MUSEUM The Canadian Museum of Flight Glidepath News Members of FLIGHT CAPA
First Canadian Paraplegic Pilot
On April 4, 1958 Ben Stam, his girlfriend Ria and some teenage pals were hiking in the bush at Bridal Falls in Chilliwack. As Ben was climbing to the falls, the earth suddenly gave way beneath his feet. Though he only fell a short distance he found out that he could not move his legs. A sharp pain in his back caused him to think that a rock was digging into his back a d asked one of his pals to remove it. When Ben was informed that the rock had been removed and that the pain in his back was as sharp as before, he realized that not the severe pain in his chest but the sharp pain in his back was the big problem and suspected that his back was broken. Rescue came two hours later, but the damage was done. The doctors and specialists revealed the news that collapsed Ben’s world; his spine was permanently damaged and he was a paraplegic, paralyzed from the waist down and permanently confined to a wheelchair.
After a year in hospitals and a rehabilitation center, Ben had accepted his fate. He got a job as an assembler of electronic equipment at Lenkhurt electric.
One of his colleagues, Hank Oudman, was a quadriplegic. He had been a pilot in the Royal Netherlands Air Force, and had logged 1.500 hours before a swimming accident left him as a quadriplegic. Hank talked a lot about flying, and his vivid descriptions left Ben longing to soar high above the clouds.
As Hank’s handicap was greater than Ben’s, they decided to let Ben be the first to apply for a pilot’s licence
With Hank’s help, Ben Stam contacted the Department of Transport in Vancouver, where officials told him that they could not see any obstacle that would prevent him from obtaining his pilot’s licence. Hopeful, Ben sent in his application form for a student pilot permit to Ottawa Headquarters. To his disappointment, it was returned as, “medically unfit for the issue or renewal of a civil pilot licence…” At this point, most people would have given up hope, but not Ben Stam. Ben was not going to let a simple letter deter him. He was now more determined than ever to obtain his licence.
Together, Ben Stam and Hank Oudman wrote letter upon letter and finally learned that in the U.S, Ben could obtain a medical waiver and fly US registered aircraft. He submitted this new information to the Department of Transportation along with a new application for a student permit. He was successful.
On Nov. 10,1969, he received a letter from Ottawa headquarters informing him that providing he successfully complete a practical test. he could be assessed for a Private Licence only. Ben was ecstatic, he would finally be able to realize his dream.
It was at this point that Ben Stam’s colleagues from Lenkhurt Electric decided to help. Using the “miles for millions” idea, the pull Ben up Burnaby Mountain in his wheelchair. So on Saturday March 6, 1970, Ben was slowly pushed up-hill a istance of six miles, from Lenkhurt Electric to Simon Fraser University. The six-mile climb earned him $800.00.
Ben now had to decide what type of aircraft to train in. After a great deal of researching, he found that a William Blackwood of California (also a paraplegic) had developed a hand control that could be fitted to a Piper Cherokee. This hand control was approved by the Department of Transportation. “The hand control attached to the vertical post assembly of the left rudder on the right side, and its threaded fittings enabled it to be adjusted.” The control was operated on the leverage principle. Downward force applied left rudder, and upward force applied right rudder. The primary function of the control was to allow the pilot to control the rudders and throttle at the same time during most maneuvers.
Intrigued with Ben’s situation, Ed Batchelor (Skyways Air Services) gave him a discount on flying lessons, a 50 percent reduction on the cost of instruction. So with the $800.00 earned in the “miles for millions” Ben paid $400.00 for his flying lessons, and used the remaining money to buy the hand-rudder control, as well as a light-weight chair to take with him on the aircraft. As a result, in March 1970, Ben Stam embarked on a course of flying lessons at Langley’s Skyways Flying School. After a couple of flights with the Chief Instructor and manager to confirm that he did have the ability to learn to fly, Ben was turned over to his instructors, Bob McGonigal and Rod McInnes. Before his final test, Ed Batchelor took him for an unofficial ride to confirm that he had achieved above average standards.
Ed Batchelor was quoted as saying, “He has the guts of a lion and we’re tremendously proud of him… We have been much tougher on Ben than we would have been with an average studen employees and friends of Lenkhurt sponsored 6 people to push/purely as a precautionary measure… Because he is fantastically strong and extremely cautious,” he said, “he came through with flying colors.”
