Glidepath The quarterly newsletter of the Canadian Museum of Flight Issue #101 Summer, 2009
Back to Baddeck “Baton” carried by CMF Aircraft
To celebrate the 100th anniversary. of powered flight in Canada, CAPA, the Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association, and its member Museums, organized the Back to Baddeck celebration, a coast-to-coast-to-coast Canadian relay. (For more information on this major undertaking, please see the Spring 2009 issue of Glidepath).
George Serviss and the Museum’s Tiger Moth arrive with the “baton” at the CMF Langley ramp.
The Canadian Museum of Flight (CMF), BC’s only flying aviation museum, has played a major role in this event. First, the Museum’s Harvard (flown by George Kirbyson) had carried the “baton”, the cross-Canada mailbag, on the relay leg from Comox to Victoria. Then our Tiger Moth (flown by George Serviss) had accomplished the leg from Victoria to Langley.
CMF President Gord Wintrup presents Langley MLA Mary Polak with a Centenial of Flight commemorative poster.
May 23 saw the handing on of the “baton” from the Tiger Moth to the Museum’s Waco Cabin. The handover from the Tiger Moth to the Cabin was accomplished with appropriate pomp and ceremony on the Museum ramp, with participation by an “honour guard” of members of the Greater Vancouver Branch of the Aircrew Association, and by Langley MLA, the Hon. Mary Polak. Museum members and quests then sat down to an excellent meal catered by Flights Bistro followed by dancing to the music of the Bruce James Orchestra.
Ideal weather and great food as Museum members and guests sit down to celebrate 100 years of flight in Canada.
Waco Cabin CF-CCW headed off with three Museum adventurers. on May 27, carrying the “baton” on the leg to Nanton, Alberta, and then continuing on to Wetaskiwin. Please enjoy the story of their adventure starting on Page 3..
Upcoming Events…
• Murder Mystery Mayhem Battle of Britain commemorative flypast Please see Page 8 for details, and for news of other Museum activities. Page 1
The Canadian Museum of Flight
Bringing British Columbia’s Aviation Past into the Future
- Honourary Patron
- The Honourable Steven L. Point, OBC,
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
- The Honourable Steven L. Point, OBC,
- Board of Directors
- Gord Wintrup President
- George Miller Vice President
- Paul de Lange Treasurer
- Matt Offer Secretary
- Bruce Bakker Director
- Carol Bellavance Director
- Vic Bentley Director
- Colin McDonald Director
- Capt. Bill Thompson Lifetime Director
- Museum Staff
- Terry Brunner
- Douglas Tait
- Museum Coordinates
- Telephone 604 532-0035
- Fax 604-532-0056
- e-mail tbrunner@telus.net
- Website www.canadianflight.org
- Address Hangar #3 5333-216th Street Langley, BC V2Y 2N3 100 1909 – 2009
- Museum Hours:
- daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Membership Benefits! .
- New Partnerships! Members are now entitled to visit, free of charge:
- Flight Museum in Seattle
- West Coast Rail Museum in Squamish
- Mining Museum in Britannia Beach •
- Discounts in the Gift Shop increased from 10% to 15% •
- Adrian’s Restaurant offers, with proof of membership, 10% off your food bill
Choo Choo’s Restaurant Contest
This issue’s winner is Gordon Varney, member #3577. He will be receiving a certificate for dinner for two at Choo Choo’s Restaurant in downtown Langley. Congratulations!
The Canadian Museum of Flight is always looking for new volunteers. We are always in need of aircraft restorers, gift shop volunteers, facility maintenance helpers, and history and aviation enthusiasts of all kinds. No experience is necessary as training is available for all positions. We invite everyone, from young students to retirees, to join the team. If interested, please contact the Museum General Manager, Terry Brunner, at 604- 532-0035.
Bill’s, Dave’s and Doug’s Excellent Aviation Adventure
by Bill Findlay
Finally the big day arrived! May 27, 2009, was planned as day one of “Bill’s, Dave’s and Doug’s Excellent Aviation Adventure.” CAPA, the Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association, and its member Museums, had organized the Back to Baddeck celebration, a coast-to-coast-to-coast Canadian relay to celebrate the 100th anniversary of powered flight in Canada. The Canadian Museum of Flight (CMF), BC’s only flying aviation museum, would play a major role in this event. The Museum’s Harvard (George Kirbyson) had flown from Comox to Victoria and the Tiger Moth (George Serviss), from Victoria to Langley. Now it was the Waco’s turn to be a part of history and to continue the relay, with the mailbag, to Nanton, Alberta.
