Glidepath Issue #99 Winter, 2009
The Hampden Recovery Plan
For those who are not aware, the Canadian Museum of Flight has the only intact Handley Page Hampden on display. P5436 was a Canadian built Hampden and had only one hundred hours flight time when it crashed into Patricia Bay on November 15, 1942, where it sank in 600 feet of water. Our lady began its second chance when it was salvaged in 1980 by farsighted members of the Canadian Museum of Flight and Transportation. A volunteer, Fred Gardham, oversaw the restoration to display status.
Hampden P5436 as it appeared on December 26, 2008, left wing collapsed by snow
Last year between Christmas and Boxing Day the unusual snowfall that covered the British Columbia lower mainland broke the left wing at the trailing edge and collapsed the trailing edge to ground level leaving the leading edge attached to the airframe. P5436 sat like a wounded bird with a broken wing.
February 19, 2009, P5436 back on an even keel, thanks to the team led by Richard Benson (third from the right)
Jack Meadows acted as spokesperson for the Museum and alerted the media. Soon we had calls coming from Great Britain, Germany, USA, and across Canada. Out of those calls came a volunteer, Richard Benson, ex-RCAF. Richard examined the situation and forged a plan to commence repairs to the Hampden. Under his leadership the wing has been lifted and blocked, and now awaits the next round of repairs.
Upcoming Events… Auction and Dinner The quarterly newsletter of the Canadian Museum of Flight Please check the last page for details! Annual General Meeting Back to Baddeck 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
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
- Rich Ulvild 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 Langley, BC V2Y 2N3 5333-216th Street
Museum Hours:
daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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.
Glidepath goes digital!
For the Canadian Museum of Flight, there are compelling reasons to use the web to distribute Glidepath:
- more timely information
- links to the Museum’s new, enhanced Website, leading to more detailed information
- economics, given the cost of printing and mailing paper newsletters
- greater visibility and higher profile for the Museum in the world of aviation.
All Museum Members are strongly encouraged to contact museum staff (contact information above) to sign up for Glidepath delivery by e-mail, to enjoy all the benefits of enhanced future Glidepath issues, and to help the Museum control costs.
Choo Choo’s Restaurant Contest
This issue’s winner is John R Clark, Member #1184. He will be receiving a certificate for dinner for two at Choo Choo’s Restaurant in downtown Langley. Congratulations! Keep your eye on this space, as you may be the next winner. Good luck to all!
Langley Airport Home for the Museum
by Terry Brunner
Museum Management has been asked this question over and over again; why are we at the Langley Airport and not at YVR South Side, Boundary Bay or Pitt Meadows? Just to take a short walk through history, in 2008 the Langley Airport celebrated its 70th anniversary. In 1933 it was started as a “make work project” for unemployed, single men, under the Unemployment Relief Scheme. In fact the father of one of our members, Dave Beales, worked on the project by digging drainage ditches. In 1938 the airport was finished and became one of the intermediate fields on the Vancouver- Lethbridge Trans Canada Airlines route.
Langley Airport construction gang, 1934
During the war years it was used as an emergency air strip and saw limited use. A lease agreement was arranged between the Corporation of the Township of Langley in 1946 and Art Seller was appointed the Airport Manager on May, 1948. The following year Art arranged to sub lease the airstrip from the Township of Langley for $100 annually. He was also permitted to keep any proceeds from the sale of hay cut on the airfield. In 1949 the lease was changed to Skyway Air Services and the company paid the annual lease of $180.
In 1966 the Township purchased the Airport for $24,000 with an additional largesse of $188,000 to be spent by the Federal Government for paving the runway and taxi strips. The Langley Airport was officially re-opened by the Honorable Arthur Laing, Mister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development on Sunday, May 26th, 1968. Under the guidance of Airport Manager, George Miller, the airport has grown into one of the largest heli bases in Western Canada with approximately forty aviation related businesses in the area.
