“MINI” NEWSLETTER – APRIL 6, 1984

Canadian Museum of Flight and Transportation 11040 Camble Road, Richmond, B.C., V6X 1L2 (604) 278-9804

FOURTH ANNUAL SPRING DINNER

Everything went so well last time, we couldn’t resist holding another.

• Date & Time: Saturday, April 28, 7:00 PM dinner, bar opens at 6:00 PM.
• Place: St. Paul’s Church Hall, 8251 St. Alban’s Rd., Richmond. see map
• Cost: $8.00 per person. Chinese food. buffet style. Drinks.

Guests are welcome, but both members and guests must reserve tickets in advance, as we need to know how much food to order.

Food is being sold at cost, so we can’t afford any no-shows. If you reserve tickets you must guarantee payment, whether you show up or not. There will be no exceptions.

As usual, we will hold our fun auction. Please bring something as a donation for us to sell. About a $3.00 value, but if you wish to bring more, we won’t mind. Its all in fun, and helps to pay the rental for the hall. At the fall dinner, some lucky people came home with some very nice things, at some very nice prices.

Share a good meal with good company. Renew old acquaintances and make new friends. This is a leisurely evening, and a time to enjoy yourself.

Remember to save your ticket stubs for the door prizes!!!

A variety of entertainment to be provided..

*Please note: Due to the late notice of this dinner, we have decided to accept Visa for payment, but we regret that we are forced to charge a 25¢ per ticket surcharge on Visa payments to help offset the cost of the commission to visa.

FOURTH ANNUAL SPRING DINNER

• DATE: Saturday, April 28, 1984
• TIME: Bar 6:00 p.m., Dinner 7:00 p.m.
• PLACE: St. Paul’s Church Hall, 8261 St. Alban’s Road, Richmond, B.C.
• COST: Chinese Buffet style dinner $8.00 Drinks:
• ENTERTAINMENT:
  • Guest speaker.
  • Fun Auction
  • Renew old acquaintances, make new friends.
• GUESTS WELCOME
• WHAT TO DO NOW! Phone in your reservation to April at 531-2465, or 531-3744, or 278-9804. immediately. Arrange to either send in your cheque, pay at door, or give us your VISA number (25g extra)
• PLEASE NOTE: Please reserve by April 26th as we have to order food in advance. Mail your form and make your phone call as soon as possible so we can accommodate everyone.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING APRIL 19, 8:00 P.M. (Thursday)

at the farm storage site. Main business of the evening is the election of board of directors. Of the total of 20 board members, 5 are permanent (Barry Jackson, Ron Stunden, Bill Thompson, Ed Zalesky, Rose Zalesky). Two seats are reserved for Vancouver Island people, which leaves 13 seats to be filled. Directors are elected for one year terms and can serve no more than 3 years consecutively. It is preferable, but not mandatory that a member serve as committee head for one year before seeking election as a director. Nominating committee is Barry Jackson who can be reached at 255-3825,days or 669-0603 (or Rose Zalesky 531-2465,531- 3744, til 8 p.m.) More nominations are needed. Phone if you want to stand for this responsible position. Nominations accepted until election time, April 19. Director’s meetings are held the second Sunday of every month at 9:30 a.m. Regular attendance is required.

Committees

Operation of the museum is becoming increasingly complex. Members are encouraged to reading. serve on committees. Committee heads also attend director’s meetings and input is encouraged although voting privilege does not apply. The committees are:

• Newsletter researches, collects and edits material with final draft to be approved by directors. Ability to provide completed paste-ups is preferable but not mandatory. Printing is done by office staff, but collating, addressing and mailing should be handled by the committee. Lots of people are needed here, most for only one day a month.
• Recovery and Hauling co-ordinate the transport of aircraft and materials, including arranging transport vehicles, equipment and supplies, fuel, lodging and manpower.
• Special Events includes organizing annual Open House, Fall and Spring Dinners and displays. Gordon Dann has agreed to be committee head but many people are needed for this job.

MARCH 15 GENERAL MEETING REPORT

A short business meeting was followed by entertainment. and general discussion. Ed Batchelor, who was to be guest speaker, was too ill to attend. In place of Ed sharing experiences, three video films were shown – one on the Lockheed SR-71, the “Klahanie” film of the Stranraer, and finally the Mosquito film made during World War II.

