Update from the Canada Aviation Museum
Fri Jul 15, 2005 8:03 am
I am a little late getting around to posting these, but I have a few photo updates from the Canada Aviation Museum.
Firstly, progress on the North Star by the Project North Star Association of Canada is slow (it is a long story) but progress is being made. There are a few new photos in my PNS album...
http://community.webshots.com/album/169960028fXbxBk
The activity at the CAvM over the last few months has been the movement of aircraft from the main display building to the storage hanger. I managed to visit a few times, and I have added pictures of these movements to this album...
http://community.webshots.com/album/346212609LVZaia
...these pictures include pictures of the movement of the Canso which I believe has not seen sunlight since 1995.
Enjoy! Post a reply if you have any questions.
Mike
Firstly, progress on the North Star by the Project North Star Association of Canada is slow (it is a long story) but progress is being made. There are a few new photos in my PNS album...
http://community.webshots.com/album/169960028fXbxBk
The activity at the CAvM over the last few months has been the movement of aircraft from the main display building to the storage hanger. I managed to visit a few times, and I have added pictures of these movements to this album...
http://community.webshots.com/album/346212609LVZaia
...these pictures include pictures of the movement of the Canso which I believe has not seen sunlight since 1995.
Enjoy! Post a reply if you have any questions.
Mike
THanks for the updates Mike!
Fri Jul 15, 2005 8:15 am
The Canso looks really rough. When was she painted in rcaf markings are they original?
Re: THanks for the updates Mike!
Fri Jul 15, 2005 8:25 am
peter wrote:The Canso looks really rough. When was she painted in rcaf markings are they original?
You hiccupped!
I believe it is in the original paint and is a virtual time capsule. Yes you are correct it is very rough. Hopefully PNS can grow into an aircraft restoration machine and eventually give this one the care and attention it needs someday.
Mike
Fri Jul 15, 2005 9:54 am
The Canso is not painted in original markings, the colour scheme was painted in the early sixties when it was tranfered to the museum from the RCAF. Off the top of my head , without any reference material, I think it flew with 103 Rescue out of Grenwood NS.
It is painted to represent Hornell's (VC winner) aircraft. I think that it will be a very long time before any work is done on it. The new hanger is meant to be for deep storage !!
As an interesting aside, the Canada Aviation Museum has had a terrible time with the tires of most of the aircraft. The biggest problem being, is that the preservation of tires by filling them with an expanding foam, makes them unuseable when you actually have to move them. I know that they have been changing and obtaining servicable tires to get the aircraft moved for the last year. This certainly diverts the attention from actually restoring anything.
Mark
It is painted to represent Hornell's (VC winner) aircraft. I think that it will be a very long time before any work is done on it. The new hanger is meant to be for deep storage !!
As an interesting aside, the Canada Aviation Museum has had a terrible time with the tires of most of the aircraft. The biggest problem being, is that the preservation of tires by filling them with an expanding foam, makes them unuseable when you actually have to move them. I know that they have been changing and obtaining servicable tires to get the aircraft moved for the last year. This certainly diverts the attention from actually restoring anything.
Mark
Fri Jul 15, 2005 10:19 am
mrp wrote:The Canso is not painted in original markings, the colour scheme was painted in the early sixties when it was tranfered to the museum from the RCAF. Off the top of my head , without any reference material, I think it flew with 103 Rescue out of Grenwood NS.
It is painted to represent Hornell's (VC winner) aircraft.
You are correct, thanks for pointing that out. I don't know the complete history of the aviation museum at the former CFB Rockcliffe, but I suspect this Canso spent some time outside after it was painted in the colours you mention. It is as rough looking in person as the pictures show.
mrp wrote:The new hanger is meant to be for deep storage !!
Yep. Finally a roof over the entire collection!
mrp wrote:As an interesting aside, the Canada Aviation Museum has had a terrible time with the tires of most of the aircraft. The biggest problem being, is that the preservation of tires by filling them with an expanding foam, makes them unuseable when you actually have to move them. I know that they have been changing and obtaining servicable tires to get the aircraft moved for the last year.
