mission on April 25 1945, which was none other than the last mission flown by the 467th. Our decal depicts the restored aircraft markings on the Collings Foundation N224J which may vary from the original markings. -
In the late 1960s Ben Hall found the remains of an F-86A in a reclamation yard in Fresno CA. After purchasing it he trucked it to Paine Field, North of Seattle, WA and started a very long and involved rebuild to flying status. Finding parts that would pass muster by the FAA was a long and difficult task. The Air Force cut the spars on the wings to prevent them ever being used again, so replacement wings were high on the list. The original wings were short chord wings with slats. The replacement wings came from a later version and were wider chord without slats. First flight occurred in late 1973, and the airplane has changed ownership and home base several times over the years. The markings show it as flown at the 1988 Reno Air races. It did not participate in the races but was a demonstration participant only. -
Chuck Lyford’s original N2869D “Bardahl Special” N2869D was returned to its original white race paint scheme and was raced in the Unlimited Class by Steven Coutches at the 2022 Stihl National Air Races in Reno.
About Draw Decal
Offering High Quality and Unique Aircraft Decals Since 1999!
How did we get our Name?
My father is a US Army-trained draftsman, and he always signed his drawings with the initials “DRAW.” Since we have to DRAW our decals, and DRAW is also the first four letters of my last name, it seemed to be a natural name for our company.
What is the idea behind DRAW Decal?
I produce airline decals that normally would not be popular enough to justify mass producing. Each decal is printed as demand warrants, one page at a time by a professional print house. This makes for slow production, but it allows us to individually inspect each decal and to also update the decal sets as the need arises. While these production sets are all currently available, they are only produced (i.e. printed) as they are ordered. I have no large pile of unsold, unpopular decals to contend with this way. Our decals are as close to custom-made as possible.
Who creates your art?
The art work for our decals is created by a group of artists, with each one contributing sets of their own unique design and preference. Currently, DRAW Decal offers decals designed by: Tim Bradley, Mike Egan, Norm Filer, Mike Jernfors, Jeff Thomsen and yours truly, Greg Drawbaugh. Each set is identified by whom designed it unless I was the one who designed it.
How do I do that?
Our decals are printed in our exclusive Next Generation DIGITAL Silk process using a large format digital printer that prints white ink. We do NOT sell ANY laser-printed decals. Laser printers are for printing instruction sheets, not printing decals.
We are made the switch to our latest Next Generation DIGITAL Silk process to provide what we believe to be among the highest quality decals in the industry. We also want to be able to provide subjects that just would not print well using any other process. Quality and value have always been our driving force, and we continue to push the limits of what our printer and artwork is capable of producing. We operate under a continual improvement process for all of our decals.
Do you run out of stock?
No, as I print decals only as they are ordered. This ensures that the decals are fresh and never out of stock. This also allows me to make corrections and additions to each set as they occur.
Once applied, these decals will look just like they were painted on, rather than just “stickers” applied over a paint job. Remember, the art of decaling is making it look like you did not use any decals!
Thanks for stopping by, and come back often to see what we have added.