CANADIAN MUSEUM OF FLIGHT AND TRANSPORTATION 13527 Crescent Road Surrey, B.C. Canada V4P 135 (604) 535-1115 FAX (604) 535-3292

MINI NEWSLETTER 39.2 FEBRUARY 28, 1992

Gerry Van Humbeck and Gary Moonie with the Voodoo on the morning following its midnight arrival at the Museum site.

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 1992

• Apr 17…….. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING / DINNER, YIC’S DINING LOUNGE
• May 9………SEASON’S OPENING OF EXHIBITS, ULTRALIGHT EXHIBIT
• June 28…….ALL DATSUN SWAP MEET
• July 11-12….”WINGS & WHEELS” COMMUNITY SERVICE DISPLAY
• July 17…….SUMMER BARBEQUE GENERAL MEETING, AT CMFT **
• July 24……. VOLUNTEER BARBEQUE **
• Aug 7-9……. ABBOTSFORD AIR SHOW SOUVENIR SALES
• Sept 13…….BRITISH & EUROPEAN CAR MEET
• Sept 20…….ALL NISSAN CAR MEET
• Oct 16.FALL DINNER / GENERAL MEETING, YIC’S DINING LOUNGE

** These events may be combined.

MEETING/EVENTS SCHEDULE FOR 1992

Keep the schedule on page 1 handy as a reference of Museum happenings over the next few months.

Other events and any changes to the above schedule will be announced in upcoming newsletters or by telephone.

NEWSLETTER #40 DUE MID APRIL

The Spring, 1992 issue (#40) is scheduled to be mailed about April 30.

Thanks to those of you who have sent in articles, letters to the editor, and interesting “filler” items gleaned from just about anywhere. Please keep them coming.

#40 will have lots of photos, both historic and current, and another chapter from the Museum’s upcoming book “Pioneering Aviation in the West”. If the publisher continues to sideline printing of the book, members will eventually be able to read the entire book a chapter at a time.

We are still looking for someone to help produce the newsletter. While the intention is that it be produced on a quarterly basis, circumstances dictate otherwise. It is just too much work for one person to squeeze in amongst a great deal of other, urgent work. In the meantime, check over this “Mini” for current news and announcements of meetings and events to come.

WINTER DINNER / GENERAL MEETING FEBRUARY 21, 1992

74 members and guests enjoyed a great evening of good food and entertainment at Yic’s Dining Lounge in Whalley.

As usual the emphasis was on getting together with other members and making new friends. There were lots of door prizes (items donated by local businesses and items from the Museum’s gift shop). Robert Pilgrim won the 50/50 cash prize of $48 and donated it to the Museum. A special thank you for that generous gift.

Jack Meadows gave a short talk on learning to fly in RAF in the 1930’s, and pointed out how much simpler things were then and a lot more fun.

Fred Glasbergen of Airflow Ultralights gave a talk on the new generation of ultralight aircraft. The new machines have come a long way from the flimsy and basic machines that began the movement back to low cost flying. They now look like regular airplanes, have up to 90 hp engines and can legally carry a passenger. More importantly, new regulations are being drafted whereby one can obtain a special pilot’s license in about 30 hours without the requirement for instrument flying as in a standard Private licence. Lower medical standards will also apply.

Although both speakers chose their own subject, by happy chance their talks complemented each other. It seems there will soon be a way to put the fun back in basic flying, and at a much lower cost. It will, as Fred says, be “back to the 50’s”.

Carol Morelli, the Museum’s caretaker, was presented with a karate outfit in recognition of her achievements and her work for the Museum. Coincidentally, it was also her birthday. Carol reminded us all to record our volunteer times or else! If you’ve volunteered at the Museum, either on site or elsewhere, please send in your times. Carol is the timekeeper and needs this information for year-end statistics, as well as to draw up the “Top 50” and “Top 10” lists.

Because the social part of the evening. was more extended than usual, the General Meeting did not get under way. until 9:00, and was all over by 9:20. Members and guests were brought up to date on events and plans for this year and for the future. Refer to the Minutes which form part of this newsletter.

