Rich and Holli Smithson, owners and operators of HELVIE KNIVES commissioned the WOOD BEE CARVER to carve a World War I era airplane pilot.  Research was made of several historic photographs and images with a few chosen to be a visual and inspirational guide while the block of basswood was being shaped into a pilot figure.  The main image chosen wore a leather flight coat, white scarf and a leather helmet with googles.  The pilot was carved in a basswood block nine inches tall, three inches wide and two and a quarter inch thick.

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