Andrew Semon wrote: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...
The former storage area will be partially used as a new public gathering area (conferences, performances, etc.) and for the new jets display (all the jet fighters will be moved into this area). I would guess much of the movement has been done already. I haven't had the time to visit for a few weeks now.
As for the North Star itself, it will be the last airframe to be paced in the new storage building so it is close to one of the two main doors. There are still questions about whether or not the Project North Star Association of Canada (PNSAC) would be able to carry out work on the Star while it is in the hanger. It is more likely that the doors would need to be opened and the Star towed outside where work could then be carried out, then placed back inside at the end of the day. Obviously this is a fair weather type of activity. However, it seems to be that for the big projects like the repaint at the end of the restoration, a new restoration hanger will be needed. PNSAC would like to see the Star completed by 2009 (the 100th anniversary of first flight in Canada), so you could imagine that the museum would need some serious funding very soon. Considering that the storage hanger was built recently... well... I'll keep my fingers crossed but I am not making any bets on it happening.
Mike