For many years, an old plane sat at Schneider Children's Hospital in Petah Tikva. The plane was placed there about 15 years ago to delight children who could get close to it, play with it and take pictures next to it.
The plane was renovated somewhere in 2010 by Dov Spiegelman, head of El Al's maintenance division, and his crew, but the rain, sun and weather in Israel caused the plane to wear and tear, requiring further renovation – but since then, Spiegelman has retired.
The plane before the renovation,
During the COVID-19 pandemic, El Al's maintenance crews agreed to take the plane and renew it voluntarily for the benefit of those children who are dealing with a difficult reality. The person who joined the mission and was already familiar with the plane is Spiegelman, who, as mentioned, has already retired and done the work voluntarily.
Spiegelman, now 76, worked with maintenance personnel on the plane for a long time. The plane's overhaul was delayed during the pandemic years, and in recent days it has been returned to Schneider Hospital painted, refurbished and ready for children to enjoy.
Spiegelman during renovations
The plane was painted blue and white, with a Star of David in the tail, similar to El Al planes. In this case, it is a much smaller plane, suitable for two people and manufactured somewhere in the 70s, when it was used as a plane for pilot training by a private company in Herzliya.
The aircraft after being renovated,
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