Glidepath THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF The Canadian Museum of Flight
Happy New Year.
What an exciting year 2005 has been at your Canadian Museum of Flight! We have a new hangar door that actually opens and closes without fear of falling. We have an exciting new exhibition coming together featuring a Canadair CT-114 Tutor, dedicated to Capt. Miles Selby of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. The Tutor will be painted in 1976 Snowbird Opposing Solo 8 colours. Other projects continue to move ahead. These include the Fleet 80 Canuck, the Waco INF and the Fleet Finch. None of these projects could happen without the generosity and hard work by the museum’s members and volunteers. The museum also now has a Project Manager to help coordinate the various projects. Chris is available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursdays and Saturdays to work with the volunteers and coordinate jobs required around the museum.
The museum’s mandate is to “Bringing British Columbia’s Aviation Past Into The Future.” This means the prime long-term focus of the museum will be to showcase various aircraft and artifacts, which brings British Columbia’s rich aviation heritage to the people of the mainland. B.C. has had many aviation firsts, such as the first female passenger to fly in the British Empire, the Templeton Multiplane which was designed, built and flown by a B.C. citizen back in 1911 and Capt. Noye who was the first person to fly across the Rockies from B.C. To help bring this history to life, over time the displays will be changed, the marketing of the museum will continue with mall displays, exhibits at the B.C. Teacher’s Field Trip Exhibit and displays at various air shows.
The Canadian Museum of Flight is a member of the Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association (CAPA). Through this organization specific standards and guidelines have been outlined for aviation museums to folle In 2006 the CMF will continue to follow these important standards in the restoration of our aircraft.
2006 will bring many challenges and changes to our museum. The Canadian Museum of Flight will become the best British Columbia focused aviation museum in Canada. And working together we can make it happen.
ISSUE 88
WINTER 2005/06
HANGAR #3 5333 216th STREET LANGLEY, BC V2Y 2N3
TEL: 604-532-0035
FAX: 604-532-0056
museum@direct.ca
www.canadianflight.org
PAGE I PAGE 2 PAGE 3 Letter from the Board Board of Directors & Staff/ CMF AUCTION Volunteer of the Quarter/ Museum Updates PAGE 4 New Members/Vol Xmas Party/ CMF Auction PAGE 5 The Tiger Moth PAGE 6 The Tiger Moth PAGE 7 Shop Supplies Required/ Tutor Update PAGE 8 Classifieds/Aircrew Association
THE NEWSLETTER
The CMF Newsletter is published quarterly by the Canadian Museum of Flight. Contributions in the form of rticles, news items, letters and photos are welcome, as re comments and criticism. No payment can be made for ny 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.
f you have any questions or comments, please feel free o contact Sandy Sideroff at the Museum by calling 504-532-0035. Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
CMF BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF
Matt Offer Gord Wintrup President Vice President/Treasurer
Bob Fowles Roy Hafeli Director Director Jerry Lloyd Bob Parkes Ken Smith Director Director Director Capt Bill Thompson Sandy Sideroff Teresa Rhodenizer Lifetime Director Executive Director Gift Shop/Bookkeeping/
Chris Ryan Collection Management Project Manager
HELP SUPPORT AVIATION OF PAST AND PRESENT 3RD ANNUAL CMF AUCTION EVERYONE WELCOME
DATE: Saturday February 25th, 2006 DINNER & AUCTION: $20.00 per person (By Reservation – please call the Museum prior to Thurs Feb 23rd to reserve your dinner tickets) Cancellations with out 48 hours notice will be charged full dinner price. AUCTION ONLY: NO CHARGE – The doors will open for Auction only guests at 6:30 (You do not have to attend the dinner to attend the auction) DOORS OPEN 5:00 PM DINNER 6:00 PM AUCTION STARTS 7:00 LOCATION: Hangar # 3-5333 216th Street Langley, BC Phone: 604-532-0035 Fax: 604-532-0056 Email: museum@direct.ca
The Canadian Museum of Flight is a registered Federal Charity #10686 4538 RR 0001
ALL DONATIONS WILL RECEIVE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE RECEIPT
Proceeds from the auction will go to the Canadian Museum of Flight located at the Langley Airport to help restore and preserve Canada’s rich aviation history. The museum has over 20 aircraft on display along with artifacts and memorabilia. These artifacts once belonged to Canadians who were pioneers in aviation or served our country in many conflicts from WWI – WWII through to today’s Peace Keeping missions. The Canadian Museum of Flight is telling their story, our history for many future generations so that it will not be forgotten.