NEWSLETTER

First the good news. The Stranraer and Canso articles brought in a small flood of mail from people who had worked on or flew the airplanes, during World War II and after. Wonderful letters which we would like to share with you. Please keep them coming. If we get enough, we’ll consider publishing a booklet. If the letters on hand so far are any indication, it will be very interesting

We need interesting articles for the newsletter. It’s enjoyable reading now. Help us keep it that way by coming forward with your stories. If you feel you can’t write, send us a tape, and we’ll transcribe it or help you with a draft copy. Tell us about any subject that is related to aviation history, preferably if it involves Canadians. Now the bad news. Rob Kennedy who headed up the newsletter committee for the past 24 years has resigned. He has been responsible for turning it into a readable and informative production. He will be sorely missed. We need a new editor. If you feel you can contribute, please phone or write. Refer to section on the Annual Meeting on this subject.

EXPROPRIATION OF STORAGE SITE

Documents served on March 1, 1984.

Surrey municipality has commenced proceedings on the Zalesky family’s 24 acres farm and home for future park development. The property has been made available to the CMFT for storage over past 10 years. As of this writing, nothing is finalized as to when the CMFT material has to be moved, or if there will be any assistance in making the move. Permission has been granted to hold our annual Open House as usual, June 23 and 24. Members will be kept informed of developments as they occur. Please be prepared to voice your strong protest of this expropriation which has all the earmarks of causing great harm to CMFT. In the meantime, write to the minister of Municipal Affairs, the Honorable Bill Ritchie, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, stating that it is an unjust and unnecessary expropriation which should be denied – Surrey already has more parks than its taxpayers can support. Copy to the Zaleskys, please.

MOSQUITO “OPEN HOUSE” MAY 12,10-2

Once again, the crew working on the “Mossie” are opening the shop, for one day only, to visitors. Fabric is now on the wing, and work is again progressing after economic slow-down. Please do not visit the site at any other time, as the crew do not have time to visit and reminisce when they are being paid to work on the airplane. Someone will be on hand to explain work in progress and plans. Coffee and donuts available. Admission free. Viewing hours are from 10:00 to 2:00. How to get there: Take the 401 Freeway East to the Mt. Lehman exit. Turn left (north) onto Mr. Lehman Road and drive for about 3 miles to Hawkins Road. Turn right. After a mile turn right again on to Olund Road. Now you’re heading South. Drive past the helicopter on the front lawn, down the hill and you’ll see a silver building on the right side of the road. That’s it. Bring a friend or someone who was in World War II to bring back the memories. Cameras welcome.

TRANSPORTATION WEEK MAY 28-JUNE 2

This year Transportation Week is May 28 thru June 2. We have been working with the Transportation group and will be devoting a part of our interesting display at the Richmond Square Mall to commemorate it. Be sure to visit the display and to bring your friends.

SHOPPING CENTRE MALL DISPLAYS

You’ve heard it before, but here it is again. Mall displays are virtually our only contact with the public, and are extremely important in promoting our goals and aims. Additionally they provide much needed revenue. We must count on your support in helping to set up, tear down, and to put in a shift or two talking with visitors and helping with the sales of tee shirts, posters, and such.

Upcoming mall displays are:

• Richmond Square – May 28 to June 2 (Transportation Week). Lots of people needed to speak to visitors, answer questions, and help with selling. The people of Richmond are supportive and (naturally) very interested in our museum’s progress and problems.
• Port Moody – May 26 and 27. Small information display (no selling) will be held in conjunction with the McLaughlin-Buick display there. Plans are to include the Benson Autogyro and a small table with brochures and literature. John Moutray will be attending. Anyone else who can assist please phone John at 277-9439 or Rose at 531-3744.
• Brentwood Mall – June 1 to 16. A large display with at least one and perhaps two airplanes, sales tables – the works. Super co-operation from the Mall, with lots of space and advertising. This is one of the best ones, so please offer your help. We especially need people during the day and weeknights. Mostly it’s just talking with people and assisting with selling. Call Rose at 531-3744 or 531-2465 and of fer your help.
• Scottsdale Mall – June 14, 15, 16. A small display with perhaps an engine or other interesting item, and of course the usual tables offering goods for sale. This one should be easy. Please offer your help by phoning Rose at 531-2465.