CF-CCW, the Canadian Museum of Flight’s Waco AQC-6 Cabin beckons to her crew, eager to start.
The CMF’s big red and white 1937 Waco Cabin (CF- CCW) gleamed in the sunshine and seemed as eager as the three crew members to get the show on the road. Many hours had been spent on the Waco during the winter months in order that this beautiful aircraft maintain its airworthiness status and be ready for the flight. An overhaul of the brake system was a major improvement in the ground handling of the aircraft. The maintenance crew had done a great job of readying the Waco for what was to be the longest flights and the farthest from home that she had flown in many years.
A good crowd of family, friends and supporters were on hand at the Langley based Museum to wish the crew (Bill Findlay, Dave Beales and Doug Moan) all the best on their journey to points east. The ever-faithful Jacobs 330 HP radial engine roared to life and we taxied away from the crowd to prepare for our maximum takeoff weight departure from runway 19 at Langley. Partly cloudy skies let the sun shine through to beckon the flight onward and upward. A great sense of excitement filled the Waco’s cabin as we sped down the runway and slowly climbed away from the airport. Bill kept the aircraft close to the airport initially in order to return for the traditional departure flyby to bid farewell to the onlookers below. Dirty work, but somebody has to do it!
The Museum’s Tiger Moth (George Serviss) and SE5a (Gil Fanslau) had departed Langley a short while before the Waco and were positioned near Mission to provide escort as we headed east towards Chilliwack and Hope. A Globe Swift (John Northey) was on hand to come along side for a final flight inspection. Vic Bentley and his beautiful Harvard 4 were also there. Vic was very happy to provide escort for the Waco crew for most of the journey to Alberta and back.
The aircraft performed flawlessly as we crossed the Coast Mountains and followed Highway 3 to our first stopover – Penticton. We had circled Bill’s parents’ home in Kaleden as a signal that we had reached the Okanagan. They arrived at the airport shortly after with a vehicle that the crew could use for their overnight stop at Bill’s cabin. Doug’s “low level refreshment light” was on by this time and the barbeque meal and refreshments were eagerly consumed as plans were made for day two’s flight operation.
The four adventurers: left to right, Doug Moan, Vic Bentley, Dave Beales and author Bill Findlay.
May 28th was another sunny day as the crew made their way to the airport where a local newspaper reporter completed an interview which made the front page of the Penticton Herald. Today’s flight would take us to Nelson for lunch. Our routing through the southern Okanagan and then east to Grand Forks, Christina Lake, Castlegar and Nelson, was beautiful, indeed.
Leg two of today’s flight plan had us departing Nelson (with a flyby, of course) and heading east to Balfour and then down Kootenay Lake to Creston airport, What a picturesque valley this is. Part of the afternoon was spent touring the hangar of Bill Piper and being shown his pride and joy, a rare and immaculately restored 1929 Monocoach that is still in flying condition. Friends of Vic were kind enough to provide transportation to accommodation in town where we freshened up and met for dinner. Day two had been another memorable day of flying through southern BC.
Friday, May 29th, presented yet another glorious day. A newspaper reporter was on hand for an interview which once again made the front page. Today’s plans included packing a lunch for the stopover at Sparwood airport where there is fuel but no dining facility. This was another very interesting flight from Creston, eastward to Sparwood via Yahk, Cranbrook and Fernie. The air was as clear as we had ever seen and the opportunities for photography were limitless- snow-capped mountains and deep lush valleys at every turn. Our picnic lunch was enjoyed on the banks of the nearby Elk River – a short walk across the airport and through a meadow.
Bill, Dave and Doug in the Waco formate with Vic Bentley in his Harvard over Nanton, Alberta.
