Warbird Information Exchange

Resurrection!
A little over 3 months ago (March 29) the Alberta Aviation Museum Association, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, received it’s long awaited Starfighter from the Netherlands in (2) large containers. After (7) years of searching and then (1 1/2 years of working through the process of importing the aircraft the Starfighter had arrived at it’s new home as (2) huge containers of parts.

Since then the task of cataloging, stripping and sorting parts has taken place and as of today (July 5th) the assembly process begins. As this release is being written the Starfighter is undergoing a high tech polishing process that will take the now bare metal finish and bring it back to the shining aluminum of Starfighters flown in Canada.

Other components such as the Wings, Horizontal Tail, Nose and External fuel tanks will be starting to return next week for installation finished in special (2) part paints and back to the colours of Starfighter 104651 which was based in Cold Lake in 1980.

Thanks to the donations by the family of Don Hamilton, AirSpray Aviation Services Ltd and many private donors from Edmonton, Alberta and across Canada the Alberta Aviation Museum was able to acquire this complete and relatively undamaged aircraft, the first the Museum has purchased rather than recovered or had donated. The Museum is working hard to reward the donors with what may be our fastest restoration ever and hope to see the Starfighter Roll Out ceremony take place in early August, date to be announced shortly.

The aircraft will be completed representing the Starfighters flown by Canadians from 1961 to 1984 in Canada, Europe and most important for the Museum 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta.

Here in Edmonton the Starfighter history is deep as North West Industries overhauled the Canadian Starfighters right on City Centre Airport in the late 70s and early 80s. North West Industries was one of Canada’s high tech aerospace powerhouses through the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and into the 1980s employing thousands of Edmontonians and placing Edmonton at the top of the Aerospace field.

When the resurrection is complete this former Dutch Starfighter will return as the "Ghost of Canadian Armed Forces Starfighter 104651” which was lost (with no fatalities) during a training mission in 1980 at Cold Lake.

The Alberta Aviation Museum is proud to be returning another piece of Edmonton, Alberta and Canadian history to the public. Join us for the soon to be announced Starfighter Roll Out.

Thomas Hinderks
Executive Director
Alberta Aviation Museum Association

Will try and get pictures posted soon

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Alberta Aviation Museum
Edmonton Aviation Heritage Society

Make sure and document the entire process in photo's, even if you don't want to post them right away.

You bet and we have since the day it arrived from Holland!

We have documented its original history, markings, markings as it came out of the containers.
The stripping process
The paint removal process
The parts prepping
The painting and now
The polishing

Final will be the assembly and markings

It's like work! (lol)

Tom

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Alberta Aviation Museum
Edmonton Aviation Heritage Society

Hey Tom,
I love "the ghost of......" title. That's a great idea. I also like the choice of machines to represent.
Looking forward to progress reports and wishing you folks the best!

Andy Scott

As promised here's the first few scrounged up

Out of the can


From this Edmonton Journal article
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Alb ... story.html


On the way back from stripping



From this Edmonton Sun Article
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/06/20/p ... n-edmonton

During polishing





From this i880 News article
http://www.inews880.com/Channels/Reg/iR ... ID=2000233

More when the Alberta Aviation Museum's get posted to photobucket

Tom

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Alberta Aviation Museum
Edmonton Aviation Heritage Society

Fantastic progress! Thanks for sharing updates in your project.

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Matt

Thanks for the pictures. So far so good.

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A&P/I.A., A.A.S./Aviation Maintenance technology
Warbird salvage/recovery
One day I'll get that P-40!

Thank you Tom, good to see things progressing nicely

Thanks lightjug

Here of some of the Starfighters company that has also been receiving touch ups, polishing and paint work to be ready for the Roll Out in August.

T-Bird...Early style


T-Bird...Late style


CF-100


With the Starfighter coming on line ALL the jets needed to be spruced up to look good with the new arrival.

Now we need to polish the paint on the CF-101, any volunteers?

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Alberta Aviation Museum
Edmonton Aviation Heritage Society

Looks great Tom!

Thanks for the pics.

Andy Scott

Heck, just say the word and I'll be there to offer some elbow grease. PM sent Tom

PM sent

We will be making a roll out date announcement shortly

Tom

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Alberta Aviation Museum
Edmonton Aviation Heritage Society

Progress is rapid

Front cockpit refinished, except for several instruments we are awaiting to arrive.
Rear cockpit well underway
Fuselage fully assembled and polished
Horizontal Tail in it's Scarlet Glory installed, only fairings left
Tip tanks RCAF Red waiting for install
Underwing tanks RCAF Red waiting for install

Wing (already painted, White in top/Gray on bottom) install begins this morning
Nose (already painted correct light gray) arrives in a few hours with underwing tank pylons (painted same gray as bottom of wings)

Correct markings in production

Pictures to follow

Tom

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Alberta Aviation Museum
Edmonton Aviation Heritage Society

Thanks for the update! Nice to hear of the progress on project.

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Matt

Pictures as promised

One in place:


One on:


Second one going on:


Both Wings on and Horizontal Stabilizer

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Alberta Aviation Museum
Edmonton Aviation Heritage Society