Langley Airport operations 1947-Art Seller with operations trailer and Tiger Moth
If you look at the demographics you will see that Langley is situated central to four large municipalities on the south side of the Fraser River. Also, being across the river from Maple Ridge we will soon be easily accessible via the new Golden Ears Bridge.
The Museum is a flying museum hence proximity to the airport is such a benefit to us. For our flight traffic, it is really easy to get into and out of Langley as compared to other airports. The surrounding businesses have been very generous in supporting our cause with product and labour. Without our neighboring support we would no doubt have to rethink our purpose.
We are truly indebted to our members, volunteers, and neighbours for our continued operation.
Airshow at Langley Airport 1949. The barn in the background is still there.
Back to Baddeck
… The Canadian Museum of Flight participates in the celebration of 100 years of powered flight in Canada
by Bruce Friesen
Across Canada, aviation enthusiasts will be marking 2009 as the 100th aniversary of heavier than air, powered flight in Canada. The Canadian Museum of Flight will be celebrating this milestone throughout 2009.
The highlight of the year for many CMF members will be the “Back to Baddeck” cross-country relay by vintage aircraft organized by CAPA, described in detail on the facing page. The CMF has seized with gusto this opportunity for adventure, fun, and publicity, and take an active part in the relay.
The relay from west to east will start in Comox, on May 23. The CMF Harvard will travel to Comox, the Tiger Moth to Sidney/Victoria, and then participate in the legs from Comox to Sidney/Victoria and Sidney/Victoria to Langley. They will be met on the way back by the SE 5A and the Fraser Blues formation team led by George Miller, arriving during the May 23 Second Annual Round Engine Roundup, possibly joining the Hangar Dance in full swing.
Hey!… this isn’t Nanton wichita home
The CMF 1937 Waco Cabin will then take over as the lead aircraft, carrying the “baton” all the way to Nanton, Alberta (an hour south of Calgary, and to the Nanton Lancaster Museum). Quite an entourage is planned for the stretch from Langley to Hope with the Cabin followed by a pair of 1946 Navions, a Harvard, an SE 5A replica, a Tiger Moth and probably others. Beyond Hope plans are very flexible. The Waco must arrive at 10 Mile Ranch airstrip near Nanton before June 6, to pass on the baton to a Tiger Moth representing the Nanton museum departing for Calgary/Springbank that day.
Bill Findley, Dave Beales and George Kirbyson, the pilots for the Langley to Nanton trip, are busy planning their route, stopping points, and potential participation in Alberta legs of the relay. What an excellent adventure!
Meanwhile, hundreds of hours are being invested in the participating aircraft to ensure they are in top shape. Clearly, Canadian Museum of Flight aircraft will be prominent in this celebration, and will do us proud. Page 4
First Flight in Canada
February 23, 1909, residents of Baddeck, Nova Scotia witnessed an event never before seen in Canada sustained, controlled flight by a powered, heavier-than- air “aerodrome”. J. A. D. McCurdy piloted his own creation, the Silver Dart, the fourth and most successful of the aircraft designed and built by the Aerial Experi ment Association (AEA).
The AEA was a Canadian aeronautical research group formed by McCurdy and his friend Casey Baldwin on 30 September 1907, under the tutelage of Dr. Alexander Graham Bell. The group grew to include Glenn Curtis, an expert on gasoline engines, and Thomas Selfridge, a representative of the U. S. Army. Together, these four young men had exceptional success designing and flying aircraft, setting numerous firsts and records. For more information, see the Parks Canada website at www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/grahambell/natcul/natcul4_e.asp.
Coast to Coast to Coast Relay by Vintage Aircraft Will Celebrate 100 Years of Powered Flight in Canada
Under the leadership of the Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association (CAPA), aviation museums and aviation heritage sites across Canada will celebrate 100 years of powered flight in Canada with a unique and historically oriented event. The “Back To Baddeck” vintage aircraft relay flight project, which is CAPA’s celebration of 100 years of Canadian aviation achievements, recognizes Canada’s aviation roots in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, and celebrates the wide variety of aircraft involved and aviation’s national impact.