After checking out Sparwood airport and fueling the aircraft, we departed for the flight through the Crow’s Nest Pass, by the Frank Slide and on into southern Alberta. This was another amazing flight through the Rockies, the foothills and then the flat lands south of Nanton. Nearing Nanton, we set up to fly two formation passes (Waco and Harvard) over downtown and the Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum location. From there it was a short flight north to the AJ Flying Ranch where we were met by several members of the Nanton Museum. The aircraft were fueled and put in the large hanger at this airfield. Thanks to Alex Bahlsen for having us as guests at his fabulous airport facility with its 4500 x 50 foot asphalt runway.
To say that we were treated royally by the Nanton people would be an understatement. Transportation, food and lodging were provided by these wonderful aviation enthusiasts and we spent the evening exchanging flying and museum stories with our hosts. Saturday, May 30th, was mailbag handover day. After touring the excellent Nanton Museum and enjoying the sight and sounds of the Merlin engine starts on the Lancaster, we all gathered in front of a large crowd to proceed with the handover ceremony. Tiger Moth pilot Gordon Jones accepted the “baton” which would later be transported by the Moth crew and other aircraft onward via several destinations in Alberta.
Bill Findlay passed the mailbag “baton” to Gordon Jones for the next leg of the Back to Baddeck Relay.
Following the ceremony, we said our goodbyes and were whisked off to the AJ Flying Ranch to prepare the aircraft for the flight to Wetaskiwin. But before heading north, we flew back to Nanton for more formation flying to say goodbye to the Nanton townspeople. We are truly indebted to the Nanton Museum staff and volunteers for the kindness and goodwill extended to us during our stay in Nanton.
The flight to Wetaskiwin was uneventful and we arrived in time to freshen up and return to the airport for the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame’s Induction Dinner at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum. Our main reason for attending was to support BC’s own Barry Marsden (Conair) who was one of the inductees that evening. The event was very interesting and we had an opportunity to talk with Barry to congratulate him on this prestigious award. Bill also spent a few minutes chatting with his former Wardair boss, Max Ward, who was presenting the awards that evening.
CF-CCW looking great over the prairie landscape
The next day, Sunday, was spent touring the very extensive museum facility at Wetaskiwin airport. The collection of aircraft, autos and farm machinery is most impressive and very well displayed. The storage buildings contain many more artifacts awaiting restoration, some of them in fine enough condition to be used as museum displays now, Vic and his Harvard departed for Golden this afternoon for a visit with family and then on to Langley the following day.
Day six was the start of the long journey back to Langley for the Waco crew. After checking the weather, filing a flight plan and packing a lunch, we launched from Wetaskiwin into the wild blue yonder on the next flight leg to Sparwood, BC. The Waco was refueled here and we departed for our last overnight stop-back once more to Creston. As luck would have it, the tail winds found on the flights to the east had now switched around to provide us with tailwinds and good groundspeeds that would last all the way to Langley.
We awoke to yet another sunny day which allowed for easy flight planning on this the final day of our journey. From Creston, we climbed the big red Waco up to altitude and followed the Creston/Salmo highway to Trail and then via Grand Forks to our next fuel stop at Oliver in the southern Okanagan. Bill’s parents met us there for lunch and then it was off to Langley for the last leg of this excellent adventure. We all agreed that Doug had the best seat in the house as he roamed from side to side in the spacious comfort of the Waco’s rear seat. This last leg routed via Keremeos, Princeton, Manning Park, Hope, and Chilliwack to an on time arrival at Langley. We were continually dazzled by the incredible scenery that BC has to offer, especially as seen from the air.
Spectacular scenery nearing Hope, and almost home
Our excellent adventure had been one hundred years in the making. Did we have a good time? Yes, we certainly did! Did the Waco perform up to its potential? It met and even exceeded our expectations. What a wonderful flying machine is this 1937 Waco Cabin. Thanks to all who had a part in making this journey possible. We are all so fortunate to be members of a Museum whose policy it is to maintain several aircraft in flying condition so that these classic machines can be seen and heard in their natural environment – flight!
Low Tides and High Times – An Interview With Dr. Pickup’s Associates
by Carla Deminchuk
Old airplanes are intoxicating. They are perfect vehicles for the embellishment and romanticization of history. Those who experienced that history tend to view those airplanes with a great deal more pragmatism.
