ISSUE 75 FALL 2002 – Canadian Museum of Flight

The Canadian Museum of Flight Glidepath News

Photo by Doe Buteley

Members of CAPA

HANDLEY-PAGE HAMPDEN

You salvaged her from 600 ft of water? You mean it was salt water and not fresh? Been there since 1942? Restored by dedicated volunteers?

These are but a few comments often heard from guests visiting our Museum and reading the various information plaques about the Hampden. It’s hard to believe, 45 years under the waters of Patricia Bay. then salvaged by a bunch of dedicated amateurs (with little professional help).

Why get mixed up with such a monumental task? Ask any of those involved and they will say things like – “Preserving historic material” or, “It’s a challenge” or, “I’m retired and just want to keep active”. Over the 15 years this project has been underway we’ve had a continuing crew of volunteers working for various lengths of time, anywhere from a few days to the whole life of the project and guess what, we are just about there! The sand and spinach camouflage paint job, the black belly, fin flashes, roundels, serial and Ident numbers, and authentic machine guns that protrude from the turrets are completed. We still have the landing light, antenna wires, nav light lenses etc to do, but people have been seen stopping on the road to get out and take a look. Whether you are a 15 year veteran or a 30 day beginner-BE PROUD. We invite you all to come and see.

Submitted by Gogi Goguillot

ISSUE 75

FALL 2002

HANGAR #3
5333-216th STREET
LANGLEY, B.C.
V2Y 2N3

TEL: 604-532-0035
FAX: 604-532-0056
museum@direct.ca
www.canadianflight.org

INSIDE

PAGE 1 Handley-Page Hampden
PAGE 2 Our Newsletter/ Upcoming Events
PAGE 3 Volunteer of the Quarter/ Andrew D. Cruickshank
PAGE 4 Welcome New Members/ CMF Awards
PAGE 5 What’s happening in the Hangar/Volunteer Coordinator
PAGE 6 Andrew D. Cruickshank cont
PAGE 7 Andrew D. Cruickshank cont… Aviation Humour
PAGE 8 Classifieds/Want Ads

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 a.m- 4:00 p.m.

CMF BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF

George Preston President
Doug Schwann Vice President
Terry Wadhams Treasurer
Ken Knutson Secretary
Jeff Jeffrey Director – Aircraft Op’s
David McIntosh Director Youth Initiative
Maureen Crockett Director – Insurance
Jane Robinson Director- Collection Mandate
Capt Bill Thompson Lifetime Director
Sandy Tinsley Executive Director
C.R.(Gogi) Goguillot Manager – Aircraft Operations
Teresa Rhodenizer Administrative Assistant

UPCOMING EVENTS

Quarterly Dinner Meeting

Saturday, October 5th, 2002
Happy Hour: 6:00 pm Dinner: 7:00 pm Meeting: 8:00 p.m.
$20.00 Per Person (GST Included)

GUEST SPEAKER

Al MacNutt flew for a total of 50 years: training in the RCAF, then to (British) Fleet Air Arm, then Civilian General Aviation in many different countries. In hard times he was an Instructor – later with Canadair Ltd. in Montreal, and 3. seasons mapping in the Arctic with Spartan Air Services of Ottawa. In the winter photo mapping in South America, Africa and Europe.

Another period of hard times put him with the Department of Transport as an Air Carrier Inspector and with ICAO (United Nations) on African assignments to developing countries. Since retirement he has written 2 books, Altimeter Rising, and recently a biography of Carl F. Burke M.B.E., Civil Aviation Pioneer, founder of Maritime Central Airways and Nordair Ltd. His present project is a book on Arctic Sovereignty.

Copies of Altimeter Rising will be available for you to purchase for a member price of $16.95 before tax
Join us and enjoy a fun filled evening complete with prizes and surprises.

RSVP by 4:00 pm Thursday October 3rd, 2002
We require 48 hours notice of cancellation or you will be charged for the dinner.

