By Raul Cisneros

One of the great benefits of attending AirVenture is the opportunity to learn from top-notch experts through the many presentations and workshops. One such person is Hualdo Mendoza, who’s been conducting fabric presentations and workshops for Poly Fiber at AirVenture for the past 21 years. Mendoza operates out of Flabob Airport in Riverside County, California. 

Hualdo, who grew up in Riverside County, said he was destined to get into aviation. “When I was in school, I got into some trouble, and, you know, I was misbehaving and getting kicked out of school,” he said. Fortunately for him, the local school district started a unique program that was giving young men who were in trouble an opportunity to get a job. The program partnered with businesses to hire kids, but the school district actually paid for the salaries. That was how Hualdo, a freshman, and others landed at Poly Fiber, thanks to owner John Goldenbaum.

“I thought we were maybe going to help clean the airport or just kind of run around and do whatever they wanted us to do, but John had a different idea,” Hualdo said. “He had a DC-3 aileron set up for us, and he wanted to teach us about fabric covering.”

Hualdo said the job program was supposed to last only six months, but John offered the kids the opportunity to keep working at Poly Fiber. Hualdo is still with them. He also decided that if he’s working on airplanes, he would also learn how to fly them. Little by little he climbed the ladder, and today he’s a CFI and has a multiengine rating. This year was extra special for Hualdo because he flew a DC-3 to AirVenture.

About fabric covering, Hualdo said it’s a dying art but there’s a lot of work out there. However, he added, “It’s a skill that people should want to have if they’re in the aviation-restoration business.”