We do have a request to ask of members. Norah Klett and Chris Watson divide up the membership list, which contains almost 2,000 names and phone every lower mainland member who is either paid up or nearly so, to advise of general meeting dinners. This takes a great deal of time, and runs up big long distance phone bills, but need to know how many are coming so that the appropriate number of meals can be ordered.

Please. If you say you are coming come. If you can’t make it, for whatever reason, please phone and let us know. There were 9 ho-shows”. It costs the Museum money (we are expected to pay for all meals ordered and someone has to hang around the door waiting for those ‘ho-shows” instead of being able to join the rest of the diners.

Finally, a thank you to those of you who did phone to say you couldn’t make it.

NOTICE OF MEETING
1992 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING APRIL 17

The 1992 AGM will be held on FRIDAY, APRIL 17, at YIC’S DINING LOUNGE ,
13639 104th Ave., Surrey (King George Highway (99A) and 104th Ave)

No Host bar at 6:00 pm,
Dinner at 7:00 pm,
AGM at 8:00 pm.

Cost for dinner is $12 PROVIDED that you reserve a seat, or $15 if you drop in without a reservation.

Send in the reservation slip with payment, (or pay at the door). If you wish to attend the meeting only. Simply advise the phone person.

IF YOU RESERVE, BUT CAN’T MAKE IT: PHONE US TO SO ADVISE!

SEND IN YOUR PROXY

If you can’t make the meeting, we still need your vote! Please fill out the Proxy Slip included with this newsletter and mail or drop off to reach us before April 17th. It’s important.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Someone is needed to recruit people for the next Board of Directors and present a recommended slate of nominations to be voted on at the AGM on April 17. A retired (or retiring) Board member, who is familiar with the workings of the Museum and its plans for the future is best, but anyone with a will to seek out and recommend the best people for the job can serve on the committee. Ideally, two people should make up the Committee.

There are 10 positions to be filled. While some of the current Directors who are eligible to run for another term can be expected to allow their name to stand, others have served their three year allowable term and must step down for at least a year, which means that several new Directors must be recruited.

Phone Rose at 535-1115 if you can help.

HANDLEY PAGE HAMPDEN

Fred Gardham with assistance from Don Dynes is now entering his sixth year on the Hampden restoration. The fuselage, tail and both outer wing sections are now done and on site, but the huge job of re-creating the centre section is just beginning. This very large and complex component is being dismantled into smaller, manageable parts so that the work can be done in Fred’s small shop at the back of Jerry Olsen’s body shop in downtown Vancouver.

At least one or two people a week say they want to work on airplanes, but few follow up. A few go and chat with Fred for an hour or two to relive old times or perhaps take one look and decide that the job is too much for them.

Fred knows his stuff, and is a great guy to work with. Call him at 688-6886 in the evening or at 687-6805 any working day except Monday at Jerry’s shop to offer your help. No experience needed.

TONY HUDAK WORKING ON SMALL HAULING TRAILER”

Tony is making a small flat deck. hauling trailer donated to the Museum some time ago roadworthy. The Museum has a 42′ heavy duty flat deck trailer, but most needs are for a lighter, shorter, and more manoeuvrable trailer. Thanks, Tony.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS ROLLING IN

The great majority of members renew annually, with some now in their 15th year. Thanks to all of you. Your membership helps make your Museum strong and increases the chances of obtaining funding for the coming move to the new location at Cloverdale. Check your address label for your expiry date.

Your membership carries a number of benefits, including a 10% discount on most items in the gift shop, free admission to the Museum during open season and to special events, and of vou receive the newsletter and ilings.

We’re always looking for ways to improve the services and benefits of membership, and your ideas on that and all the workings of the Museum are welcomed.

The Museum is on the threshold of great change. It will become a major attraction that will draw visitors from all over the world, and will inevitably be different in some ways, yet the hope is that we can still retain the present friendly and dynamic atmosphere. Volunteers have always been and will continue to be the backbone of the Museum, but paid professional staff will be required as well.

Long time, valued members have helped to make the Museum the success that it is today, while new members bring fresh ideas and new contacts. All of us, working together, can make the Canadian Museum of Flight and Transportation all that we ever dreamed it could be.