FULL SCALE DISPLAY SOPWITH CAMEL

A full sized, non-flying Sopwith Camel is planned. We have the plans to build a Camel from scratch and we welcome any offers and sponsors to help build up the “real McCoy” flying replica. This one, however, will be for malls and parades only light enough to handle, sturdy enough to hang together, but not authentic as to construction. Gordon Dann has offered to build it, provided it can be fit into his (Clearbrook B.C.) basement, alongside the Cornell and his Drake projects. How about a sponsor for the approximately $1000 it is going to cost for materials? How about an ingenious and capable helper? Or, is there someone out there who can take on the whole project? We need it for Open House ’84 and we can only supply one person full time to assist.

CORNELL RESTORATION PROJECT

Regretfully, has had to be put “on hold” due to lack of funds. All available money for it has been used up. The crew is ready to build spars and centre section now, but need money for materials. Anybody out there with a soft spot that is willing to put in $50, $100, $500 or even $1000 to keep this project moving a little closer towards completion?

PHONE COMMITTEE

More people needed. Please offer your help.

NORSEMAN RESTORATION PROGRESSING ON SCHEDULE

Five full time people and several spare time volunteers are making good progress on the airplane. Fabric is on the control surfaces and wings are ready for cover. Fuselage has all its stringers and more bits and pieces going on each day. It’s a beautiful job, and is going smoothly under the supervision and instruction of Viggo Petersen, who has lots of experience in that sort of thing. Some of our “certified” mechanics say they are learning more on this project than in 3 years of schooling and training.

VAMPIRE RESTORATION

It’s going slowly. The crew is down to Wally and Dave Stokes, mostly because it has been pushed so far into the corner of the shop that there is not much room to work on it, unless you are as dedicated as they are.

BOLINGBROKE RESTORATION

Wayne Cromie, Brian Weeks and Gary Pooleand are still working on the nose section on Wednesday evenings, in spite of also being crowded into a corner of the shop. The nose section is looking better all the time, but many, many pieces are still missing. Has anybody squirrelled away a pilot or navigator’s seat, by any chance? How about instruments, or any of the cockpit items? Or, how about a supply of rivets or AS-30 Dzus fasteners? Dzus cost more than $1.00 each, and the Boly used hundreds of them.

P.V.I. OPEN HOUSE

A very successful third year. CMFT had the usual booth in the hall, which we very much. appreciate. As always, many old and warm friendships renewed and new friends and contacts made. Thanks to the many people who pitched in and helped.

VANCOUVER ISLAND REPORT

The Vancouver Island members have had a big display at the Harbour Public market since last November, which was open on weekends and whenever people could be found to man the display. We would like to thank the management of the Harbour Public Market for having made the space available to us as long as they could. The display is now being moved to the TILLICUM MALL, where a full store space has been made available to CMFT. The management at Tillicum Mall has always been extremely co-operative, and once again have exhibited their support by providing display space. Our sincere thanks. Thanks are also in order for the people who put in long hours in coming over to Vancouver and hauling the airplanes and display material and the merchandise to Victoria, setting up the display, making showcases and displays, and of course the hours spent manning the display. Dave O’Byrne and Peter Knowles were the backbone of the operation, but a big thank you also goes out to Mike Gatey, Jane Etzikom, Pat Morrison, Dave Reumke, Bruce Jubb, Adele Hatch, John Gough, and Stoney Jackson.

The new display will be set up as soon as possible. If you can help in setting up or in manning, please phone Pete at 477-3684 or Dave O’Byrne at 382-4672. Lots of help needed. Please get involved, and try to keep the store open during the week as well as on weekends.

EXPO ’86 AND CMFT

indications are that some CMFT airplanes will be included in on-site displays at EXPO 86. This will give world-wide exposure and credibility. Now, all that remains is for CMFT to somehow raise the money to restore the airplanes needed. The airplanes will be placarded with the donor’s names and the names of major contributors to the restoration.