Department of Transport Inspector Jack Lingham gave Ben Stam’s official flight test, to determine if a paraplegic could attai the standards set by the Department of Transport and hold a Private Pilot Licence. After the test, his assessor was quoted as saying, “It will be my pleasure to recommend you.” Jack Lingham’s recommendations were sent to Ottawa, and soon Ben was flying solo. Finally, the day came that Ben had been waiting for; his Private Pilot Licence arrived; he had achieved his goal.” was a tremendous relief to know that I had not failed the many people who had placed their trust in me to further improve the lo of the paraplegic,” he said.
So in July of 1970, after four years of frustration, Ben Stam’s Piper Cherokee 160 rolled to a stop at the Langley Airport. He was the first Canadian paraplegic to achieve his pilot’s licence. He was licensed to fly aircraft up to 4,00 lbs, so long as he wor a shoulder hamess and did not fly into sparsely settled areas. Ben thanks his many friends at Lenkhurt Electric, in particular fellow quadriplegic Hank Oudman
When Ben Stam visited the museum in mid-June, he mentioned the name of the man who assessed his final flight before he obtained his Private Pilot Licence. That man’s name was Jack Lingham, who is a volunteer at our museum. When Jack saw Be Stam, he immediately recognized him from over 30 years ago, as the man who he tested to become the first Canadian paraplegic pilot.
Ben has graciously donated and given on loan some items including the rudder hand control. A display is in the process of being designed and will feature this wonderful story that happened right here at the Langley airport.
Special thank you to Ben Stam and Jack Lingham
ISSUE 78
Summer 2003
HANGAR #3 5333-216th STREET LANGLEY, B.C. V2Y 2N3
TEL: 604-532-0035
FAX: 604-532-0056
museum@direct.co
INSIDE
- PAGE 1 The first Canadian Paraplegic
- PAGE 2 Dinner Meeting
- PAGE 3 Volunteer of the Quarter/ Ben Stam continued
- PAGE 4 New Members/Aircraft Ops
- PAGE 5 AGM Highlights
- PAGE 6 AGM/Fleet 80 Canuck update
- PAGE 7 Pie in the Sky/Upcoming Events/ John Beales
- PAGE 8 Classifed
THE NEWSLETTER
The CMF Newsletter is published quarterly by the Canadian Museum of Flight. Contributions in the form of articles, news items, letters and photos are welcome, as are comments and criticism. No payment can be made for any manuscripts that are submitted for publication in the CMF Newsletter. The Editor reserves the right to make changes in the manuscripts without altering the meaning.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact either Gogi or Sandy at the Museum by calling (604) 532-0035. Museum is open daily from 10:00 am – 4:00 p.m.
CMF BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF
- George Preston President
- Jeff Jeffrey Vice President
- Terry Wadhams Treasurer
- Ken Knutson Secretary
- Bob Fowles Director
- Gogi Goguillot Director
- David McIntosh Director
- Hardy Staub Director
- Capt Bill Thompson Lifetime Director
- Sandy Tinsley Executive Director
- Teresa Rhodenizer Gift Shop/Bookkeeping/Collection:
- Shawn Binns Administrative Assistant
MEMBER’S DAY Saturday, August 23rd, 2003
Appetizers 5:30 Happy Hour: 5:30 pm Dinner: 7:00 pm Special events to follow dinner
$20.00 Per Person (GST Included) RSVP by 4:00 pm Thursday August 21st, 2003 We require 48 hours notice of cancellation or you will be charged for the dinner.
Members day is our way to thank you… the members and volunteers for supporting the Museum and on Saturday August 23rd we look forward to hosting you.
From 1:00-4:00 pm you will have the opportunity to fly in either one of the Museum’s aircraft or airplanes provided for that day. Have your membership current and paid in full by July 23rd – 30 days prior to August 23rd, 2003, show your membership card, sign a waiver, and you will draw an aircraft name out of a box. You will then go for a ride in that selected aircraft. This is done to ensure that everyone receives a ride. In past years, certain “favorite” aircraft had long line ups and it was very difficult to give everyone a ride. Please note, due to the number of aircraft available, there will be a limited amount of rides and so it will be done on a first come first served basis. As all aviation related activities….this day is subject to weather.
The free aircraft rides will finish at 4:00 pm and doors will close for a short time as we get organized for the evening. We invite ones who have paid for the evening to stay and socialize. The doors will open once again at 5:00 pm for dinner guests to attend and enjoy a nice meal.
