Glidepath THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF The Canadian Museum of Flight
THE FINAL FLIGHT OF 003
On March 7th CMF’s tutor was moved from Aero-Tech Graphics to the Museum by Bear Crane Services. With many volunteers and onlookers present the aircraft was slung and lifted from the truck deck over the fence.
With the Vampire being moved into the courtyard, there is not much room to maneuver the Tutor over the fence and to be put into its position.
The aircraft is put onto display jacks so that the wheels are not resting on the ground.
ISSUE 89
SPRING 2006
HANGAR # 3 5333-216th STREET LANGLEY, BC V2Y 2N3
TEL: 604-532-0035
FAX: 604-532-0056
museum@direct.ca
www.canadianflight.org
PAGE 1 Final Flight of 003 PAGE 2 Board of Directors & Staff/ CMF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING PAGE 3 Volunteer of the Quarter/ Board of Directors Bios PAGE 4 New Members/Auction results/ Tutor Volunteer Thank you PAGE 5 Board of Directors Bios PAGE 6 Pappy the Aviator PAGE 7 Pappy the Aviator-Continued PAGE 8 Classifieds/Upcoming Events
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 Sandy Sideroff at the Museum by calling 604-532-0035. Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
CMF BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF
- Matt Offer President
- Gord Wintrup Vice President/Treasurer
- Bob Fowles Director
- Roy Hafeli Director
- Jerry Lloyd Director
- Bob Parkes Director
- Ken Smith Director
- Capt Bill Thompson Lifetime Director
- Sandy Sideroff Executive Director
- Teresa Rhodenizer Gift Shop/Bookkeeping/ Collection Management
- Chris Ryan Project Manager
- Rob Currington Volunteer Coordinator
UP COMING EVENTS
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & ELECTION OF THE 2006/07 DIRECTORS
Saturday, April 29, 2006 Doors Open: 6:00 Dinner: 7:00 AGM.: 8:00
$20.00 Per Person
RSVP by 4:00 pm Thursday April 27, 2006
We require 48 hours notice of cancellation or you will be charged for the dinner
To Reserve your tickets, please call the Museum at 604-532-0035 or email museum@direct.ca Dinner reservations are required for caterers count.
For more events…..see page 8
The Spring 06 Volunteer of the Quarter is JOHN REID
John became a member of CMF in August of 2002 and has since then been volunteering as a Tour Guide and working at Special Events. When the Education Committee required help, John got involved by updating the Teachers Resource Book. John is also helping in writing a script about the history of CMF and what we have on display for volunteers to use when talking to groups in the community. Recently during Spring Break, John spent many hours at the museum giving our visitors one on one tours and tours of the DC-3.
John always has a “can do” attitude which is infectious to us all. It is a joy to have John volunteer at the Museum and in hearing the comments from our visitors he is appreciated by many.
Congratulations John on being CMF’s 2006 Spring Volunteer of the Quarter
2006 BOARD OF DIRECTORS BIO’S
CAROL BELLEVANCE
My name is Carol Bellavance and I originally come from Quebec where I did my college studies in modern languages at the CEGEP de St-Jerome. After my diploma I spent 2 years in Europe focusing on translation from English, Spanish and Italian to French. I married in 1983 and spent 5 years in South Africa.
I worked for 1 year in North Dakota as an Emergency Medical Technician. Then 3 years as a Legal Assistant for the criminal defense attorney Karen A. Steele in Salem Oregon. I came to BC in 2001 with my family. I started to work at the Court of Justice in Vancouver as an interpreter and in 2003 got hired by Pivotal Partners where I manage a sales team for pharmaceutical products.
I have excellent skills in advance customer service and I believe that I could be an asset with the board of directors of this museum. While my knowledge in aviation is limited, my interest has been perked by a daughter who has set her mind on becoming a military pilot. I’d like to work on meeting the goals set in front of me and to serve the community’s need. I believe we are a business not just a cause, with a mission to bring the knowledge of our aviation history to the public.
TERRY BRUNNER
My wife Doreen and I live in Langley and we have two children and three grandchildren. I have been interested in aviation since my youth when I constructed models out of balsa wood.
Through a satellite school of the Vancouver Flying School I obtained my license soloing on my 16th birthday. Shortly thereafter I applied to the Air Force but was told that there was no way that the canopy of a jet would close over my head and to go back to school. Thus began a 10 year stint with Finning Tractor in Prince Rupert, Terrace where I picked up the odd weekend skid run with North Coast and Trans Provincial.