We will once again have a Remembrance Day display at Semiahmoo Mall for the week of November 11th. This Mall is by far the best revenue generator of all our special events. We have in the past year had a hard time filling all the shifts with many people having to work daily. .
We are also in urgent need of volunteers to help in the Gift Shop. Please call Sandy at 604-532-0035 if you are able to help or would like more information.

VOLUNTEER OF THE QUARTER

B.J. started volunteering over the past year. He shows up each Saturday on a regular bases. I first met him buried in the back of the Gift Shop re-organizing the offices. A monumental job which he and his buddy Gord took on with great gusto. (hard to believe the change)

No job is too big, too small, too menial, just ask and he will be on it pronto. (He even carries his painting clothes in his car at all times.)

All who come in contact with him enjoys his humour and enthusiasm. His help with projects that I have been involved in, was and is invaluable.

B.J. is a true volunteer asset.

Submitted by Milt Lake.

Photo by Ken Kinesi

Andrew David Cruickshank Canadian Pioneer Aviator

Submitted by member Stanley J. Stanley

Andrew Cruickshank was the stuff of heroes-a Mountie and a Bush Pilot credited with opening up the aviation frontier in the Yukon and Canada. “Andy”, as he was known to his friends, flew countless thousands of miles in previously unflown air space in the Yukon, British Columbia and the far North. Although he died in the very first Canadian Airways fatal air crash in 1934 he managed to pass on his vast flying experience through his writing, lectures and teaching others to fly the often-treacherous conditions of the North. Fortunately he marked his experiences with numerous letters to family and friends. Andy founded the Yukon Airway and Exploration Company but first came to Vancouver already a hero.

Born in England, Andy at the age of 16 volunteered as a dispatch rider at the beginning of the Great War and served and was wounded in France. In April 1917 he decided to transfer to the Royal Flying Corps where he was given helmet, goggles, leather coat, boots and gloves and learnt the art of flying. Andy noted how strange it was that days would go by with out incident in these frail flying machines. Then suddenly everybody seemed to crash their “bus”. Transferring to Camels the squadron was assigned the destruction of enemy observation balloons and formation bombing with 25 pounders hung on racks between the wheel struts.

At the end of the war Cruickshank became passionately fond of motorbikes in particular husky Nortons that he successfully raced in the UK and on the continent. Having met a number of Canadian colleagues during the war he was persuaded to go out West.

When he came to Canada he first settled in the Prairies in Jansen, SK and served as a farm hand. In April 1923 Andy joined the RCMP as a recruit. Following training in Regina he was posted to Vancouver where he grew to love the mountains and, in particular, Mount Seymour, Capilano Canyon and Grouse Mountain. In June 1924 he was posted to Dawson. It was not long before he began to nurse the idea that he should build on a dream and start a Yukon airline. He met with two like-minded friends and they decided that a cabin monoplane to seat four and carry at least 250 lbs of baggage. The cabin must be heated and the plane must be capable of being fitted with skis and rigged as a floatplane in the summer. Thus they raised money, got a government contract to fly mail to the Yukon and ordered an M2 Cabin Monoplane from Ryan Aircraft Company in San Diego. Charles Lindberg, motivated by a $25,000 prize to fly non-stop across the Atlantic, had decided against a Bellanca in favour of a Ryan Brougham. Cruickshank was prevailed upon to wait a further two months for the second “Spirit of Saint Louis” plane so that his Ryan under construction should be converted to extra wingspan with a single seat behind a massive obstructing fuel tank for the famous Lindberg flight. Lindberg once told Cruickshank that he didn’t’ really know how far it was from New York to Paris.

Lindberg had to go to the local library and, with a piece of string, measure the distance on a large globe!