This relay flight will be done in several legs with a variety of vintage aircraft owned and restored by member Museums. The northern portion of the relay will start in Baddeck, Nova Scotia on 23 February, 2009 going west across the Canadian north to end up in Comox, BC by May. The southern portion will be done west to east from Comox, BC starting on the 23rd of May and ending at the Nova Scotia International Air Show in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in September, 2009.
This cross Canada flight will stop at all of the member museums, at each provincial capital and in Ottawa. On board the aircraft will be the “baton” which will contain special mint coins issued by the Royal Canadian Mint and first day cover stamps issued by Canada Post and cancelled in Baddeck on the Anniversary date affixed to a specifically designed envelope with a message to the receiver of these envelopes from the members of CAPA.
For more information on the Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association or the Back to Baddeck project, please visit the CAPA website www.capa-acca.com and click on Back to Baddeck.
Silver Dart Replica Flies
February 23, 2009, saw high winds and snow, but the town of Baddeck and the Aerial Experiment Association (2005) had already celebrated 5 flights of their Silver Dart replica on Sunday the 22nd. Former Canadian astronaut Bjarni Tryggvason had in the morning lifted off from the frozen bay in the fragile biplane and flew for about 10 metres before setting down. Anticipating the bad weather on the 23rd, he then provided the enthusiastic crowd with four more flights in the afternoon.
The AEA (2005) was formed by 14 members of the Niagara Chapter of the Recreational Aircraft Association, with the objective of celebrating and honouring the 100th anniversary of powered flight in Canada. Five years and 6000 person hours later, they accomplished their goal. Although flown with a modern engine, the replica Silver Dart will now go on display at the Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Nova Scotia.
Mystery Airplane
The “Mystery Airplane Contest” is a regular feature of the Glidepath Newsletter. Each issue will have a picture of an airplane, and some clues to its identity. You are challenged to correctly identify the aircraft. All correct responses will go into a barrel, one entry will be drawn, and the winner will receive a small gift from the CMF. Guesses are limited to one per person. Entries can be submitted to the CMF by mail, e-mail or phone.
Mystery Aircraft from the Fall 2008 Issue – Beech 3NMT Expeditor
Last issue, we challenged you to identify our mystery aircraft almost entirely based on the reflection of its cockpit window framing on its own wing. Well, that narrows it down, doesn’t it – it could only be the Canadian Museum of Flight’s own Beechcraft Expeditor lovingly polished by the team on the right!
The proud team of B.J. MacMillan, Hank Koehler, and Doag Moan standing in front of the newly-immaculate CMF Beech Expeditor. The image provided as the Mystery Aircraft last issue was roughly the area outlined in brown.
The Beech Model 18 light commercial transport was one of the most successful aircraft designs of all time. The prototype first flew in 1937, and with continual updating the same basic airframe remainded in production until 1970. A number of Model 18s were operated in commercial airline service on wheels, floats and skis. Other uses have included aerial spraying, sterile bug release, fish seeding. dry ice cloud seeding, aerial firefighting, airborne mail pick up and drop, ambulance service, numerous movie productions, skydiving, freight, gun- and drug-smuggling, engine test bed, skywriting and banner towing. However, it was the start of World War II, and purchase of the Model 18 as the C-45 (and the AT-7, AT-11, UC-45] and SNB-1) by the U.S. armed forces that guaranteed its success. It went on to serve with thirty of the world’s air forces including the RCAF, and a total production run of almost 8000 aircraft.
It served with the RCAF from 1944 to 1967 under the names Expeditor 3NM, 3NMT, 3T and others, as a twin engine navigational trainer, crew transport and squadron “hack” or taxi. Between 1958 and 1964, B.C. lower mainland RCAF Auxiliary units, 442 and 443 Squadrons, flew about a dozen of these aircraft.