I owned and managed the historic Lakeview Hotel in Williams Lake from 1972-1976 and after selling the hotel spent a decade traveling North America with Fiat Allis and Blackwood Hodge in sales and finance. As luck would have it, we arrived in Langley and have lived here ever since. Since opening Mountain Alpine Sports, I have been active in downtown Langley with the Downtown Business Association as a director, also as a director of the BC Hotel Association. With my history in finance and private business I am very concerned that we do not lose this great museum and the wonderful staff associated with the museum.
JOHN CAMPBELL
John, his wife, Patricia, and their two children have been living in Langley since 1975. John is committed to being active within the Langley community and has been a member of the Langley Central Rotary Club since 1983. He is currently 1st Vice President of the Langley Chamber of Commerce and is past Chairman of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Subsection of the Canadian Bar Association. John is also a former Councillor on the Langley Township Council and Past Chairman of the Langley School Board.
He is a former private pilot, and maintains an active interest in aviation matters. He recently was involved in arranging apprenticeship programs at the Airport through the Chamber of Commerce, with the assistance of George Miller and School District #35
ROY HAFELI
Roy Hafeli came onto the CMF Board in November of 2005 at the resignation of a previous Board Member and completed the remainder of a one year term. Roy was instrumental in writing CMF’s Emergency Plan. Roy is an event announcer and is best known for announcing Air Shows all over Canada. He has assisted Bill Findlay with emcee duties at Museum’s functions. Roy is a (former) private pilot with a float endorsement and worked in the floatplane industry as well as an aircraft painter at Conair Aviation. Roy is a 17 year Auxiliary member of the RCMP, a member of Mission Search and Rescue and a member of the Mission Amateur Radio Emergency Service. “I look forward to assisting the board and museum where I can. It’s a great collection with an enthusiastic group of people. I know the CMF has a great future before it.”
MATT OFFER
- Member of CMF for over nine years
- Chairperson of the Langley City Board of Variance.
- CMF tour guide for over 5 years.
- CMF Aviation research historian.
- Elected to CMF board of directors 2004/05.
- Elected as CMF chairperson/President in 2005.
- Active with #746 Lightning Hawks air cadets, member of the CF reserve.
My first year as your chairperson has been a very active year. We have a new hanger 3 door, moved major exhibits (such as Vampire), acquired the CT-114 Tutor jet trainer (our Snowbird aircraft), and have commenced long term planning for your museum.
We have developed a CMF emergency plan but there is much more to be done. We are bringing other policies to CMF (e.g.: new volunteer guide book, OHS manual). We have set out the mandate/vision for the CMF… “Bringing BC’s aviation past into the future”. This mandate will be our guide for the future
Long range planning is occurring and will continue to happen at CMF. A major part of this includes sound financial planning. Our goal is to showcase Canadian aviation and BC aviation in particular. Our CMF aviation heritage is for our aviation pioneers, our members, our community and our province.
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS
David Whidden Arlen Anderson Langley, BC Fort Langley, BC Surrey, BC Jack Boyd Norma Carruthers Devon Leggitt Langley, BC Surrey, BC Langley, BC John Campbell Ben Hoskin Langley, BC Ralph Rowe Surrey, BC Surrey, BC David Toddington Lara Drewitt New Westminster, BC Langley, BC Don Miller
The 3rd Annual CMF Auction held on February 25th was an outstanding success with over $10,000 being raised. Thank you to all the members who went and sourced donations, and a very special thank you to all the businesses and individuals who donated items to be auctioned. For a list of all the donor’s, visit http://www.canadianflight.org/about/Sponsor%20Sheet2.htm
The theme for next years event is UP UP and AWAY
The Board of Directors would like to thank all of the volunteers who worked on 114003 and also all the individuals who made a financial contribution to allow us to acquire the aircraft. A very special thank you to Dave Christian and his staff at AERO-TECH Graphics for donating their time/paint and expertise and to Dick Boulter of Bear Crane….. With everyone working as a team, we have a 1st quality historical representation of a 1976 CAF Snowbird Tutor in honour of Capt. Miles Selby.