VOLUNTEER OF THE QUARTER
It is time once again to do the hard task of choosing one person out of so many wonderful volunteers to be the CMF Volunteer of the Quarter. Although every volunteer deserves to win this distinction quarterly, we honour one of the many. The Volunteer of the Quarter chosen for the Summer 2003 edition of Glidepath News is our very own Ken Smith. Now, some of you may have already met Ken as he is either giving tours around the Museum or organizing the Tour Guide work shops or even better yet, trying to figure out the cash register when he fills in when needed in the Gift Shop. The one thing you will remember after meeting Ken is the sparkle in his eyes when he talks about aviation and his flying career. There have been many times I have thought of tagging along on one of Ken’s tours just so I can hear more about his interesting flying stories. Ken has spent many years as an interpretive guide with the Fort at Fort Langley, and has been with CMF for two years now. Because of his dedication and enthusiasm the Tour Guide Program and workshop is looked forward to and attended by more volunteers than ever.
From everyone you work with at CMF … Congratulations Ken, we love having you as one of the museum family.
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS
John MacKay Brandon Gibson Ken Higgins Timothy E. Aradi Ed Rankin Joyce Tait Tom Fitzgibbon Paul Evans Steve Evans Darrin Lindus
Surrey, BC Karen Berling Surrey BC Langley, BC Coquitlam, BC Anthony Clarke Eddington Squamish, BC Kaleden, BC Raymond Findlay Surrey, BC Stanley Parrett Rob Neufield New Westminster, BC Kelowna, BC Langley, BC Delta, BC Martin Jevans White Rock, BC Langley, BC Port Coquitlam, BC Ken Peters Calvin & Hermanna New Westminster, BC Booth Abbotsford, BC Aldergrove, BC Coquitlam, BC Alexander La Fortune Dean & Carol Stephens Langley, BC Langley, BC
AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS
As the summer flying season gets well underway the CMF pilots and ground crew are out and about at Co nmunity Events, Fly-In’s and Air Shows promoting the Museum and our aircraft. The most recent event was the Langley Canada Day Celebrations held at the Langley Airport. This two-day event brings thousands of people to the airport and in conjunction with many musical and family events including Museum tours, aircraft fly hourly to excited onlookers.
Nancy Argyle, Director of Canada Day Aircraft Ops wrote the following: “I have to tell you that the Museum aircraft, their pilots and ground crew have become the highlight in my air event schedule. The aircraft themselves looking stunning sitting in the hot zone, all lined in a row, and the flight looks just as wonderful in the air as well. But it is the pilots and support crew that have become such a delight to work with. Now, I can’t imagine doing this event without them!
Their professionalism and integrity in working with the air ops team has demonstrated time and again that they are truly dedicated to the spirit of airmanship. I was particularly impressed that they were so willing to help us adhere to our tight time slots and maintain our schedule.
Once again, it was a pleasure to have the Museum perform as part of Langley Airport’s Canada Day celebrations. Please pass on my sincerest thanks and appreciation for their very fine work! They have helped to ‘set the bar for other pilot performers.” The aircraft operations team are getting very close to finishing the final draft of the CMF Aircraft Policy Manual which when approved by the Board of Directors will see an annual course taken by Ground and Air Crew to ensure the safety to not only the persons working on or around the aircraft, but the aircraft themselves. One of the requirements in the new policy is Fire Extinguisher training. The first course was held on Sunday July 6th at the Museum, a special thank you to Brian Wiebe, Public Educator and members of the Township of Langley Fire Dept for giving of their time and presenting a very interesting and informative course.
CMF Pilots
- Dave Beales
- Bryan Carr
- Gil Fanslau
- Bill Findlay
- George Kirbyson
- Tedd McHenry
- Vic McMann
- Arne Olson
- George Serviss
CMF Ground Crew
- Don Butterley
- John Clark
- Bob Fowles
- Doug Moan
- Steven Serviss
2003/2004 Board of Directors
- Gogi Goguillot
- David McIntosh
- Bob Fowles
- Capt Bill Thompson
- George Preston – President
- Jeff Jeffrey – Vice President
- Ken Knutson – Secretary
- Terry Wadhams – Treasurer
- Hardy Staub (absent from photo)
To the Board & Membership of the Canadian Museum of Flight,
I would like to thank you all very much for the volunteer appreciation you showed me at the Annual General Meeting on April 26, 2003. Even though one doesn’t volunteer to be recognized it is always nice to know your contribution has been noticed. I was pleased to get the nicely worded plaque. I was thrilled by the gift that accompanied it. It was a beautiful gold chain with a biplane charm attached.