Yes it does. There has been much new rubber installed. Also the last time I checked there were a pair of new main tires for the Lanc in the storage hanger. The last time I checked the Lanc was supposed to be moved so it could have some paint corrections applied in the storage hanger before the aircraft were moved into the storage hanger. Clearly this didn't happen. I am guessing they will just store the Lanc tires for now.
mrp wrote:This certainly diverts the attention from actually restoring anything.
It has been my personnal criticism that the CAvM hasn't been terribly active in restorations in past. I think the last one was the Me-163 for display to replace the one that went to the USAF Museum. That was about 2 years ago now. Seeing as how aircraft have spent decades outside without attention, you can't really say the museums efforts have been diverted from restoration, since they really haven't had a big push in this area for a while. However, the museum leadership and the staff do not deserve the full blow of this criticism since the CAvM is just another federal government institution and heavily depends on funding from this source. If Canada doesn't provide the funding what do you expect to happen to the collection?
The storage hanger is at least a step in the right direction. Hopefully PNS can help the museum to keep moving in that direction, and the museum will be provided with the funding to build the much needed large restoration hanger.
Rant off... Sorry about that, but that is one of my very few sensitive subjects and it doesn't take much to get me going. Maybe I should join Rob Rohr in therapy!
Mike
Lancaster repaint
Fri Jul 15, 2005 10:23 am
Was the lanc not going to be repainted in 424 squadron markings? I saw the pic on mikes site that shows the lanc tires behind the tutor...
Re: Lancaster repaint
Fri Jul 15, 2005 11:00 am
peter wrote:Was the lanc not going to be repainted in 424 squadron markings?
Steve Tournay could possibly answer that one. I believe he has talked to the right people to know the plans for this one.
Mike
Fri Jul 15, 2005 11:25 am
WAsn't the Lanc a 425 Sqn. bird?
In other news the August show at CYRO has been cancelled.
"/%!$?±£¤±!!!!!!!!
In other news the August show at CYRO has been cancelled.
"/%!$?±£¤±!!!!!!!!
Fri Jul 15, 2005 11:42 am
Ollie wrote:In other news the August show at CYRO has been cancelled.
Stop using code!
Is CYRO Rockcliffe? I just checked the site for the Carp show, there is nothing about that one being cancelled.
Mike
Fri Jul 15, 2005 11:48 am
It's not codes, it's the airport's ID!
Yeah, CYRO is Rockliffe. Let's hope Carp will stay on... I'm still waiting for my approval to bly in it!
Yeah, CYRO is Rockliffe. Let's hope Carp will stay on... I'm still waiting for my approval to bly in it!
Fri Jul 15, 2005 11:51 am
Ollie wrote:It's not codes, it's the airport's ID!
Yeah, CYRO is Rockliffe. Let's hope Carp will stay on... I'm still waiting for my approval to bly in it!
Pheewwww.... The show at Rockcliffe was the same weekend as Yankee anyway. Besides, with that chain link fence along the north side and the position of the museum, it really is not a good place for a show anyway. I would like to see a fence along the museum side like they have at Duxford.
Mike
Fri Jul 15, 2005 11:58 am
It is my understanding from the mgt team at CAM, the Lanc will not now be repainted. It was planned, but in order to certify the new hanger to paint in was another issue. With the building problems, it was pushed further back and will now not happen.
Restoration work has been ongoing, but on a much reduced scale and much smaller projects. I think that they are currently working on a Bellanca. CAM have also started to farm work out to qualified restoration groups. Presently an Avro Avian is being restored for them in Alberta by Reynolds Aviation and I have heard rumblings of the Fleet Freighter going to CWH in Hamilton . this is a major step as is Project Northstar.
Mark
Restoration work has been ongoing, but on a much reduced scale and much smaller projects. I think that they are currently working on a Bellanca. CAM have also started to farm work out to qualified restoration groups. Presently an Avro Avian is being restored for them in Alberta by Reynolds Aviation and I have heard rumblings of the Fleet Freighter going to CWH in Hamilton . this is a major step as is Project Northstar.