From left to right: Don Butterley – CMF Volunteer, Vic Bentley – CMF Volunteer, Bill Findlay – CMF Volunteer, Ben Hoskins – CMF Volunteer, Sonny Pavich- CMF Volunteer, Alf Parrish-Arrow-Tech Graphics, Bob Fowles – CMF Volunteer, Dave Christian – Owner, Arrow-Tech Graphics, Doug Moan CMF Volunteer, Mike Adams – Arrow-Tech Graphics, Chris Ryan – CMF Project Manager, Jim Beswick-CMF Volunteer, Dick Boulter – BEAR Crane Services, Capt Bill Thompson-Founding Member of CMF, Jerry Lloyd- CMF Board of Directors
PAPPY-THE AVIATOR
When I reached out to shake the hand of this 79 year old aviator, he passed me his business card that read ‘Dave Hamel, Float Training’. Of course there was all that other pertinent info on his business card but Float Training was merely the tip of an iceberg. I could never have guessed the wealth of information and lifelong experiences all sealed up inside this firm handshake, this very special Canadian.
For my first Glidepath story I set the words; ‘aviation’ and ‘B.C.” in my sights and drove over to the Fort Langley floatbase looking hopefully for someone who had been around long enough or at least since the days of Art Sellers. The new floatbase owners have done a fine job of cleaning up the old site but I did not want to interview the new blood. I wanted to interview someone who could offer up some aviation history. I certainly got that and much more.
Dave Hamel is at least the Chief Pilot over there at the floatbase and he is the subject of my story. He is nearly 15 years past conventional retirement but his handshake says he’s there for the love of it. His beaming smile confirms that suspicion. Dave Hamel is another one of those Canadian gems hidden amongst our own kind. Dave is ‘aviation’ and ‘B.C.’ My sights are on target however, Dave, I would discover is also ‘music’.
Fresh out of the navy in 1947 Dave began his aviation career at Trans Canada Airlines Vancouver. He got his foot in the door hired on as a cleaner but quickly transferred over to the undercarriage overhaul shop. That same year he joined the Aero Club of B.C. where he started his flying lessons in a Tiger Moth. The Aero Club had been in existence then for 32 years. Dave recalls the expensive club flying rates at $14.00/hr. for dual and $7.00/hr. for solo. That’s a stiff shot for a young lad earning .50 cents/hr. Two years later Trans Canada, by now called Air Canada, moved back east to Montreal and Winnipeg and his personally imposed apprenticeship was now put on hold due to him being laid off from his post.
Now somewhere between 1949 and 1950 Dave joined Canadian Pacific Airlines as a Learner Engineer. His objective, a Grade 3 Engineer status. He stayed with CPA until 1955 working out his apprenticeship on planes such as the Curtiss Commando C-46, the Convair 240 and the Catalina Flying Boat or PBY’s. The time spent at CPA was valuable, rounding out his career but Dave didn’t like punching a time clock and he had restless feet so he bade CPA farewell and in 1955 joined the RCMP – Air Division. This move to the police force certainly satisfied his restlessness. In his first year alone he was transferred 22 times and was home for just 10 days but this was where he wanted to be. The RCMP required new recruits to first put in Arctic duty time. Dave volunteered his services to Arctic Duty fulfilling his next 3 years at Fort Smith, N.W.T. Throughout the following 12 seasons his duties took him all over the western Arctic and Beaufort Sea flying in a 550 hp MK 5 Norseman. These were understandably “exciting times” for Dave however the prospect of spending another 3-year assignment in Inuvik activated his restless spirit and he headed south. To Fort Langley.
Our intrepid aviator left the RCMP in 1959 to join up shortly afterward with Skyway Air Services of Fort Langley. It was here where he met social pillar and floatbase owner, Art Sellers. Dave was hired by Art as an Engineer and Instructor for both wheels and floats and in 1964 took over the floatbase site as Manager replacing Walt Weslowski.
It was well known back then that Art Sellers loved sailplanes. So much so he wanted to offer sailplane lessons right there at the floatbase. So Art sent Dave to Elmira, New York to take a course on flying sailplanes so that Dave could then provide instruction back in Fort Langley. Art also sent Dave to Elmira with a bucket of money to buy 3 sailplanes while down there. Skyway Air Services was now in possession of 3 Schweizer sailplanes, one model 232 and 2 model 126’s. Dave brought one of the sailplanes back to Langley with him in a trailer behind his car while the other two were shipped back to their new home.
Looking back today one could say it was maybe a bad business decision of Art’s to buy those 3 sailplanes. Maybe Art was ahead of his time, or the population base wasn’t large enough. Walnut Grove didn’t exist yet; Langley’s population was less than 10,000 in 1966. Maybe it was a combination of all these reasons but sailplaning didn’t catch on and consequently by 1972 Skyway’s venture in to sailplaning fell apart. Dave had to seek work elsewhere eventually landing at Bendix Corporation or later known as Aviation Electrics located at Vancouver International Airport but he would make his way back to the riverside floatbase.