The Winter 2005/06 Volunteer of the Quarter is BUD KUZENKO
Bud joined the Canadian Museum of Flight in 1999 after spending time working on the AVRO Arrow Replica in conjunction with the Abbotsford International Air Show. Since that time, Bud has regularly volunteered in many areas but many of you might not have had the chance to meet him as he volunteers mostly on Saturdays, due to working full time. Bud is instrumental to the museum when it comes to areas of wiring and electrical. There have been many times that he has had to crawl into places most people would never go, to fix things like our very antiquated phone system. Not only has Bud volunteered for many years, but he has also encouraged his children Nick and Pam to help out where they can.
Congratulations on being CMF’s 2005/06 WINTER Volunteer of the Quarter
MUSEUM UPDATES .
Recently, the museum requested members to complete and return a survey concerning the future of the museum’s flying aircraft. The questions were:
Should the museum fly their aircraft
- 1. CMF should fly all aircraft that are airworthy
- 2. CMF should fly a selection of aircraft annually
- 3. With full insurance/Hull and Liability.
- 4. With Liability Only
- 5. No-I feel the CMF should not fly their aircraft.
The board was impressed with the response of the survey. Many included comments and suggestions, of which all were considered and discussed. The survey indicated that the membership does overwhelmingly wish to see the museum aircraft in the air. The question that remained was in what form. The split between flying all aircraft and only a select few and whether they should fly with full hull/liability or liability only, was almost exactly 50/50.
After digesting the results of the survey and after much discussion your board has decided for the 2006 flying season, only two museum aircraft will be flying. These are the Harvard and Tiger Moth. They will be covered by liability insurance only. This decision was not an easy one with the main driving factor being the cost of operation, especially that of insurance and also the fact that two of the aircraft, the Fleet Finch and the WACO INF are undergoing some extensive restoration. Other forms of funding are being considered by your board with the hopes of getting all the airworthy aircraft back into their element in 2007.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding the Boards decision, please feel free to contact either the Board of Directors or the Executive Director. If you would like to attend a Board of Directors meeting, they are open to all members and are held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm in the Museum’s lunch room.
The Annual General Meeting and Elections will be held on Saturday April 15th, 2006. Members are encouraged to run for a position on the Board of Directors. If you are interested, please contact the Nominating committee – Matt Offer or Jerry Lloyd.
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS
Dave Deck David Huls Chilliwack, BC Surrey, BC Brent Gayle Sonny Pavich Alex Doughty Abbotsford, BC Langley, BC Ladner, BC Kevin Born Harvey Harder Langley, BC Abbotsford, BC Angela Pollok Warren Legrice Fort Langley, BC White Rock, BC Susanne Brell-Batz Lewis Puls Ajay Soni Lynden, WA Maple Ridge, BC Vancouver, BC Delta, BC Fort Langley, BC Kamloops, BC
Aaron Davidson Henry Gerar Geoff Guest Jesse Smith Mission, BC John Halvorsen Mike Kobayashi Surrey, BC Langley, BC
VOLUNTEER CHRISTMAS PARTY
The 3rd annual CMF Volunteer Party and Potluck Dinner was held on December 17th with over 80 volunteers and spouses in attendance. The evening was filled with wonderful food, laughter, music and a surprise visit from Santa himself. A special thank you to Shelley Moran and Sherrie Radatske for organizing and decorating the hangar and to all the other volunteers who gave of their time for set up and tear down. Mark your calendars. next years Volunteer party is on Saturday December 16th. 2006. Photos of the evening can be found at http://homepage.mac.com/totodog/PhotoAlbum77.html Our thanks to Ron Tucker for putting them on his site!
HOW CAN YOU HELP WITH THE AUCTION?
Last years auction raised over $5,000 which went directly to the Museum’s lease payment which is approximately $12,000. This year we are hoping to not only have money to put towards the lease, but also towards other very important areas in the Museum. At the time an item or lot is purchased, the donor can direct his/ her money to go to a specific area such as Building Maintenance/ Aircraft Restoration / Displays or General Operating.
We are in need of items….both aviation related and NON aviation related, please ask businesses in the community to support our museum.
- We are looking for volunteers to work in the Gift Shop during the week and on the weekends. NO retail experience is needed, training provided.
