TBairport--
I'm delighted to hear someone is interested in commemorating in a fairly big way CC&F's and the Lakehead's wartime aviation history. Always thought it was a pity that wasn't being done (though there are some nice historical displays in the YQT terminal); but, say, a GRP fullscale Hurricane model would look so cool on a pylon near the present-day Bombardier railcar factory that used to be the CC&F aircraft plant...
Thunder Bay figures indirectly but prominently in my early interest in flying: this is the "fault" of my pilot cousin Don from the Lakehead, who used to take various members of the family flying while he was living with us in Hamilton during his university days. (I'll always prefer flying in small aircraft to airliners...)
Were I starting a Lakehead-based aviation display, I think I'd aim for the following:
* Tiger Moth project (or flyer, depending on budget) in local EFTS colours
* GRP Hurricane replica
* Replica, perhaps with some original "bits", of the forward fuselage of an SBW Helldiver
* CC&F Harvard 4 project
* Later on: CC&F-built Hurricane frame/project. At least half the currently flying Hurricanes, BTW, are based on Fort William-built airframes, mainly RCAF home defence/OTU Mk.XIIs...Hey Mike H, if something comes of this idea, there's a place for Mr P's Mk.XII to visit...
* Getting more ambitious in a different direction...try replicating Elsie MacGill's lovely little Maple Leaf II primary-trainer biplane prototype.
* Borrow the New England Air Museum's CC&F/Burnelli CBY3
* And James K is right: a replica Gregor FDB1 would be awesome!
For its Thunder Bay connection, here's a link to a few of my paintings on Webshots; Meyers or Koike I sure ain't, but one of the paintings is of a CC&F SBW-1 overflying Sibley Point circa 1944...
http://rides.webshots.com/album/554268706EnpPUJ
If there turns out to be any way I can help with this idea, I'd be glad to...
Cheers
Steve T
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