NEW HOMESITE AT CLOVERDALE

Permission has been given for the Museum to occupy an 18 acre portion of a farm property located on Colebrook Road, off 176th St. and just south of Cloverdale. The lease is now being fine tuned, and all that really remains is for the Museum to come up with a minimum of about two million dollars to bring services and make improvements to the property, and erect some very basic shelters for the more fragile airplanes.

Temporary buildings will be moved on site to serve as offices, for curatorial purposes, reception area and a gift shop until funds can be raised for permanent structures. It will have to be a lean and mean operation, and will rely heavily on the support and physical labour of volunteers. One of the first needs is the use of a fleet of trucks, trailers, and willing hands to move the aircraft and everything else from the present site on Crescent Rd to the new site.

Please call if you can help with equipment or labour.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

RESTORER

Permanent full or part time restorer needed. Must be capable and adaptable, and willing to learn. Previous aircraft experience helpful but not mandatory. Salary negotiable.

OFFICE ASSISTANT / GIFT SHOP CLERK

Student for part time work in the office and gift shop now and full time during the summer. Phone Mrs. Zalesky at 535-1115.

COORDINATOR OF VOLUNTEERS

Someone with lots of time available and able to work well with people is needed to co-ordinate volunteer efforts. At least two or three hours per day is required for 4 to 5 days per week. Work to be coordinated includes maintenance and cleaning of exhibit aircraft, grounds and building maintenance and repair, manning of off-site displays, janitorial jobs, and other jobs.

Mike Gatey is doing a great job of coordinating volunteers, but he holds a full time job which also takes him out of town a lot. He simply cannot spare the time that the job demands. It takes time to make the phone calls needed to organize crews, to match up jobs with. volunteer’s ability and available time, and that the right tools and materials are on hand, and to supervise the work.

This could be a volunteer position, but in the event a suitable volunteer can- not be found, we are slowly building a small fund to hire a part time person.

Office and gift shop work, collections management, signage, newsletter, and computer tasks are coordinated by Rose.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Volunteers are the backbone of the Museum. We could not open the doors without them, as they carry out all the main functions. We have put together a small booklet on volunteering for the museum, and will be updating and expanding it as feedback is received.

There are dozens of jobs designed to fit almost any skill level, including work in the office, working with collections, gift shop operations, and of course yard work. If you’d like to help, phone or drop us a line, and we’ll mail you a copy of the booklet which lists most of the jobs, skills required, and an application form which asks how you would like to help and what your still are. We can then enter your name and skills into the computer.

Long time volunteer Ingy Wikene catalogues photos.

VOLUNTEER AIRPLANE RIDES

As a way to provide a treat for volunteers and Air Cadets helping out at events such as “Wings & Wheels”, we used to arrange Volunteer Ride days whereby anyone working a minimum of 16 hours per year was entitled to a ride in one of the Museum’s or a member’s aircraft.

Over time, other ways have evolved to show our appreciation of volunteer’s efforts. These include rides in the helicopter during Wings & Wheels, free food at special events and at workbees, and a free volunteer appreciation barbecue during the summer. Terry Elgood helps out with rides in his Tiger Moth as door prizes, as well.

During this period, one of our flying aircraft has been put on display at the Transportation Museum, others are not licensed, and still others not yet restored. Coordinating a ride day has become almost impossible, and none has been organized for the past two years. John Clark has come to the rescue. He has a list of volunteers who volunteer on a more or less regular basis. Any time that he goes flying in his Cherokee he tries to fill the seats with volunteers. These rides are not 15 minute circuits of Delta Airpark. They are of at least a half hour and often much more in duration and usually involve visits to other airports. Thank you John!

All you have to do to get on John’s list is to become a regular volunteer, and remember to post your time in the volunteer ledger. If you don’t fill out your time, we can’t put you on the list.

Do any other members have airplanes which they could put into the volunteer rides pool? John simply picks names off the list when he wants to go flying, and those who are available at the time get to go. The same list could be given to others who would be willing to take along a passenger when they go flying, and it would only require a little coordination between airplane owners to ensure that everyone gets an opportunity to go.

Geoff Colbeck divides his time between getting a Commercial Pilot’s license and helping John Nutter in the museum’s library.

VOODOO FOR THE MUSEUM

For years, the Museum tried, without success, to arrange the donation or loan of a McDonnell Douglas Voodoo for the collection.