- Tour Guides are required for school and senior groups.
If you are able to help, even if only for a few hours a day, please call Sandy or Teresa @ 604-532-0035
THE TIGER MOTH
Placed in service during February 1932 the Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF for over 15 years. it was still used as an elementary trainer as late as 1947 in Flying Training Command and served with the RAF Volunteer Reserve until 1951. It was the last biplane trainer in the RAF, being replaced by the Prentice and Chipmunk.
Produced as a replacement for the Gypsy Moth, it was actually a development of the well-known Gypsy Moth. Improvements included staggered and swept back wings which made it easier for access and exit to the front cockpit, and inverted engine for better forward visibility and many other minor improvements. The Tiger was fully certified for aerobatics and could be used for blind-flying instruction. The prototype first flew on 26 October 1931 and the Air Ministry placed an order for 45 Mk.I aircraft (K2557 to K2601), which were fitted with the 120hp. Gypsy III engine. In 1932 the Mk.I version was used in an exhibition of inverted flying at the RAF Display at Hendon. Originally the Tiger Moth was a two-seat open cockpit elementary trainer, the construction was mixed wood and metal and was fabric covered. The maker’s designation was DH.82 and it was built by DeHavilland Aircraft Co. Ltd. at Hatfield in Hertshire, and was also sub-contracted by Morris Motors.
Next in line was the Mk.II (commencing K4242) and fitted with the 130-hp. Gypsy Major engines, which became standard on all British built aircraft. The other modification was the fitting of anti-spin strakes on the fin. which was not on the earlier Mk.I’s. By fall of 1939 over 1.000 Tiger Moths had been delivered to the RAF. most of these going to the Elementary and Reserve Flying Training Schools. During the war, most RAF pilots received their earlier training on the Tiger Moth before proceeding to the Service Flying Training Schools.
In England wartime production totaled 4.000 aircraft for the RAF ending with PG746 of the total, Morris Motors built 3.210. Another 2.949 were built (in Canada 1,747, Australia 1.125 and New Zealand 345) for the Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Altogether a total of 8.811 Tiger Moths were built for civilization and military orders at home and abroad. Other countries building the Tiger Moth for their IE forces were Norway (37). Sweden (23) and Portugal (91).
IN THE RCAF
However in Canada it was not until 1937 that the Canadian Government ordered the Tiger Moth for the RCAF when it placed an order for 25 Mk.IIAs with the de Havilland Aircraft Canada at Downsview. Ontario. Also at this time in 1938 an order from the parent company was placed for 200 Tiger Moth Fuselages, but only about 15 of these were delivered, the rest being diverted to fill RCAF orders after war was declared. In Canada the Tiger Moth was considerably modified to the same standard as the Canadian aircraft, this one also was supplied to the RCAF. This version was given the company designation DH.824 and the Canadian firm built a total of 227 of these for civilian and military operators before the start of WWII.
At the beginning of the war, an order for 404 Tiger Moth Mk.II’s was placed for the RCAF, followed by another for 365 aircraft. When production finally ceased in 1942 de Havilland Canada had delivered 26 Mk.IIAs (DH.82A’s) and 1,520 DH.82C’s to the RCAF. The DH.82C, the “C” designated it as the Canadian Tiger Moth, was greatly modified over earlier model, some of these modifications actually changed the aircraft’s appearance quite noticeably. The most important changes were: ⚫
- Engine cowlings were redesigned to form two halves hinged along the top. These included the nose panel (fixed on the original Tiger), so that almost complete access to the engine was gained by opening the cowlings.
- Exhaust system was redesigned to incorporate a cabin heater. A long extension pipe terminated behind the front cockpit. Instrument panels were re-planned to cater for different instruments and the curved top deck separated the two cockpits were shaped like a Gothic arch to improve forward visibility from the rear seat.
- A pressure fire extinguisher was arranged to discharge into the engine bay in addition to the hand operated extinguisher situated in the rear cockpit.
- An oil tank of greater capacity and fitted with a winter cover was incorporated. The vent on the fuel tank was altered to prevent icing.
- Bendix brakes were fitted, operated by a hand lever on the left hand side of each cockpit, with differential braking being affected through the rudder bar. To minimize the danger of nosing over in the event of harsh application of the brakes, the main wheels were moved forward slightly by shortening the undercarriage radius rods.