On July 9th Cruickshank finally got delivery of his “ship on wheels”. A Ryan M2 Brougham-sister ship to Lindberg’s flying legend. Cruickshank’s plane was identical except for passenger room instead of an enormous gas tank. She had a Wright Whirlwind air-cooled engine developing 220 hp and a top speed of 125 mph. She had wheels, skis and, after some difficulty, pontoons. All civil aircraft were required to have international identification. As “G” was assigned to British Empire “The Queen of the Yukon” was christened G-CAHR.

In 1927/28 the Academy of Motion Pictures was established. Aviation themes were popular in movies like “Wings”. Cruickshank found himself stunt flying for quite a number of movies and met lots of film “stars”. Andy barnstormed and flew joy rides in various places whilst waiting to leave for Canada. On the way he was forced to land during a sudden snowstorm in Nevada. When his schedule allowed, he accepted invitations to speak at service clubs. Wherever Cruickshank landed cheering crowds gathered to admire the sister ship of the now famous “Spirit of Saint Louis” look-alike. He flew over Vancouver admiring the landmarks and the North and West Vancouver ferries scurrying across Burrard Inlet. There was no airport in the autumn of 1927. Seaplanes were moored at Jericho Beach. In October of that year, he married his wife Esme, at St Paul’s Anglican Church in Vancouver. Four days later the Queen of the Yukon was dismantled and lashed to the side of the Princess Alice destined for Skagway where it was re-assembled for flight. The first flight historic and challenging Chilkoot Pass flight was harrowing, to say the least. Fogs, peaks, near misses for 1½ hours before landing on a Whitehorse playing field. The whole town greeted the plane in a frenzy of interest and acclaim.

Official inauguration of the airmail and passenger service was November 11th 1927. The regular routes for the “Queen of the Yukon” included Whitehorse, Mayo, Dawson, Carcross and Atlin carrying passengers, mail and cargo. A tumultuous reception usually greeted its arrival as the very first plane to land at these locations. The Postmaster General gave permission to authorize special “Airmail” stamps to be used bearing a picture of the “Queen of the Yukon”. The cost-25 cents per ounce was quite a surcharge in those days. Airmail delivery frequently included circling to warn of delivery and tossing out a bag of mail.

Flying was a fearful experience battling driving snowstorms, fogs, icing, missing landmarks, zigzagging, radio silence, mechanical failures, difficulty with spare parts, many forced landings, forced overnight camping, keeping warm, injuries and simply finding one’s way home.

The unpredictable weather and freezing temperatures were always real and challenging threats to life and limb. Emergency landings in the vastness of the Yukon presented unusual challenges. On several occasions Cruickshank had to land on Indian reserves. On one occasion he put down on a sand bar near Old Crow. The “enormous bird in the sky” promoted the natives to consider responding to orders to “shoot it down”. Keeping the “ship” aloft in hostile terrain required frequent landings. This caused Cruickshank to keep a razor sharp axe in the plane together with a tin of oil in which were kept old socks to be used as fire-starters. Crashes were frequent but not fatal. Damaged wings, collapsed undercarriage were included in common occurrences. In time, the engine became more and more difficult to maintain. Waiting for spare parts was always a major challenge as were patience and maintaining an income. In the end following mounting maintenance costs he was forced to sell of the “Queen”, leave his beloved Yukon and continue his aviation career in Winnipeg with James Richardson’s Western Canada Airways. In the meantime the “Queen of the Yukon” was wrecked at Mayo and her pilot killed.

As a pilot he flew 9 passenger DeHavilland Giant Moths and Super Fokkers to many cities in North America. Most destinations were from Hudson Bay to Vancouver and points either side of the US border. These new planes had welded steel fuselages and plywood covered cantilever wings. Cruickshank was the first to fly over the Rockies and the Peace River Pass-usually with explorers, notable military personnel and surveyors. Many journeys were into unmapped and unexplored regions. On October 17th, 1929 his plane plunged through the ice on landing and his passengers had to scramble to save their lives through the hatch above the pilot’s seat. Cruickshank was always involved in emergency rescue missions until eventually, in 1930 flew G-CASQ a total of over 205 hours on the Edmonton leg of the Western Airways Prairie Service- another record for one machine during one month. Cruickshank flew the first airmail from North Dakota via Winnipeg to Edmonton as part of his 10,000 miles flying every month -a lot of flying in those days. Although for obvious reasons not preferred pay was always better for night flying. Another first was the establishment of a string of beacons across the country to aid in night flying.

