Ester stumbled into Warbirds by accident in 2016, but quickly realized that it was a fascinating industry filled with incredibly talented people. Like most people who get involved in vintage aviation, Ester describes the work she does as a disease – “It’s a rabbit hole rather than an escape route, and I can’t imagine doing anything else” she says. Ester manages the AirCorps Library website, which is an arm of AirCorps Aviation (a Warbird restoration shop in Bemidji, MN) that provides access to engineering drawings and technical manuals to the Warbird community. The mission of the AirCorps Library site is to preserve aircraft technical documentation, and provide it digitally to the mechanics, operators, and enthusiasts who are keeping these aircraft flying to inspire future generations.

Ester received her Bachelors of Science from the University of Delaware in 2014 with a degree in Art Conservation and Art History. Her schooling, coupled wIth an additional background in museum work, gives Ester a unique viewpoint concerning both the historical nature and physical fragility of the resources on the AirCorps Library website. Since 2016, Ester has become enamored with the technical history behind the Warbirds we love, including learning about manufacturer part numbering systems, document numbering systems, and the draftsmen who created the engineering data that the Warbird industry would be unable to function without.

“AirCorps Library is an exciting venture because it is dynamic, we not only provide valuable information that helps lift up the restoration and Warbird industry, but I also get the sense of pride knowing that we are preserving this information for future generations. Coming from a museum background, it is refreshing to be able to share our wealth of information with the public, rather than burying it in an archive. My goal of sharing our resources with the world, while preserving them, means that every day is meaningful and fulfilling!”