Glidepath Issuer 93 Spring 2007 Tel: 604-532.0035 Fax:604.532.0056 The quarterly newsletter of the Canadian Museum of Flight museum @direct.ca Langley, BC V2Y 2N3 Hangar #3-5333-216th st. www.canadianflight.org Page One

What’s New at the Museum

Up Up and Away Auction 2007 a Huge Success!

Thank you to all of our sponsors, supporters, volunteers, to everyone who attend the event, and everyone who bid on our fantastic auction items. We couldn’t have done it without you.

We raised over 18,000!!!

The Up Up and Away Auction took place in the Canadian Museum of Flight hangar February 24th. The event was emceed by Roy Hafeli and the fantastic auctioneer was the Honourable Mayor of Langley, Peter Fassbender. This dynamic duo created an upbeat and fun atmosphere that everyone seemed to enjoy. The 2007 auction included a live, as well as a silent auction which allowed us to have more exciting items without having the event go on too long. Through this fundraising event the CMF was able to raise just over $18,000. This is nearly twice as much as was raised at last year’s auction. Thank you to everyone for making this our most successful auction yet.

On January 23rd the museum’s Fleet Finch finally had her wings reattached. The picture at right shows the team of volunteers that were on hand to rig the wings. The Waco INF now has its proper paint to cover its currently white fabric skin. The Waco INF will be painted in its highly recognizable black and yellow paint scheme and will eventually be reassembled.

Work on the de Havilland Vampire is still on hold until weather conditions improve. The new display dedicated to the 1956 crash of Trans Canada 801 at Mt. Slesse has been completed, so on your next visit to the museum, please check it out.

Annual General Meeting and Election of Board of Directors April 21st, 2007 For more information on the AGM and for all nominees bios see page 2

contents

• PAGE 1: What’s New at the Museum
• PAGE 2: Board of Directors and AGM Election info Airlines North Star, flight
• PAGE 3-4: 2007 Board of Director Bio’s
• PAGE 5: Volunteer of the Quarter/New Members
• PAGE 6: A Little Canso Story
• PAGE 7: Mystery Plane Reveal / New Mystery Plane
• PAGE 8: Upcoming Events at the CMF

Current Board of Directors and Staff

• Matt Offer President
• Gord Wintrup Vice President/Treasurer
• Carol Bellavance Director
• Terry Brunner Director
• Roy Hafeli Director
• Jerry Lloyd Director
• Bob Parkes Director
• Capt. Bill Thompson Lifetime Director
• Sandy Sideroff Executive Director
• Teresa Rhodenizer Gift Shop Manager
• Rob Currington Volunteer Coordinator

THE CANADIAN MUSEUM OF FLIGHT

Annual General Meeting and Election of Board of Directors

The directors are tasked with making the major decisions faced by the CMF. They are also responsible for planning the CMF’s future and ensuring its financial well-being. All board meetings are accessible to the CMF membership and minutes from each meeting are available upon request. The board meetings generally occur on the third Wednesday of every month at the CMF hangar in the volunteer lunch room. If you wish to attend a board meeting as an observer, please contact the museum to varify the correct date and timings at 604-532-0035.

The Nomination Committee of the Board of Directors recommend the following persons for nomination at the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Museum of Flight on April 21, 2007 for election to the Board of Directors.

1. Brian Lott
2. George Miller
3. Matt Offer
4. Ralph Peake
5. Rich Ulvild
6. Gord Wintrup

If anyone would like more information, please contact Matt Offer – Nomination Committee Chairperson 604-533-1953

2007 Board of Directors Bio’s

Below are the biographies of all the nominess running for board positions in the election April 21st. There are 6 positions to fill as two (2) positions are already held by board members about to begin their second year in their position. These two individuals are Carol Bellavance and Terry Brunner. Please take time to familiarize yourself with the candidates.

Rich Ulvild

My wife and I have two children and we reside in Langley.