On June 20th 1931 a second daughter, June, was born to join her sister Dawn. Life was less easy. Dust storms on the Prairies, the depression and the new airlines cutting back and laying off employees. Contracts were being lost and remaining pilots took a 30% reduction in pay. Cruickshank, Esme and Dawn celebrated their daughter June’s first birthday. A few days later, Andy climbed aboard the blue and yellow Fokker G-CASL en route from Fort Rae to Great Slave Lake. He did not return.

Five days later the twisted wreckage was found on a steep hillside 70 miles north of Fort Rae. Cruickshank and his two companions-Horace Torrie and Harry King died instantly in Canadian Airways first fatal accident in the North. It was found tha a cylinder head had broken free in flight and penetrated the windshield hitting Cruickshank on the head. A full military funeral was held in Edmonton, Mounted on the gun carriage were Cruickshank’s boots, reversed in the stirrups and the funeral procession took place with muffled drumbeats, three rifle volleys and a flight of six planes representing bush flyers. He was only 34 years old, yet had given so much. Although well known for his exploits as an inaugural bush pilot and a famous “ship” he is most remembered as one of Canada’s leading aviation pioneers.

Interestingly, a replica of the Queen of the Yukon was built and displayed at Expo 86 in Vancouver. That same replica is now on display at the air museum in Yellowknife. For those interested in the construction of the Ryan M2 Brougham, check with member Fred Gardham. Fred was an apprentice working on the Ryan in San Diego; all that time ago.

Prepared for the Canadian Museum of Flight with the consent of Dawn Hunt -daughter of Andrew Cruickshank from the book The Spirit of the Yukon by June (Cruickshank) Lunny.

Submitted by Stanley J. Stanle

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS

Tedd McHenry David Eastbury Robert Peet Robert E. Emmott Russell Herbert Peter Bielefeld Anthony Gaudet Arthur Lee Ron Hunt Al Scott Ken G. Smith Rien Van Tilborg Al Fugelsang Desmond Mullin Anthony Simonetta James H. Wallwork Surrey, BC Delta, BC Surrey, BC Surrey, BC Richmond, BC North Vancouver, BC Coquitlam, BC St. Catharines, ON Langley, BC Surrey, BC Langley, BC Abbotsford, BC Thunder Bay, ON Langley, BC Burnaby, BC Delta, BC Dale Poznachuk Paul Morden Vic Panis Ken Brown Bill McLaren Jack McMahon Marc Berezowski John Reid Scott Stamp Karen Gordon Jack Mitchell Nicolaas Rupprecht Steven Serviss Bruce de Crewe Dave Cappon Coquitlam, BC Blue River, BC Burnaby, BC Surrey, BC Langley, BC North Vancouver, BC North Vancouver, BC Surrey, BC North Delta, BC Vancouver, BC Westwold, BC Langley, BC Langley, BC Surrey, BC Langley, BC

Our 2002/2003 membership drive is going well, and we have welcomed 52 new members since March 1″. Our goal is 200 by Feb 28th of 2003 and with your help we will get there

On the evening of July 20th at the Members Day dinner. Tony Swain the BC and Yukon COPA Director made two presentations to the Museum.

First he spoke of the magnificent restoration of our newly restored WACO CF-CCW and praised all the volunteers on a job well done. He then asked for all volunteers present who had worked on the Cabin to come forward to receive the 2002 COPA Achievement Award that recognizes an admirable and remarkable individual effort in aviation, something special that the rest of us consider a great effort.
2002: Canadian Museum of Flight, Magnificent restoration of WACO CF-CCW.