Perhaps no airplane represents this conundrum more exquisitely than the museum’s Waco AQC-6 Cabin or “the fine old lady” as she is known around the hangar. While her sister ships may have been flown by the likes of Howard Hughes, our Waco is best remembered for the practicality of her service to the young and rambunctious West Coast communities under the aus pices of Dr. Jack Pickup.
In the early 1950s, there was little time for embellishment for those living on the rugged B.C. coast from Campbell River northward. Work hard. Play harder. The flotsam was often thrown to Dr. Pickup and his as sociates.
Peggy Hobbs was an operating-room nurse in the Alert Bay hospital from 1951 to 1953. Her husband Sam was one of the village’s R.C.M.P. officers. Ed Bray was a bush pilot who flew out of Alert Bay from 1952 to 1955. We interviewed those individuals to give you a little bit of an idea of what it was really like for those who experienced that history firsthand. For a more extensive article on Dr. Pickup and his Waco, published in the March 1997 issue of Aeroplane Monthly, please visit the Museum website.
Peggy Hobbs recollects Dr. Pickup as an extremely dedicated physician and surgeon – the proverbial Jack of all trades in medicine. Peggy accompanied Dr. Pickup in the Waco on several emergency flights to the logging camps, but tends to view the Waco with the same utilitarianism as did her employ er. In Aeroplane Monthly, Dr. Pickup stated “There were patients to look after and I couldn’t afford to waste time.”
It would appear some pilots didn’t even like to waste any time obtaining a licence either. Peggy’s most vivid memory in volved a relief surgeon/pilot, sans pilot licence. “I didn’t know he didn’t have a licence. He seemed perfectly fine to me” said Peggy. “He had apparently flown bombers in the war” volunteered Peggy’s husband, Sam. “We got up and got down in his airplane, but he didn’t last very long as our relief surgeon” sighed Peggy. “Like many there, they just took life as it came.”
Ed Bray was one of Dr. Pickup’s best friends who often flew Jack to his calls. “Jack was a pilot, but did not fly to emergencies unless he really had to because he was so busy at the hospital. I had my own airplane, but Jack said I should know how to fly that Waco in case something happens. I went out and flew it around for a little while.” This was a testament to Ed’s piloting skills. No lessons. No simulator. No “embellishment,” and many times “no altitude” either.
“When the weather was socked in, you flew ten feet above the water line. There’s more than one guy in a fishing boat sitting there on deck minding his own business who got shook up pretty badly by another airplane. On really bad days we would just taxi. Cabin that was such an Every pilot including Jack carried a tide book to see if the tide was going to be high or low!” laughed Ed.
Peggy Hobbs with the Waco Important tool in her professional life.
Joking aside, Ed summed up his experiences with Dr. Pickup as this: “A lot of people’s lives were affected by Jack Pickup. His airplane played a significant role.”
Perhaps this high-water mark is the best “embellishment” of all.
Mystery Aircraft from the Spring 2009 Issue – Lockheed Electra CF-TCC
We selected Lockheed L-10A Electra CF-TCC as the Spring 2009 mystery aircraft in anticipation of its major role in the Back to Baddeck relay. TCC has carried the “baton” from Quebec City to Halifax.
The Electra was developed by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in the 1930s to compete with the Boeing 247 and Douglas DC-2. It was the first modern type of airliner to be introduced into Canada. It carried a crew of two and up to 10 passengers.
Three Electras were delivered to Trans-Canada Air Lines in 1937. They were based in Winnipeg and used for pilot training. CF-TCC was one of those three.
Lockheed L-10 Electra CF-TCC cisplays its early TCA colour scheme in flight over Prince Edward Island
Larger aircraft were soon required and the 10As were sold off. CF-TCC was found in Florida by a vacationing Air Canada employee in the early 1980s. Arrangements were made for it to be brought back to Winnipeg where it was restored. It was flown across Canada in 1987 to commemorate Air Canada’s 50th Anniversary.
Congratulations go to Bill Findlay who pulled out the books to confirm his hunch and to identify this aircraft, right down to the specific registration marks.
Around the Museum – News and Events
Glidepath by Email
We are slowly moving into the 21st century and using our computers to better advantage – one change is to distribute the Glidepath directly from the Museum by electronic mail whenever possible.