I believe in giving back to the Community and during my three years as president of the Langley Good Times Cruise-In, I was given an opportunity to put my skills to work in the areas of fundraising, promotion and organizing one of North America’s largest car show of its kind.

I feel that I could utilize my skills in helping the CMF continue its headway towards a new facility.

Matt Offer

Matt was bitten by the flying bug at six when his uncle took him up in a Luscombe on a sunny June day. At age 18 he obtained his pilots licence. Joined the Royal Canadian Navy where he dealt with ASW helos and aircraft (such as the Tracker). His hobbies are aviation history, military history, airplane models and Canadian history. “We have to work as a team to set CMF’s future goals. We have to begin short range and long range planning, which includes sound financial planning. We have to have a vision of the future of our aviation museum. And we have to work together to bring this vision to fruition. We owe it to the Canadian aviation pioneers and our community. Let’s meet this challenge together.

George Miller

George Served 35 years (1953-1988) in the RCAF and Canadian Forces. He commenced his career on fighters in Germany flying F-86 Sabres and as solo pilot on the Golden Hawks aerobatic team. He also flew the CF- 104 Starfighter on tours in Germany and Italy. In 1973 George was selected to lead the Snowbird national aerobatic team. He was later appointed Commandant of Flying Training at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, following which he taught at the Canadian Land Forces Staff College in Kingston, Ontario. On promotion to Colonel he served as Canadian Forces Attaché to Egypt and Sudan. He completed his career as Base Commander Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw. Since retirement, he spent two years with Spar Aerospace on a project in Brazil prior to his present position as manager of Langley Airport under his company Avcon Consulting Ltd. He was elected to the Board of BCAC in 1997, and appointed Chairman in the spring of 2004. George has guided the growth and development of Langley Regional Airport since 1991.

Gord Wintrup

At present I am coming to an end of a two-year term as a Director, Vice President and Treasurer of C.M.F.

Past Community involvements include: past chair of the Langley Downtown Merchant’s Association, Director of the Langley Good Times CruiseIn and numerous other causes. I am the owner of Bayfield Mortgage Professionals, a company employing over 40 mortgage brokers and I believe in giving back to my community. As such I am asking for your support and the honor of serving your Museum for a further two years where I hope to become instrumental in the formation of a committee for the construction of a new Museum facility.

Thanks to all for your past support and camaraderie.

Brian Lott

Born in England, Brian became a Canadian citizen in 1973. He then immigrated to Africa where he spent the next 25 years during which he and his wife Bridgret built a thriving catering business, serving luminaries such as Nelson Mandela. Upon returning to Canada, Brian and Bridgret opened” A Spot of Africa” which features African stone carvings and artwork. Brian is also very active in Rotary International, having recently received the Paul Harris Fellow Award and he also sits as a director of the Downtown Langley Business Association. During his sojourn in Africa, Brian became interested in flying since Bridgret is a pilot with endorse ments.

Ralph Peake

Ralph Peake, age 60, former owner/operator of Cruisers Pit Stop Diner for 11 years. Sold in 2004 and now employed as a warehouse manager for Cobra Electric (South Coast) Ltd. a private contractor providing electrical maintenance to the provincial highways department. Restaurant owner/operator for 22 years and prior 10 years as a Zellers manager. Married and resident of Langley for the past 30 years, I am a car collector (muscle cars and hot rods) and 10 year competitive drag racer.

My interest in the Canadian Museum of Flight stems from my father who was an airforce mechanic in the RCAF and the RAF with the Spitfire squadrons and my great uncle Harry Lett who flew with the AN- ZACS and who flew the first air mail flight in New Zealand. My role will be to help publicize, market and raise funds for the preservation of the Canadian Museum of Flight.

A Warm Welcome to our Newest Members!