Mark
Fri Jul 15, 2005 6:33 pm
Hi Mark/Mike et al--
I'd understood CAvM's Lanc was to take on 425 Sqn livery; I suppose that is now a moot point though.
The Freighter going to CWH is an interesting idea; I can think of two good reasons it might get consideration: first, there's a good connection to a significant base of Fleet-related knowledge via the Fort Erie-area group who have restored three or four Cornells and a 60K Fort to fly; and second, the Lysander has just been completed at Mt.Hope, and the 50K Freighter, unless I'm getting forgetful now that I'm past the Big 4-0, has a somewhat similar fabric-over-metal airframe. A Freighter in restored condition would be quite the sight and a splendid addition to CAvM's bush flying collection (already one of the best such anywhere).
And talking of freighters (lower case "f" this time) going to CWH, the museum has been presented with a retired FedEx cargo Boeing 727, as rumoured earlier, which is intended for use in the museum's educational programs.
S.
I'd understood CAvM's Lanc was to take on 425 Sqn livery; I suppose that is now a moot point though.
The Freighter going to CWH is an interesting idea; I can think of two good reasons it might get consideration: first, there's a good connection to a significant base of Fleet-related knowledge via the Fort Erie-area group who have restored three or four Cornells and a 60K Fort to fly; and second, the Lysander has just been completed at Mt.Hope, and the 50K Freighter, unless I'm getting forgetful now that I'm past the Big 4-0, has a somewhat similar fabric-over-metal airframe. A Freighter in restored condition would be quite the sight and a splendid addition to CAvM's bush flying collection (already one of the best such anywhere).
And talking of freighters (lower case "f" this time) going to CWH, the museum has been presented with a retired FedEx cargo Boeing 727, as rumoured earlier, which is intended for use in the museum's educational programs.
S.
Mon Jul 18, 2005 7:50 am
I have always tried to support the Aviation Museum in Ottawa and I do hope the new Hangar renews some strong interest in the museum. I think it is a wise idea to put the Lancaster repaint on the backburner for now as so many more airframes are in need of restoration or preservation. All those outdoors airframes need some level of stabilization. Imagine how long the Viscount has been outdoors 30+ yrs...I really miss those days when they could open up the aircraft and cockpits for viewing before it became unsafe to do so. I hope that the new hangar becomes an integral part of the collection and not just a deep store facility.
Anyone have any ideas what the old storage space in the original building will be used for (the space formerly occupied by the Liberator and Canso etc) it is quite a large space and should be very useful??...would be a great space to put the Canadair North Star..but it might limit the restoration due to health and safety issues...
Anyone have any ideas what the old storage space in the original building will be used for (the space formerly occupied by the Liberator and Canso etc) it is quite a large space and should be very useful??...would be a great space to put the Canadair North Star..but it might limit the restoration due to health and safety issues...
Mon Jul 18, 2005 7:50 am
I have always tried to support the Aviation Museum in Ottawa and I do hope the new Hangar renews some strong interest in the museum. I think it is a wise idea to put the Lancaster repaint on the backburner for now as so many more airframes are in need of restoration or preservation. All those outdoors airframes need some level of stabilization. Imagine how long the Viscount has been outdoors 30+ yrs...I really miss those days when they could open up the aircraft and cockpits for viewing before it became unsafe to do so. I hope that the new hangar becomes an integral part of the collection and not just a deep store facility.
Anyone have any ideas what the old storage space in the original building will be used for (the space formerly occupied by the Liberator and Canso etc) it is quite a large space and should be very useful??...would be a great space to put the Canadair North Star..but it might limit the restoration due to health and safety issues...
Anyone have any ideas what the old storage space in the original building will be used for (the space formerly occupied by the Liberator and Canso etc) it is quite a large space and should be very useful??...would be a great space to put the Canadair North Star..but it might limit the restoration due to health and safety issues...