Next he asked Sandy Tinsley CMF’s Executive Director to the front to present her with the 2002 COPA Good Show award. This award is presented to individuals for any exceptional activity similar to the following: Most Remarkable Flight, Outstanding Contribution to Aviation Safety, Friendliest Airport, Outstanding Action by Linecrew/Mechanic/Flightcrew, etc. The Good Show Award is designed to recognize a single outstanding action by an individual or small group in General Aviation in Canada.
2002: Sandy Tinsley, Irrepressible promoter of flying and the Canadian Museum of Flight

On Sunday July 14, 2002 The WACO CF-CCW received another prestigious award at the Arlington Fly – in.

2002 Champion Antique

Director Jane Robinson accepted the award on behalf of the Museum. It is now hanging on our awards wall in the Gift Shop along with the other 4 we have won from Arlington for the WACO INF, Tigermoth, and Fleet Finch. Photo by Don Souter

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE HANGAR

This is our opportunity to tell you about the day to day happenings in the Hangar.

Thursday mornings at 9:15 the volunteers, staff and some Board members meet for a staff meeting. This is an opportunity to make sure the lines of communication are kept open, along with discussing new projects or related problems. ⚫

After some discussion it was decided to temporarily take the SE5a out of service and change the rudder pedals and brakes from those for a 6’6″ pilot to those more to fit someone about a foot shorter. The operation was successful and the pilot’s much happier. ⚫
The Harvard required a couple minor “fixes” but remember, she is 50 years old! ⚫
S-55 Sikorsky rotor head is ready for installation. With a Wright engine and work on the interior this helicopter could be ready for next year. Check out the new paint job! ⚫
The cracked spar repair on the WACO INF is just about completed and a lovely job it is. The wing should be ready to cover and paint. By this time, the engine top overhaul (with chrome jugs) will also be completed.
Also looks like the Fleet Canuck project is a go! Thanks to Mr. Koehler and his generous donation we will have the opportunity of restoring and then displaying one of Canada’s light aircraft post WWII. .
Finally, our WACO Cabin CF-CCW although with limited flying time (due to operating costs) is flying well and handling beautifully. We have been invited to send a story and photos to the National WACO Association in Dayton Ohio for them to print in their newsletter. Since it’s first flight earlier this year, she has already won two awards, credit to all the volunteers who restored her.

Submitted by C.R.(Gogi) Goguillot

FROM THE DESK OF THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

We have had a very busy summer as usual covering air shows, fly-in’s, shopping malls etc. We finished with a very successful weekend with the Langley Good Times Cruise In. The Museum would like to thank a number of new volunteers who stepped forward to fill vacated positions and compliment our continuing volunteers.

B.J. (John McMillan) comes to the top as the volunteer of the quarter along with his friend Gord for their endless energy in organizing the artefacts room and back office’s. You can now actually move around those areas.

Other new and returning volunteers include John Reid, Bob Parkes, Ron Mac Willams, Matt Offer, Norm Kirk, Len Dyer, Stephen Begg, Dan MacDougall, Barry Venos, Marge Carr, Jim Visser, Phil Ward, Bill Aitken and also new member Ken Smith. Not only has Ken started to do tours and special events, he also is being trained to work in the Gift Shop.

I apologize for any names I have missed, your time and energy has been very much appreciated.

These events are great places to hear interesting stories about our history. At the Cottonwood Mall in Chilliwack we met a couple from Britain who accounted the “D Day” invasion as seen from the British countryside. They stated the sky was filled with aircraft like they had never seen before, fighters, bombers, troop carriers and troop carrier gliders. No one knew what was going to happen, but everyone knew this was the biggest action of the war so far.

This is only one story you can hear by volunteering; we can always use more volunteers. Please consider taking a turn.