Manufactured for the RCAF in 1952, the CMF aircraft is an Expeditor 3NMT. As RCAF Serial 2307 it served with RCAF 401 (Aux) Squadron in Montreal, 403 (Aux) Squadron in Calgary and at RCAF Stations Rivers, Portage la Prairie and Summerside. Sold as surplus in the 1960s, it received the civilian registration CF-CKT and was used for smoke jumping. It was purchased by the CMF in 1982.
This issue’s mystery plane:
Last issue, we said “This issue’s mystery plane was a common workhorse throughout British Columbia in roles both civilian and military. From the photo, it is immediately evident we are looking at an all-metal, multi-engine, conventional gear aircraft. But which one?”
And so it is again! The same but, indeed, different…
Around the Museum
Flying Operations
During each winter off-season, a huge amount of work is required to ensure the Museum’s fleet of flying aircraft are, in fact, airworthy and flying come spring. This winter the focus is on the Waco Cabin, in recognition of the role it will play in the Back to Baddeck coast to coast relay. The team of Dave Beales, Bill Findlay, Vic Bentley, Doug Moan and Bob Fowles is going over the aircraft carefully to ensure it will be both safe and reliable on its round trip through the mountains to Nanton and back. Most time consuming have been the brakes. Meanwhile, the Harvard will gain a rejuvenated exhaust manifold, and the Tiger Moth a new gas tank.
Doug Moan and Dave Beales, hard at work on the brakes on Waco Cabin CF-CCW
Aircraft Restoration
The rudder for the Waco INF has been fitted, and Cal Booth, Hank Koehler and Bob Fowles are applying the fabric. Other restoration efforts continue at a slow but steady pace. The Fleet 80 Canuck project has seen Ray Fessenden make progess on the left wing spar, and on various fuselage fittings and systems details in preparation for fabric cover.
Cal and Hank wrestle with Polyfibre
Displays
Cyril Meadows and Gord Varney are making excellent progress towards fabricating a Lancaster bomber from scratch, but in truth they will probably stop after completion of one full size fuselage bay as a display of the radio operator’s station. Jim Brown has invested many hours in the restoration one of the authentic Bomber Command radios, display of which was the initial catalyst for this project.
Gord and Cyril with the Lancaster radio station ready for skinning. Three feet done, and only 67 feet to go, guys!
Engine Shop
Jim working on cosmetic restoration of one of the radios to be fitted to the Lancaster radio room display, challenged by the 1940’s technology.
The Museum has an extensive collection of aircraft engines and of parts for old engines, many of them rare and potentially very valuable either as spares for engines on Museum operating aircraft or as key missing links for other restoration projects. In recognition of these assets, the room at the south east corner of the hangar was cleaned out, shelving and storage units installed, and aircraft engine parts assembed there from various hiding places (the barn, hangar 30, the workshop!). Vic Bentley has diligently identified, documented and photographed all sorts of
Neat rows of Kinner cylinders and cylinder heads, almost enough to bring tears to strong men’s eyes.
New 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 Now more than ever, membership in the CMF is a great deal for all aviation enthusiasts! Page 7
March April May June July August September Battle of Britain Murder Mystery Dinner Christmas at the Museum
Up, Up and Away
Annual General Meeting Saturday, April 25 Election of officers* Dinner At the Museum of Flight * Please consider supporting the Museum in this essential role – we need you! (must be a member in good standing for 30 days prior to the AGM to be eligible).
Page 8 • Auction • Dinner e •Entertainment Saturday, March 21 A fun evening, a great way to support our museum, and a chance to score some great stuff at a good price! Museum Calendar A big slate of events in 2009… Annual Fundraising Auction and Dinner British Motor Club 100th Anniversary of Powered Flight Back to Baddeck cross-country relay Round Engine Roundup, Hangar Dance Open House and Members Day Canada Day, Air Shows at Hope and Pit Meadows Air Shows at Abbotsford and Chilliwack November Rememberance Day December
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.