Aaron Davidson Ralph Peake Langley, BC Langley, BC Robert Baker Don Covin Langley, BC Abbotsford, BC Langley, BC Earl Harrison Surrey, BC Peter Fassbender Richard Ulvild Paul Shearer Langley, BC Langley, BC Aldergrove, BC Brian Lott Dennis Ratcliffe Langley, BC

The Spring 2007 Volunteer of the Quarter Gerry Ekholm

We have chosen Gerry as the Canadian Museum of Flight’s Volunteer of the Quarter for this season because of the many hours he spent working at the Semiahmoo Mall show last November and because of his valuable contribution to the recently created display dedicated to the 1956 crash of a TCA Northstar on Mt. Slesse.

Gerry worked on five of the seven days that CMF was at Semiahmoo Mall and really helped to boost overall sales at this event.

For the Mt. Slesse display Gerry researched the route that the aircraft followed and made a map showing the various waypoints and radar contacts. During the research for this project Gerry was able to contact some of the radar operators who were on duty the night that flight 810 went down. Unfortunately they were not able to provide any new information regarding the crash but the fact that he was able to track them down at all is indicative of the effectiveness of Gerry’s detective work and the thoroughness of his approach to the task.

Gerry shares his considerable knowledge of aviation history with our visitors as a tour guide, his skills as a leader and orator greatly enhances our guests’ experience at the Museum of Flight and encourages them to learn more about aviation.

Gerry was born it Detroit and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1955 to 1963 as a technician on ground based aircraft control and warning radar systems. Gerry served on bases within the U.S. (Mississippi and

Thank You Gerry!

The Canadian Museum of Flight is always looking for new volunteers. No experience necessary as all positions have training available. We invite everyone, from young students to retirees to join the team. We are always in need of gift shop volunteers, aircraft restorers, carpenters, facility maintenance helpers, history and aviation enthusiasts. If interested in volunteering, please contact the museum Volunteer Coordinator, Rob Currington at 604-532-0035

A Little Canso Story

A Consolidated PBY-5A Canso, serial RCAF 9815, began its career June 2nd 1943 with the Royal Canadian Air Force serving on the East Coast of Canada doing maritime patrols. It served with the RCAF until May 25th 1961 when it was struck of strength and sold to Kenting Aviation Ltd PBY-SA Canso RCAF 9815 in Nanaimo, 2006 of Toronto, Ont. It was registered as C-FNJB and was leased for services in France until 1966. While in France it carried the registration, F-ZBAR. In 1974 RCAF 9815 was sold to Norcanair Ltd. Who painted it bright yellow with red trip and employed it as a water-bomber based out of Prince Alberta, Saskatchewan until 1974. After that, it was sold to the province of Saskatchewan who continued to use it as a water-bomber up 1991. At this point, RCAF 9815 and another Canso, RCAF 11005 were put on the market by Hicks and Lawrence of St. Thomas, Ontario and eventually sold to a Zimbabwe based concern owned by a group of Malaysian businessmen. They intended to base the two Cansos in Harare, Zimbabwe and use them both for aerial safaris and flight-seeing. Both airplanes were flown to Nanaimo, BC and work began on stripping the airplanes of their water-bombing equipment and fitting them with passenger seats. The airplanes also received a new set of one piece tinted glass waist bubble turrets to allow for better vision for the passengers. The last modification done to each Canso was a set of air-stairs at the back of the fuselage to allow for easier loading and unloading of passengers when on the ground. The Malaysian businessmen were in the early stages of setting up their charter business at this point when hostilities in Zimbabwe made them question the safety and profitability of their flight-seeing venture. Both planes were later put up for sale in 1999.