Over the last three months we have contacted nearly all members to obtain or confirm their email addresses, and we have had good success – about 4 of the paying membership can now receive their issues by email. If we missed you, please accept our apologies, and let us know if you are able to receive Glidepath by email.
The basic driver is economic sending the Glidepath electronically significantly reduces the Museum’s costs for supplies and postage (each printed and mailed copy costs over $2.00), as well as the lead time for preparation. As an added bonus, we are also now using email to send a brief monthly events update to try to keep you better informed.
Please keep us in mind when email addresses are acquired or changed. If you do not have email, we will continue to send a printed copy by post, to keep you up to date. If you do have email, but wish to receive a printed copy, we will continue to send one by post. We’ll review this again in a few months
Printed copies are always available at the gift shop.
We will be updating the web-site to include current and (some past) editions of Glidepath shortly.
Vampire Restoration
At long last there is visible progress on our cosmetic restoration of the Vampire. Painting and re-installation of cockpit components is almost complete, meaning there is less need for access to the interior of the aircraft. This has allowed work to proceed on some of the external components including the windshield, canopy, armour plating. ammunition access panels and nose cone.
Repainting of the aircraft is imminent, which leads to a need to choose a colour scheme. The scheme will be some version of the vampire bat motif as applied to 442 City of Vancouver Squadron Vampires. However, that leaves plenty of scope for choosing a particular era (early or late in the Vampire’s service with the Squadron) and indeed the specific airframe to mimic as each colour scheme was unique. Jerry Vernon and Bob Smith are tackling this question; any input is welcome particularly good quality images of specific aircraft and any rationale for a particular choice.
Warren Sadler displays progress on attachment of external panels on the Vampire
Fleet Canuck
It appears all progress on the Canuck has been backwards, as the engine and landing gear have been removed. This is all in aid of recovering of the fuselage to a high standard, which will proceed as soon as the skylights have been formed and installed. In theory, reinstalling all the parts the second time will go quickly, and progress will be evident. In parallel, Hank and Cal have completed recovering the six components of the empennage, so that aspect of reassembly will also go quickly once the fuselage is ready to receive them..
Two steps forward and one step back! Ray Fessenden, Chris Ryan and Abraham Ghansah dissassemble the Fleet Canuck in preparation for fuselage fabric covering.
Voodoo Economics
Turns out, Voodoos are a dime a dozen: well, only $101 actually, as-is where-is. Therein lies the problem. The CMF’s newest aircraft, ex-RCAF CF-101 Voodoo #101063 is in Shearwater, Nova Scotia, and transport of that airframe to Langley is an economic challenge for the Museum. Any ideas or contributions are more than welcome.
Lancaster radio room – a little midnight sleuthing, and all is revealed … Gordon. that was just Great! So what’s next? Well Cyril, a request… Guy Lumbardo & the Royal Canadians featuring the dulcet sounds of cmf radio once the turntable was installed, their true intensions were realized
Museum Calendar
A look ahead to the rest of 2009… September October Battle of Britain Goodtime Cruising Car Show Murder Mystery Dinner November December Remembrance Day Christmas at the Museum
69th Anniversary Battle of Britain Commemorative Ceremony Boundary Bay Airport Sunday, September 20, 2009 1:30 p.m. with flypast at 2:00 p.m. CMF aircraft will participate in the flypast.
Come join us at a… Murder Mystery Evening October 24, 2009 5:30p.m. Cocktails 6:30p.m. Dinner and Entertainment
Movie Star Mayhem You are the privileged folk invited to attend a dinner prior to viewing the premiere of the latest film produced by a famous film studio. The stars will be present for you to meet and ask for autographs. Famous producers and directors will also be present as will talent scouts looking for new faces. Come with your family members or friends, dress up to the nines, get noticed and perhaps land on the road to fame! Please call the Museum to reserve – tickets will go fast, and space is limited. Pay for the meal, and the entertainment is free! Museum volunteers and staff are your actors… and a talented group they are!
The Glidepath Newsletter is published quarterly by the Canadan Museum of Flight; Editor Bruce Friesen. Contributions in the form of articles, news items, letters and photos are always welcome, as are comments and suggestions, although no payments are made for manuscripts submitted for publication in the Newsletter. Please feel free to contact Terry Brunner at the Museum by calling 604-532-0035. Page &