By the early 1980’s Dave had worked his way back to the now named Fort Langley Air Ltd. Where you will find him today as the senior ‘go to’ guy. However, this is not where the story ends. Like Dave it continues. He still teaches flying today while he keeps an overall eye on the day to day operations and he enjoys the crisper business environment the new owners have brought to this local aviation site and at 79 years of age Dave is still fuelling that restless spirit…. He is about to release his third CD! That’s CD as in Compact Disc, as in ‘music’. You see Dave provides the vocals and rhythm guitar for his Jazz/ Western Swing group Pap & The Sidemen. Dave had begun learning his music in the late 1940’s while working for CP Air and by 1993 he co-founded Pap & The Sidemen. Dave had been living a dual life as a musician and became well connected with early Vancouver radio personalities like Jack Cullen, Monty McFarlane, Bob Fortune and Wilf Rae. Dave and Bob Fortune became the best of friends over the years.
Aviator Dave also met big recording stars like Lena Horne, Sammy Davis Jr, Duke Ellington, Spike Jones, Hank Snow and an unrepeatable drinking session with Hank Thompson. Dave either jammed or recorded with some of jazz and country’s elite. One time while sitting in with Jake Doell’s Band, Dave and the band opened for Ray Price. In 1990 the Pioneers of Swing was formed and Dave was selected as Director of the Vancouver branch. Dave gigged all over the Pacific Northwest and for a time was a member of the Del-Mar Trio. He appeared on Hank Snow’s show at the Alexander Ballroom in Vancouver.
Dave ‘Pappy’ Hamel and The Sidemen currently have 2 CD’s out with a third to be released hopefully by this summer and all of Dave’s CD’s can be purchased at the Canadian Museum of Flight. His accomplishments haven’t gone unnoticed either as he has 4 country hall of fame attributes to his name:
- 1993 nominated to Pioneers of Swing- Seattle •
- 1994 nominated to BC Country Music Hall of Fame.
- 1995 nominated to Country Hall of Fame – Sacramento, California.
- 1997 nominated to International Country Hall of Fame – Beaumont, Texas.
A person might come to the obvious conclusion that his love for flying would provide inspiration or some kind of influence over his love for music but “not so” says Dave. There is no connection, philosophically or otherwise between the two. “They are two separate things!” When Dave was a young tyke he wanted to accomplish 3 things: 1, to fly, 2, to be a police officer and 3, to be in music. Many years ago Dave met John Diefenbaker while delivering groceries in Davidson, Saskatchewan. The young future Prime Minister asked Dave what he wanted to do during his lifetime and Dave responded with flying first then followed by an unorthodox wish for these two other completely different and separate career choices. The young John Diefenbaker must have been a little before his own time also as he came up with a slogan for Dave that sounds familiar in advertising today… young John D. told Dave to “just do it!”. And so he did.
Submitted by CMF Member: Mike Craig
Page Eight 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! CAPA CANADIAN AERONAUTICAL PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION АЗОСИВОМ CANADIENNE DE CONSERVATION AERONAUE ACCA The Canadian Museum of Flight is proud to be a member of the Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association. UPCOMING EVENTS . VOLUNTEER INFORMATION MEETING Saturday April 8th @ 10:30 DC-3 Clubhouse If you are able to attend please call Rob at the museum office 604-532-0035 to confirm. WILLOWBROOK SHOPPING CENTER Set up – Sunday April 23, 2006 Display from Monday April 24 to Sunday April 30 Tear Down – Sunday April 30, 2006 JOIN NOW… Gera SKYWAYS We are still in need of many of the tools that were requested in the last Glidepath News (Issue 88). If you have tools or needed supplies that you could donate please contact Chris at the Museum Tues/ Wed/Thurs or Saturday for more information. RECEIVE A FREE ISSUE WITH YOUR NEW MEMBERSHIP (PLEASE MENTION THIS AD) SAMPLE ISSUE $4 PLUS $3 POSTAGE WORLD WAR 1 Geroplanes, INC. 15 CRESCENT ROAD, POUGHKEEPSIE, NY. 12601 (845) 473-3679 www.ww1aero.org www.skywaysjournal.org Pre-booked tours have increased this spring and we are in need of new tour guides. We will provided training. If you are interested, please call Rob at the Museum office Mon – Friday WEST Official Sponsor of CAPA