The Cansos, RCAF 9815 and 11005 sat at Nanaimo Airport, BC until 2002 when a Duxford, England based group by the name of Catalina Aircraft Ltd. Purchased RCAF 11005. This group was made up of 20 share-holders who could use the airplane to tour Europe, attend airshows, and even get checked out on the airplane. They spent a year getting the Canso flight ready at Nanaimo catalinabookings.org Airport, and then in December of 2003, it was flown across North America to St. Johns, Newfoundland and then from St. Johns it was flown across the Atlantic Ocean to Shannon Ireland, then finally to Duxford, England. RCAF 11005 kept its yellow and red water-bomber colours until May of 2005 when the paint was stripped off and a new paint job was applied. It now carries the beautiful white paint scheme of a U.S. Navy Catalina.

While RCAF 11005 was lucky enough to be purchased and is now flying again, RCAF 9815 remains at Nanaimo Airport. Year after year the effects of vandalism and the British Columbia coastal weather are showing show PBY-SA Canso RCAF 11005 at Lac Leman, Switzerland 2006 more and more. RCAF 9815’s tinted bubble turrets are both smashed, and other minor damage is visible that was caused by wind storms and other adverse weather experienced over recent years.

The Glidepath Newsletter is published quarterly by the Canadian Museum of Flight. Contributions in the form of articles, news items, letters and photos are always welcome, as are comments and constructive criticism. No payment can be made for any manuscripts that are submitted for publication in the Glidepath Newsletter. The Editor reserves the right to make changes in the manuscript without altering the meaning in any way. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Sandy Sideroff at the Museum by calling 604-532-0035. The Museum is open daily from 10:00am to 4:00pm

Mystery Airplane

Last issue’s winner is: Chris Ryan

Last issue’s mystery airplane was the Curtis XP-40Q, or the P-40Q if it had gone into production.

It was an experimental version of the P-40 line of airplanes. Three prototypes were built, all being converted to the Q model from older P-40 versions.

The P-40Q had an Allison V-1710-121 fitted with a 2-stage supercharger and water injection that was capable of 1425hp and powering the aircraft up to 422 mph at 20,500 feet. An altitude of 20,000 feet could be reached in 4.8 minutes, and its service ceiling was 39,000 feet. Four 0.5-inch machine guns were carried by the prototypes. The P-40Q’s Wingspan was 35 feet 3 inches (after clipping), and length was 35 feet 4 inches (2 feet longer than the P-40N). It also had a bubble canopy for better visibility, a reduced chin cowl, and on the latter two; clipped wingtips.

As much as the three prototypes were modified versions of the P-40, the modifications were so drastic that there was very little in common with earlier P-40 versions.

The proposed production models of the P-40Q were to have carried either six 0.50-inch machine guns or four 20-mm cannon, but the XP-40Q was still inferior to contemporary production Mustangs and Thunderbolts, and development was therefore abandoned. Consequently, the production life of the P-40 ended with the N version.

Of the three prototypes built, two of them were scrapped at wars end, but one was saved. It was briefly used for postwar air racing, registered as NX300B. It was an unauthorized starter in the 1947 Thompson Trophy race and was in 4th place before it caught fire and had to drop out of the race. Subsequently, it crashed and the airframe was destroyed.

This issue’s mystery plane is another rare one. It was a very unusual looking, yet highly efficient airplane designed in the 1930’s in the United States. Due to its lack of success in the US, most of the type made their way to Canada’s North to be used as bushplanes. The last flying example was flown in Manitoba up until the 1970’s. There are now only two known in existance.

Good luck!

The “Mystery Airplane” contest is part of the new Glidepath newsletter format. Each issue will have a picture of an airplane and a brief description. It is your job to use your detective skills and correctly identify the airplane. The first correct respondent will receive a small gift from the CMF. Guesses are limited to one per person and they can be communicated to the CMF by fax, e-mail, or conventional mail.

