Curtis Helldiver questions

[TBairport]

Hello
I am an aircraft maintenance engineer (A&P) though I don't regularly turn wrenches any more, a private pilot and live in Thunder Bay Ontario. I used to own a company that maintained and restored aircraft including classics and one or two warbirds. I mention this just so anyone who is kind enough to answer my questions is aware that I have at least some knowledge of aircraft and the industry.

Curtis Helldivers and Hawker Hurricanes were manufactured in Thunder Bay during the war by a company called CanCar. This plant is now Bombardier and manufactures rail cars.

The community would like to find and example of one of these aircraft, either real or high quality replica. I'm guessing that the Hawker is pretty much out of the question but I understand there may be some helldivers around.

Any information would be appreciated including cost estimates, leads and contact information.

many thanks

[Old SAR pilot]

You'd probably have much more luck in obtaining a replica Hurricane, as there's only 1 flyable (for now) Helldiver in the U.S. and the rest are in museums. However, I'm quite sure the folks here at WIX could steer you in the right direction for either.

[Warbirdnerd]

You can find info on surviving Hurricanes Here:
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/hurrireg ... istry.html
Helldiver info here:
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/helldive ... istry.html

[mrhenniger]

A fibreglass replica might be your best bet.

FYI... There is a CCF Hurri at the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa, and one currently going through a very deep "inspection" at Vintage Wings across the river in Gatineau. Let me know if you will be in the area some time.

Mike (LU grad 1994)

[mustangdriver]

Too bad the Intrepid museum had a full size replica of a Helldiver on display, but they sunk it at some theme park.

[RMAllnutt]

The only chance you might have of getting a Helldiver is probably through Mike Rawson... he goes under the moniker of "HELLDIVERS" on this board. He has the only substantial helldiver remains not already spoken for by museums or private collectors. I believe that he has the mortal remains of at least three helldivers which are not identified on survivor listings.

With respect to Hurricanes, I imagine that you could acquire a project for less than $50kUS... there are quite a few battered ones around. They are immensely expensive to restore to fly, but a few small museums have managed to acquire damaged remains at reasonable prices (relatively speaking) and are in the process of putting them back together. I guess it all depends upon your budget, and available manpower. There is a pretty comprehensive listing of Hawker Hurricanes (original and replica) at this particular site...

http://members.madasafish.com/~d_hodgkinson/hawker-guide.htm

...it's far more thorough than any other listing I have seen, but there are probably a few missing survivors even from this list (of about 60plus complete/substantially complete airframes)

Best of luck though!

Richard

[RMAllnutt]

Try this site for Hurrican survivors too...

http://www.k5083.mistral.co.uk/EXTANT.HTM

[mustangdriver]

I take it that the restoration would be for a mstatic museum somewhere in town?

[Elroy13]

I believe the LSFM Hurricane is a CCF.

[dbrown]

QG did an absolutely amazing job restoring her.

[Aircraft Mech Paul]

Hi,

Thanks for posting these photo's of the Hurricane. It appears whoever did the restoration did a First Class Job on her.

Paul

[Canso42]

Do I infer correctly that 'CanCar' is a local slang expression for Canadian Car & Foundry? I don't know about LSFM's Hurri but their Harvard is a CCF built.

Canso42

[Warbirdnerd]

Too bad the Intrepid museum had a full size replica of a Helldiver on display, but they sunk it at some theme park.

Here is the video of the sinking...
http://www.dutchsprings.com/plane.htm

[JDK]

Curtis Helldivers and Hawker Hurricanes were manufactured in Thunder Bay during the war by a company called CanCar. This plant is now Bombardier and manufactures rail cars.

The community would like to find and example of one of these aircraft, either real or high quality replica. I'm guessing that the Hawker is pretty much out of the question but I understand there may be some helldivers around.

Any information would be appreciated including cost estimates, leads and contact information.

Clear enough post, but a few more questions for you? Any budget? The cost of a replica would be 'reasonable' an original Helldiver or Hurricane 'significantly larger'(!)

There are other routes; if there's a workforce, it could be possible to acquire a genuine Hurricane frame, or co-operate with another Hurricane group to rebuild two.

Presumably you are looking at a static gate guard or mascot idea? Not a good idea to have a real (fabric covered wooden stringer over steel frame) Hurricane outside, but a fibreglass example's no problem - the RCAF Memorial Museum at Trenton has one, outside, and the Canadian Warplane Heritage have one inside; and if well painted, it is difficult to tell from the real thing from 6 inches away. I'm sure if you dig around you could perhaps come up with your cheapest option which would be a fibreglass Hurri from someone whose prepared to sell. Second best cost option would be to make your own fibreglass example.

The Hurricane would be the obvious one to commemorate, but then what about the Gregor FDB-1, a great looking really unique type.

Just a few questions and thoughts. Further help, I'm sure, available!

[TBairport]

Thanks to all for your responses
Questions answered

Yes CanCar is short for Canadian car and Foundry. Interesting to note that there are actually examples from CCF in existence

Budget - don't have one Looking for order of magnitude at this time. My thought that a Helldiver would be the easier target is apparently incorrect, and a replica hurricane may work better anyway. Fundraising will eventually be the "test" of exactly how much interest the community really has.

Static display at the Airport would be the likely conclusion.

Thanks again for the information, I'll look at all the links and leads and get back with further questions.