- A castering tail wheel replaced the familiar tail skid which, because of the brakes, was no longer needed.
- A large windscreen was fitted to the front cockpit only and a sliding canopy arranged in two sections, one for cach cockpit. Both cockpits had a blind flying hood.
- Trim tabs were fitted to both elevators in place of the original spring-loaded device.
- Document case was installed in the rear cockpit.
- Bottom wings had a wider tread board either side of the fuselage, an inset handgrip built into each wingtip and plywood covered leading edge.
- Interplane struts were of oval section steel tube in place of the original wide chord wooden struts.
- Small skis could be fitted to the main and tail wheels.
These much modified Tiger Moths performed very well in extreme Canadian Winters, and flying training was able to be carried out all through the year. Most of the DH.82C’s were powered with the 145 Hp Gipsy Major IC engine which provide 15 Hp. More than the engine in the DH.82A and this gave the aircraft a greatly improved rate of climb. Although the aircraft were built in Canada, the engines were built by the parent company in England. During a period of the war when supplies from across the Atlantic were strictly limited in the face of constant U-Boat activity, the American Menasco engine was substituted. This engine produced only 120 Hp. And the performance dropped considerably, making it unsuitable for aerobatics due to a very slow rate of climb. Only 136 tigers were fitted with the Menasco and these all went to the Wireless Schools. These Menasco powered Tiger Moths were known as Mk.X’s, while the DH.82A was the Mk.IIA and the Gipsy Major IC powered DH.82’s were Mk.IIC’s. One example of the Mk.X RCAF No. 4861 has been kept on display at the Canada Aviation Museum in Rockcliffe, ON. At one time de Havilland-Canada received an order for 200 Tiger Moths to be delivered to the USAAF for elementary training, but these like the earlier British order were diverted to fill RCAF orders.
IN RCAF service the 26 Tiger Moth IIA’s at first were supplied to the Auxiliary Squadrons as well as to the Flying Training School at Camp Borden. After war was declared however, all these aircraft were gathered together and supplied to the new Elementary Flying Training Schools after being modified to Mk.IIC standards. A total 19 RCAF ETFS’s, 8 RAF EFTS’s in Canada and 4 Wireless Schools were supplied with the Canadian Tiger Moths. The first EFTS to be formed on Tigers were No. 2 EFTS at Fort William, ON, on 26 June 1940. It remained in service all through the war, although some units replaced it with the Cornell, a few survived until the end.
After the war surplus, Tigers were made available to the public at very low prices, and with the current shortage of private planes, these were picked up immediately. However, as more civilian planes became available the Tiger Moth began to disappear from Canadian skies, but in the early 1960’s as the restoration of older type aircraft became popular, Tiger Moths were eagerly sought after and once again it was flying in large numbers during the later 1960’s.
Submitted by Ingwald Wikene
The Restoration Work Shop is in constant need of supplies – If you are able to help with the donation of any of the following items, please contact Chris Ryan at the Museum office Tues/Wed/Thurs or Saturday. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.
- AIR TOOLS
- Pressure Regulator-Adjuster
- Water Drain
- Sockets – SAE Standard all sizes – Professional Quality
- Extensions – Professional Quality
- Universals – Professional Quality
- Impact Wrench – Professional Quality
- Nozzles – All Types
- Quick Disconnects (Type M)
- Cherry Rivet Popper
- POWER TOOLS
- Leaf Blower
- Residential Canister style Vacuum with power head and tools
- Dremel tool and accessories including Flex Drive
- Reciprocating Saw
- Heavy duty shop Vac (wet/dry) with pump capability
- HAND TOOLS
- Screwdrivers – Robertson and Phillips (All Sizes) Professional Quality
- Nutdrivers – SAE Standard and Metric (All Sizes) Professional Quality
- Socket Set – SAE Standard and Metric (All Sizes) Professional Quality
- Needle Nose Pliers
- Magnetic part retriever – 3 foot flexible
- SHOP SUPPLIES
- A/N bolts-not cross drilled (All Sizes) MUST BE NEW
- Emery Cloth – Various Grades
- Sandpaper – Various grades, Wet and dry
- Lubricants Spray on and Squirt on eg: Liquifilm/Superlube
- 12″ disk sander sanding disks
On November 3rd in the traditional West Coast pouring rain, the volunteers attached the wings on CMF’s Tutor 114003 to get her one step closer to being painted.