Our trip to see the Defender

Back in 2009 we were in North Dakota to speak to engineers and pilots at UND.  While we were there we couldn't resist the opportunity to hop over to Carman and check in with an aviation icon.  If you haven't seen "The Defender" I assure you that you are missing out.  The movie chronicles Bob Diemert and his friend Chris Ball as they design a home built airplane to defend Canada against a Russian invasion.  In the course of designing and building the airplane they fundraise by restoring a Pearl Harbor Veteran Zero and deliver it to the CAF in Texas.  This sequence climaxes with cockpit footage of Lefty Gardner's first flight in a Zero.  The movie ends with the first flight of their new fighter/attack aircraft (the namesake of the film) "The Defender".

The movie is available for free online viewing HERE.

We spent several hours touring their facilities in Carman.  Bob was unavailable but Chris was a lot of fun and his enthusiasm is even greater in real life.  A really awesome experience!