By Tyra Jackson

The Selma Times-Journal

An important part of Selma’s history has been restored.

The T-33 plane located in front of Memorial Stadium has now been repaired after a tree fell on its canopy in September.

The plane hearkens back to Selma’s Craig Air Force Base and the planes once used there.

Keith Smith, CEO of of Kass Aviation, LLC, spent about one month reconstructing the T-33. He said Thursday the only thing left to do is to give the plane a good wash.

Original plane parts from California were used to repair the piece of history.

“The old canopy was measured, and we had resources in California that we called on,” Smith said. “They had an exact duplicate or replica of the T-33 model. That’s where we got the canopy from.”

Smith looked at the reconstruction of the aircraft as a duty.

“The plane is a national monument for Selma. It represents our veterans and people who support and take care of us,” he said. “So to see something like this in dire need of repair, it’s our duty to provide a service to help out.”

Director of the Selma Recreation Department Elton Reece said most of the repairs to the plane have been cosmetic, and the total cost of the reconstruction of the aircraft was $5,660.

Although the plane was damaged in late summer, Reece said repairs couldn’t begin until an insurance claim was settled. He said the recreation department filed an insurance claim that covered most of the expenses, and a difference of about $1,000 of the expenses was paid by the city council.

Reece said the aircraft has been a fixture for Memorial Stadium.

“It means a lot to the history of Selma,” he said. “I want people to come by and see it’s back and restored. It may bring back a lot of memories.”