Alberta Aviation Museum, What should be next?

[Tom H]

Time for a serious question...

The Alberta Aviation Museum is getting ready to start working on our next acquisitions.

Tell us which one aircraft from our internal acquisition list:
1) Curtis Model D headless pusher
2) Curtis Canuck constructed for internal floor display
3) Dehavilland Cirrus Moth constructed for internal floor display
4) AVRO Avian constructed for internal floor display
5) Hawker Hurricane or representation for internal floor display
6) Bell P-39 or representation for internal floor display

And which one for from our external acquisition list:
1) Curtis Canuck look a like for external display
2) DC-3 to be acquired and restored for external display
3) Canadair Sabre (any Mark) for external display
4) CF-5 to be acquired and restored for external display
5) CF-18 to be acquired and restored for external display

Should be next...

With the Starfighter due to arrive in the next 7 to 10days and the Bristol Freighter due late this year it's time to start planning "what's next".

Bearing in mind acquisitions are as much about opportunity as anything we still need to plan and work towards the aircraft we need.

Also important is our mandate, at the main museum site it is "The history of Edmonton and Blatchford Field/City Centre Airport".

Your thoughts?

Tom

[Dan Jones]

A P-39 or P-63 representing the staging of Lend Lease aircraft through Western Canada would get my vote. Big project certainly, but that story is pretty under told, in my opinion.

Dan

[Tom H]

A P-39 or P-63 representing the staging of Lend Lease aircraft through Western Canada would get my vote. Big project certainly, but that story is pretty under told, in my opinion.

Dan

We agree!

And are searching for candidates for acquisition.

You also know what our budget is like so you can surmise it's gonna be a wreck recovery and won't be pretty. Likely to be presented "as found" to tell that part of the story.

Thanks Tom

[Zachary]

As much as I love the WWII aircraft, I'd have to say you could tell an awful lot of stories with a Curtiss Canuck. It could be argued that the JN-4 was the first truly mass produced airplane, it was certainly the backbone of post-WWI aviation in North America, and probably the first airplane most Canadians and Americans ever saw in person. Like I say, you can tell so many different stories with it that it readily lends itself to almost any kind of exhibit you want to do.

On a completely different topic, are you planning on attending Mutual Concerns this year Tom? I'll be there and it'd sure be nice to see you and the other fellows from the AAM again.

Zack

[Tom H]

As much as I love the WWII aircraft, I'd have to say you could tell an awful lot of stories with a Curtiss Canuck. It could be argued that the JN-4 was the first truly mass produced airplane, it was certainly the backbone of post-WWI aviation in North America, and probably the first airplane most Canadians and Americans ever saw in person. Like I say, you can tell so many different stories with it that it readily lends itself to almost any kind of exhibit you want to do.

On a completely different topic, are you planning on attending Mutual Concerns this year Tom? I'll be there and it'd sure be nice to see you and the other fellows from the AAM again.

Zack

And you see why I am torn...passion for the warbirds but also for the history.

The JN-4 is an important aircraft to our collection as it represents the First police pursuit (1919), first Western Canadian Commercial Flight (1919), first passenger flight in Western Canada (1919) and a number of others (first, so far only, to fly under our High Level bridge with a politician on board!)

As to Mutual Concerns, yes we will be there. This time with a larger contingent as we are driving down for this one. (No airfares means more reps)

This is a changing time for us as our airport closes so we will also be trying to hit Aviation Museums on the way to gather information on how we can adapt.

It's that ancient curse....may you live in interesting times.

Look forward to seeing you

Tom

[Lightjug]

Love to see the P-39 or the Hurricane for internal, CF18 for external.