There is some history behind the choice of the chain as the perfect gift for me. After a long day of volunteering at the Museum, I found I had lost the chain that I’d worn since 1973. I searched all the areas I’d been that day but it never showed up but I have this theory that it fell into the bottom of the CF 104 when I closed down the canopy. As extracting the ejection seat out of that aircraft to prove me right or wrong was not a task anyone seemed willing to tackle, I’m extremely happy with the alternative. I hope to be wearing this chain as long, if not longer, than I did the original. It will ensure me memories of CMF for ever. My very sincere thanks.
Well, I think I’ll retire now. I fancy one of those big parties! Just kidding. I’ll be back on the airshow/mall display circuit again this summer. I hope many of you will join me.
Yours sincerely, Jane Robinson.
April 26th, 2003 was a very special day for long time CMF volunteer Fred Gardham as a plaque dedicating the Handley-Page Hampden was unveiled by (left to right) Jack Howe representing the Air Crew Association, Fred Gardham recipient of plaque, Captain Gary Woodroff representing the Canadian Air Force, and Captain Bill Thompson representing the Canadian Museum of Flight.
Dear Members,
In regards to the letters and emails sent by members regarding voting procedures at the Annual General Meeting held on April 26th, 2003 a motion was passed at the Board of Director’s meeting on May 21, 2003 clearly defining and addressing your main concerns outlined below.
- By-law # 3-C states: “Every member in good standing (30) days prior to the AGM, shall be entitled to one (1) vote by person attendance or by written proxy.”
- By-law #2 – A states: A member shall be struck form the register of members if he fails to pay his current membership fee. A grace period of four (4) months is permitted.”
The motion that was passed is as follows:
Renewing Canadian Museum of Flight members will be allowed to pay and update his/her current membership (with a vote) up to the time of the Annual General Meeting being called to order to be entitled to his / her vote.
The Board of Directors and the management care about our members’ concerns, as the membership very important part of the Museum. If any member is interested in attending as a guest at one of the meetings of the Board of Directors, they are held in the DC-3 Building on the 3rd Wednesday of every month, starting at 7:00 pm. Please call Sandy at the Museum prior to the meeting to confirm meeting is not cancelled.
George Preston – President
FLEET 80 CANUCK
CHARLIE FOXTROT HOTEL OSCAR UNIFORM
(CF-HOU)
If you owned, or maintained a Fleet 80 Canuck you will be familiar with the problems involved in obtaining parts required for a re-build. Unless you are well versed in the needs of the rebuild crew you may not know what the Canuck was a Canadian designed and manufactured aircraft and as such was virtually unknown in the USA (where all parts for little aircraft are manufactured)
For example parts such as; bungee cords, brace wires for the tail, strut ends, cowl grills, windshields, the list goes on. Some parts are easily made in the shop and are no problem, some parts can be made to order, some you get lucky and find “good used” and in some cases the search gets too complexed… for example: Many years ago a local aircraft parts supplier decided the cure for acquisition of at least one procurement problem would be to stock windshields, which are always needed. Unfortunately, when a broken Fleet 80 Canuck windshield came to them from a customer they had to ship the broken windshield to a well known manufacturer in Los Angeles who used it to make a mold so that another windshield could be made. Recently, CMF contacted this company in the US and ordered the windshield with the manufacture advising us that it would be a few “weeks” until we received the windshield. Now for the unbelievable part…the next day after talking to the manufacture we received a call from a man in Abbotsford who said he has a Fleet 80 Canuck that he is restoring, and had ordered a windshield from the manufacture in the US, but when it arrived it was not the one he had ordered as he wanted his tinted and a heavier weight, the one he received was like the original Fleets had and asked if CMF would be interested in this wrongly shipped windshield. What are the chances, with so few Fleet 80 Canucks out there and even less having new windshields put in, we would find one 20 minutes away.
Some we lose, but some we win.
Like most light aircraft built in the 50’s (and some up to present) the use of a Bungee” shock absorber system is common. A bungee is n uch like a hug elastic band, which will stretch under a load of hundreds of pounds, and the Canuck needs six (which are only made in quantities of 100) much the same, we will need to make wing struts because the tubing size is no longer made. But, we shall overcome, and, with the dedication of the crew will produce the best darn rebuild ever done on a Fleet 80 so… we find the Canuck parts, we make them, we repair them, but one problem we don’t need is replacing stolen or misplaced parts. While our Canuck was awaiting the beginning of restoration the cast aluminum cowling air intake went missing, photos show it was there upon time of arrival at the Museum prior to being stored. These parts are, you guessed it, NO LONGER AVAILABLE
So keep your eyes open not only for this required part, but also for little things such as a propeller!