About Guest Speaker; Chris Weicht

Chris Weicht was born at London, England in 1935. In 1948 he immigrated to Vancouver, B.C. with his parents. As a youth he gained his pilots license though the Royal Canadian Air Cadet program and in 1953 he enlisted in the R.C.A.F. at Jericho Beach, later serving at R.C.A.F Station Comox. In the early 1990’s Chris became aware of plans to permanently close the military base at Jericho Beach in Vancouver. This inspired Chris to write a history of the long-standing military presence at Jericho Beach. In 1997, his book, “Jericho Beach and the West Coast Flying Boat Stations” was published and was an instant success with over 5,000 copies printed. Chris continues to write books and is now on his fifth book titled “Trans Canada Airways.” It tells the story of each airport between Vancouver and Lethbridge that was part of the 1928 expansion of the Prairie Air Mail Route to the west coast. As our guest speaker, Chris Weicht will be speaking about the development of Langley Airport.

Annual General Meeting Election of the 2007/2008 Board of Directors (For More information on the AGM see page 2) Saturday April 21st 2007 Doors Open: 6:00pm Dinner: 7:00pm AGM: 8:00pm $22 per person To reserve tickets please contact the museum at 604-532-0035 or e-mail at museum@direct.ca RSVP by 4:00pm Thursday April 19th We requre 48 hrs notice for cancellations or you will be charged full price for the dinner Guest Speaker Chris Weicht (See above for guest speaker bio) JOIN NOW… Gero SKYWAYS WEST JET Official Airline of CAPA RECEIVE A FREE ISSUE WITH YOUR NEW MEMBERSHIP (PLEASE MENTION THIS ADI SAMPLE ISSUE $4 PLUS $3 POSTAGE WORLD WAR 1 Gergedanes, INC. 15 CRESCENT Ros PauGHEESE, NY 12001 18451 473-3679 www.wwlaero.org www.skywayjournal.org ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE DE ACCA UPCOMING EVENTS April 21st: Annual General Meeting and Elections CMF Hangar, Saturday 6:00pm May 7th- May 13th: Willowbrook Mall display (Langley) Volunteer shifts available (set-up/tear down) June 11th June 17th: Lougheed Mall display (Burnaby) Volunteer shifts available (set-up/tear down) July 1st: Canada Day Celebrations (Burnaby) Volunteer shifts available July 1st: Canada Day Celebrations (Langley) Volunteer shifts available For more information contact the CMF office at 604-532-0035 CAPA CANADIAN AERONAUTICAL PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION The Museum welcomes donations of used AVIATION BOOKS for the Library and to sell in the Gift Shop HELP SUPPORT THE MUSEUM & receive a tax deductible receipt for yourself!

Canadian Museum of Flight Association Annual General Meeting / Elections Saturday, April 21st, 2007 Inside your Glidepath News, you will find biographies for six (6) individuals that have let their name stand for election of the 2007/2008 Board of Directors. We encourage all of you to please read the enclosed bios carefully and exercise your right to vote. You, the members, are the ones that elect the Board and entrust in them the decision-making authority for the longevity of the Museum. If you are not able to attend the AGM on April 21st, 2007, we encourage you to use your Proxy by giving/sending the form below to another fellow member who will be attending the Annual General Meeting. The following six (6) people running for the Board of Directors are as follows: [ ] Brian Lott [ ] George Miller [ ] Ralph Peake ] Rich Ulvild [ ] Matt Offer ] Gord Wintrup fou will be voting for only six (6) of the above as Carol Bellavance, Terry Brunner are fulfilling the econd of their two (2) year term and Capt Bill Thompson is a Life-time Director. If you will be ising the attached proxy, and would like your representative to vote as per your request, please put a heck in the box adjacent to your choices, to a maximum of six (6). To be eligible to vote in the 2007 election in person or by proxy, you must be a member in good standing INSTRUMENT OF PROXY I, the undersigned, being a member in good standing PLEASE PRINT NAME of the Canadian Museum of Flight, hereby appoint my proxy, to vote for me at the or failing him/her Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Museum of Flight Association SATURDAY APRIL 21st, 2007 SIGNATURE DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER Membership # EVENING PHONE NUMBER