In the meantime, the airplane we wanted went from an active combat ready operational fighter to a training aid as a result of a gear failure on landing. Over the years, parts were robbed or damaged, holes punched for battle damage repair training, the cockpit gutted of all instruments, ejection seats removed, armament pod removed, and engine stripped out.

The canopy had been stripped off as a memento for the Officer’s Mess, and from there as a dog house or something. The gutted and battered remains sat on the infield at Comox Airforce Base, and finally put up for salvage.

Last December, CMFT was allowed to bid on the salvage, and were the successful bidder, with the proviso that the airplane be removed from the air base by January 20th..

Gerry Van Humbeck, Gary Mooney and Ed Lande teamed up to get it loaded onto a rented low bed trailer, plus their own trucks and trailers, and transported it to the Museum site, arriving 11:45 p.m. in early January.

Thanks also to Bob Abello for advice on dismantling, and to Shirley Van Humbeck whose plans to drive to Mexico were delayed.

It’s on site now, still upside down, and with a few more unavoidable dents. It will be patched up and reassembled for display as soon as possible, with missing parts to be replaced as and when they come available.

See photo page 1

1927 Pitcairn Mailing PA-5
1925 Curtiss Racer R3C-1

TWO NEW AIRPLANE DONATIONS

The Museum is very pleased to be the recipients of two new exhibits late last year.

Neil Holmes donated his flying and restored Mooney Mite single place. A thank you also to Lawrie Wallace for tucking it into a corner of his hangar for a few months at no charge.

The second aircraft is the Volmer Sportsman amphibian built by Mr. Wright Chappel in June 1963. It was one of the first post WWII homebuilts constructed in this area, along with Ernie Antreri’s Miranda and Gogi Goguillot’s Termite. Donors are Bert Hampton and Olaf Baumgartner.

MINUTES OF GENERAL MEETING

FEBRUARY 21, 1992 Yic’s Dining Lounge, 13639 104th Ave., Surrey, BC

• CALL TO ORDER: 9:00 P.M., Ed Zalesky in the Chair. 50 Members, 26 guests present. A quorum existed.
• MINUTES OF OCT 18 1991 MEETING Distributed. Motion by Bob Lalonde, seconder Ed Anderson that Minutes be accepted. Carried.
• TREASURER’S REPORT JAN 31, 1992 Distributed. Motion by Doug Hannay, seconder Bill Thompson that report be filed. Carried.
• REPORTS AND BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES:
  • New Homesite: Ed Zalesky reported that lease being negotiated, after which formal approaches to governments and corporations can be made.
  • Volunteer Coordinator’s Report: Mike Gatey unable to present report. Chuck Haigh reported on progress of Waco CCW.
  • Pioneer Book: Publication delayed until Fall, 1992.
  • Volunteer Rides: John Clark giving rides to volunteers any time that he goes flying.
  • Mooney Mite Donation: Neil Homes donated airworthy Mooney Mite. Lawrie Wallace provided space in his hangar for the Mite.
  • McDonnell Douglas Voodoo 101052 purchased as scrap by Museum, to be restored to static display status.
  • Casino Dec 5 & 6, 1992 provided nearly $18,000 towards erection of a shelter for exhibit aircraft.
  • Westwood Mall Display: Laila Bird and Ian Anderson manned a small display in Coquitlam November 9th.
  • Winter Hours for Gift Shop: Officially 10 to 5 Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but unofficially Tuesday through Sun- day from 10 to 5.
  • New government: Work to lobby new government for assistance to begin.
  • Heritage Day Display at Surrey Museum: Steve Heinemann attended a small dis- play on February 15th.
  • Bingo Application: CMFT has made an application to run Bingos on a regular basis as a way to raise funds.
• SPECIAL EVENTS SCHEDULE 1992: List of events distributed. Volunteers solicited for those requiring people to work. (List in Mini newsletter 39.2)
• ADJOURNMENT: 9:20 p.m. on Motion by Earl Gerow, seconded by Fred Gardham.
• NEXT MEETING: AGM April 24, 1992, at Yic’s Dining Lounge (refer to notice Mini newsletter 39.2)