Submitted by Gogi Goguillot
Pie In The Sky is a documentary chronicling an era when single women first took to the skies as stewardesses and captured the imagination of the public with a newly established profession that later became synonymous with glamour and worldliness.
I am searching for people who have worked as stewardess in Canada anytime between the 1940’s and 1960’s to participate in research for the upcoming documentary “Pie In The Sky”: portrait of the early stewardesses
Please email: nevets 18@shaw.ca or call 604-609-7044
Sincerely… Steve Rosenberg
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR 2003
Please note that although most of the events have been confirmed the dates and times may change. Also, this is just the initial schedule, may add events through out the months as confirmed.
- July 14th July 20th Monday-Sunday
Cottonwood Mall, Chilliwack – Full Selling Display
Minimum two (2) volunteers per shift required each day for the entire event - July 26th – Sunday
Chilliwack Flight Fest, Chilliwack. Wonderful Air Show for the entire family. CAF Snowbirds will be attending and this plans to be a large event as the air show is free to the public. Minimum eight (8) volunteers required to help sell product and hand out brochures. - August 8th-10th Friday-Sunday
Abbotsford International Air Show, Abbotsford
Minimum eight (8) volunteers required daily for entire show. - August 23 Saturday
CMF Members Day / Summer dinner meeting. An opportunity where the Board of Directors and Staff thank you, the members, for supporting the Museum. Aircraft rides, games and fun, followed by Dinner. (subject to weather) - September 6th Saturday
Langley Good Times Cruise In. Full selling display from 8:00 am – 7:00 p.m. Minimum six volunteers required through out the day. - November 1st, Saturday (NOTE DATE CHANGE)
Fall Dinner Meeting - Monday November 2nd- Tuesday Nov 11th
Semiahmoo Mall, White Rock – Full Selling Display… Large event and can never have too many volunteers on shift.
CMF member and friend John H. Beales, 78, Langley, BC passed away on Monday June 30, 2003 following a brief illness. John joined the RCAF in 1942 and at the war returned to home to Langley. John was an active member of the Langley community. He served for a number of years as a trustee on the Langley School Board. He also started and ran a successful manufacturing business, J.H. Beales Steel Fabricators, in Langley from 1956-1978. Following his retirement from the business, he served on the Langley Municipal Council as an alderman and then as Mayor for two terms. He was very much involved with the improvements to the Langley Airport and ran Double J. Aviation there for many years.
Condolences to the family from everyone at the Canadian Museum of Flight and Langley Airport. John will be greatly missed.
Page 8 GLIDEPATH NEWS Semple issues $4 each WW1 AERO (1900-1919)) SKYWAYS (1920-1940) historical research workshop notes formation on j The Museum welcomes donations of used AVIATION BOOKS for the Library and to sell in the Gift shop. Support the Museum by donating your previously read material. You will receive a Tax-Deductible Receipt. aeroplanes, engines, perta your wants and disposals information on current projects news of museum and airstows chical drawings and des photographs scale modeling material news of curent publications BUILD ONE! A REAL ONE! Sole distributors for P3V, a computer program to genere a 3-ew from a photograph Published by WORLD WAR 1 Geroplanes, INC. 15C Plot Poughiep, NY 12601, USA 45-475-3679
The WACO INF has not had a good two years. Last year as most of you are aware she was US due to a cracked spar which was found during a routine annual inspection and did not fly last year. Well, the spar is fixed and the wing is repaired, but the WACO INF is still not flying. The Collector Ring has been continuously cracking although many attempts thanks to Glenn Rachel have been made to fix the problem. If a new Collector Ring is required, the cost will be approximately $1,600 US.
If you are able to help in any way, please contact the Museum from Tuesday – Thursday and ask to speak with Doug Moan.
CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISING RATES 1/4 page……. 1/2 page. ….$75.00 $50.00 Full page.. ..$100.00 50 words or less Members……. $10.00 General………..$15.00 Your ads will assist the Museum Programs and introduce your product to our membership. If you are interested in attending one of the upcoming Volunteer Tour Guide workshops or are a volunteer who has not received their new volunteer binder, please contact Shawna by calling the Museum Monday – Friday 10:00-2:00 pm.