Submitted by Ken Knutson

ALWAYS TRUST YOUR INSTRUMENTS, SON!

A stormy flight aboard a Bocing aircraft; an off-duty airline stewardess is sitting next to a man in the grip of serious white-knuckle fever as he watches, through his window, the aircraft’s wing bending and bouncing in the tempest. The stewardess tries to reassure him; she works in the industry and flies all the time, she tells him. There is nothing to worry about; the pilots have everything under control. “Madam,” he replies, “I am a Boeing engineer and we did not design this aircraft to do what it is doing.”

After a lengthy delay at the gate while waiting to depart, the Captain finally came on the PA system and announced: “I’m sorry for the delay, but the machine that smashes your baggage and removes the handles is broken, so the ground crew is having to do it all by hand today!”

A young guy in an F-16 fighter was flying escort for a B-52 and generally being a nuisance, acting like a hotdog, flying rolls around the lumbering old bomber. The hotdog said over the air, “Anything you can do, I can do better.” The veteran bomber pilot answered, “Try this hot-shot.” The B-52 continued its flight, straight and level. Perplexed, the hotdog asked, “So? What did you do?” the bomber pilot replied “I just shut down two engines!”.

What do you do when your landing gear does not extend?

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.

Page 8 GLIDEPATH NEWS Sample as $4 each ww1 AERO (1900-1919) SKYWAYS (1920-1940) cal

workshop notes information on painokor aeroplanes, engines, parts your wants and disposals ⚫nformation on oument projects news of muteums and airshows lechnical drawings and data

scale modeling material BUILD ONE! A REAL ONE! news of current publications Sole dinous for PV a computer program to generate a 3ew hom a photograph Published by WORLD WAR 1 Coroplanes, INC. 15 Crescent Pugapsia, ter 1201, USA 4-473-679

After restoring the WACO Cabin and recently the Hampden, the volunteers in the restoration shop have unanimously agreed that unless they are supplied with the proper materials to do their job, they will have no other choice but to serve us 24 hour STRIKE NOTICE.

As any good mediator would do, I have asked for their list of demands. Please take a look at their very reasonable demands and if you are able to help, we would be very grateful. The only option is that if they do go out on strike, we start a phone campaign to ask if you will be able to come in to help on the restoration of the Fleet Canuck.

Of course this is a humorous way to explain the need of “durable, sturdy, good condition” tools. As we now have so many projects on the go at the same time, we are finding there are many times we have to leave the premises and try to find someone who can help us.

Yes the list is long, and some items are expensive, but it represents the situation we are in. Can you help?

1) Niero press tool – 3 sizes (Approx Value $150.00)
2) Parts cleaner (Approx Value $125.00)
3) Good quality numbered drill set (Approx Value $50.00)
4) Good quality tap and die set (Approx Value $100.00)
5) Industrial bench type sander (Approx Value $350.00)
6) Durable “Do All” band saw (Approx Value $600.00)
7) Sheet metal edge shrinker (Approx Value $200.00)
8) New spray gun for detail i.e. Roundels (Approx Value $200.00)
9) Replace missing 3/8 drills One battery operated and one 110 volt.
10) Hand held rivet tool-squeeze assorted heads
Sheet metal shear

CLASSIFIEDS SAFEFLIGHT CONSULTING MULTI-CREW STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES COURSE ADVERTISING RATES $50.00 1/4 page.. ..$75.00 ..$100.00 1/2 page.. Full page.. 50 words or less Members……. $10.00 General………..$15.00 Your ads will assist the Museum Programs and introduce your product to our membership. This certificate course includes: ⚫eight (8) hours ground school, ⚫ eight (8) hours elite two-station simulator and introduces pilots to the commuter airline, Corporate aviation multi-crew environment. Call Captain Gordon Wilson, course instructor Langley Flying School 604-532-6461 for details