Saving Lockheed C-60-LO s/n 42-10878 CF-CPA

[Michel C-GNCJ]

I have a group of friend who are mounting an expedition to salvage a C-60-LO Lodestar that belly landed in the Quebec toundra back in 1960. She was then registered CF-CPA doing aerial photography work in the area of Shefferville, QC.

They have a very well put together web site where one can follow the expedition's progress. Their plan is to bring it back south near Montreal and refurbish her to her former glory. It will then fly to various airshows as one of Canada's important aviation history aircraft.

An awesome project ! You can go have a look at http://www.cf-cpa.ca/index.htm

[AirJimL2]

Thank you very much for the link. Back in the 80s there was talk that CPA was to join the CWH collection, though I didn't know that the airplane needed recovery. Nothing ever happened and I always wondered what happened to the plane. It is good to learn that it is still there and hopefully will be recovered soon.

Jim

[daveymac82c]

Very cool website and very very cool project. The Canadian Museum of Flight out here in BC has Lodestar CF-TCY. It would be great to get both flying and have them fly together at some airshow somewhere!

I supposed we'd have to solve our "chainsawed" spars problem first though. Anyways, keep us all updated on the recovery and restoration work. Sounds like the Canadian Version of Diamond Lil.. lol.

Cheers,

David

[planenutti]

Michel,
Good luck on getting that Lodestar out of the wilderness and back to somewhere you can work on it. Our Lodestar is banged up right now from a landing incident back in 05. We have her standing up on her own gear now but there is so little documentation on some of the changes that Howard made to the landing gear that it is driving some of us insane. If anyone up there has any questions about Lodestars and issues we have faced over the years, I will be more then happy to act as the conduit.
Our "Lady" can be found at www.olddominionsquadron.org
Best of Luck,
Bob

[AIRIC]

That is a great looking website and informative. I will add a link from my site. I checked my father’s images and we do not have photos of CF-CPA but I do have a photo of CF-TCY.



Good luck on the recovery.

Cheers,

Eric

[vernicator]

Who was operating the aircraft when it crashed? Looks like Bradley Air Services colors.

[daveymac82c]

Hi Bob,

I'll definitely keep you guys in mind when the CMF starts thinking about restoring ours. It's displayed outside right now and is still missing a decent amount of cowling parts.

Where would you suggest is a good to look for Lodestar parts; specifically cowling parts? In the picture below you get a little bit of an idea of what parts are missing. I wouldn't know what the pieces are called, or where to find them. And thank you to Ruud for taking such a nice picture of it.



Thanks,

David

[frankspeaks]

I can't believe they are even thinking about 'option #4....

[planenutti]

I would start with Aero Trader out in CA. We lost an escape hatch (port over wing) going to Midland one year on a Thursday and had a replacement in Midland on Saturday. A certain crew chief will never live down that occasion but there is a hatch in some cow pasture around Paris, TX.
Since your bird seems to have the orginial cowling, have y'all gone to the Smithsonian (bad spelling) and gotten a copy of the microfishes? They have most of the orginial Lockheed drawing on those and you could make your own.
Bob

[Taylor Stevenson]

I know this is jumping ahead, but any idea what the paint scheme will be? military or civilian?

[Fouga23]

I can't believe they are even thinking about 'option #4....

Indeed! You would have to be nuts to try a stunt like that

[Michel C-GNCJ]

Hi guys !

About the future paint scheme I think it might well be civilian but will ask and report back.

And indeed, solution 4 is dreaded even by the team...

Edit: I have re-read the post on their site and actually I meant solution 3 is dreaded ! More than no.4. I was told that the aircraft is surprisingly in good shape and would be ferryable once fixed enough. All depends on the in-depth inspection that will happen this summer...

Last edited by Michel C-GNCJ on Mon May 28, 2007 1:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Obergrafeter]

Tradewinds in San Antonio still has Lodestar parts out the kazoo.........I think. And finding them in their yard is an adventure in itself.

[Ken Hyman]

Do any of you on this thread have any info on where our group at the West Houston squadron of the Commemorative Air Force can find parts for our Lodestar. We need to replace the right wing lower attach fittings, which we have, but have not been able to find the pins that connect the inboard wing to the outboard wing panel. We will have to remove the right outboard wing to fix this but do not want to start the removal process untill we have all the parts. We accquired this aircraft over three years ago and have yet to get it flying. At the time,we thought the main thing we would have to do was reseal the wing fuel tanks. During this process we discovered extensive rust in the wing attach fittings. Visions of a white elephant came to mind! Hope some of you out there can stear us in the right direction.

[Obergrafeter]

Hank .... see the above mentioned supplier. At one time Tradewinds had all the Lodestar and Howard parts in the world. Don't know whats left but they should still have boat loads. PM me and lets see if we can put you together.

Wayne (storchpilot)