WEEKEND TOUR GUIDES URGENTLY NEEDED

The storage site in South Surrey (13527 Crescent Rd) is open for public visits every Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 to 3:00. Visitors MUST be accompanied by a guide. Improvements are being made all the time, and one of these is that signs are being made up for each of the airplanes which assign a number to it and give a brief description. The numbers match those on the list of airplanes which can be handed to visitors, making the tour guide’s job very much easier. We urgently require tour guides. Please offer your help. If you can work one shift (5 hrs) per month it will take the pressure off those few people who have been doing this very important work til now. All visitors come into the Gift Shop to browse, so please offer your help for the same 5-hr shift to wait on customers if you can’t help with tours. Gift Shop open week days from 9:00 to 4:30.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

CMFT has just signed up the 932nd member, with new people joining us all the time. Members are our most important asset. With- out their support there would be no Museum. ….we are all V.I.P.’s. Please check the label on this newsletter. The date of expiry is on the top right. Please send in your renewal ($15. per year for general membership) if has expired or about to expire. CMFT had offered free memberships to students provided that they involved themselves in volunteer activities. Some students did far more than their share, but the majority did nothing at all. With the mounting cost of newsletter production and distribution we have had to cancel this classification. Young people who have not reached their 16th birthday can become JUNIOR MEMBERS at a cost of $9. annually ($6. if someone else in your family holds a regular membership). Members are encouraged to visit the storage site and bring guests during the weekend visiting hours, or by appointment weekdays.

BCRIC SHARES

B.C. members: there is a novel and cost- free way to help your museum. Donate your five free BCRIC shares to CMFT. They may someday be worth something, and the money put to good use. Send them in and receive a tax-deductible receipt for their current value.

CHANGE IN GENERAL MEETING DATES

General Meetings will now be held monthly instead of bi-monthly. Alternate meetings will be mostly social with little or no business, to give time for story telling, reminiscing, renewing friendships and making new friends. Business sessions on other meetings will be kept as short as possible. Workshop at the Crescent Road storage site will continue to be the location of the meetings until it proves too small or inconvenient or until we are booted off by Surrey. Other meeting sites will be considered.

3RD ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE JUNE 23 & 24 PLANNING WELL UNDER WAY

Yes, that’s right! Two days! The first Open House attracted 500 to 600 people, while attendance jumped to 4,000 to 5,000 people for Open House 1983. We’re now experienced at the job, and are enjoying great community support. We can realistically expect to increase the number of visitors considerably, especially since the event will go on for two days.

Several meetings have been held so far, and more will be scheduled as there is a great deal of work involved in making the Open House a success. The Open House is probably out most important annual function. It is our best opportunity to inform and educate the general public of what we have to offer the community.

Tentative program calls for the following activities, although not necessarily in the order given or on which days they will occur.

Gates open 9:00 a.m. (volunteers responsible for that morning’s activities must be here well before that time) Gates close to the public at 3:30 and bar opens to members and guests at this time. Sunday evening dinner: 6:00 p.m. (no dinner Saturday) Events:

• Hot Air Balloon rides (tethered) $5 per person
• Gift shop open both days
• Food and refreshments served all day, both days, additional to dinner on Sunday.
• Beer Garden (if permission obtained)
• Tours of site all day, both days
• Red Baron Skit
• Door prizes all day
• Colouring contest, maybe the Dairyland petting zoo, and other events for kids
• Fly past CMFT flying airplanes and perhaps others
• Information tables from various aviation related organizations
• Fantasy Auction(service auction)
• Memory Lane a shady spot where people can sit and talk over old aviation times
• Working Demonstration of aircraft fabric work (hopefully)
• Vintage Car Display and tours: about 100 cars from the Vintage Car Club will attend.
• Motorcycle Display-looking for a collection
• Fire Engine Display
• Model Airplane Display and contest
• Possible Ultralight Display
• CAF Display (if can be arranged)
• Helicopter Display

Please get involved. Help YOUR museum by supporting it not only through membership, which is needed and appreciated, but wherever possible, with active support on special events such as the Open House, and other short or long term projects. There is a spot for you -please volunteer. None of us are “experts”. We all need each other’s help, especially yours. Phone 531-2465,531-2465,276-9004

SAT. & SUN. WORKBEES POORLY ATTENDED

People MUST turn out to help clean up the yard in preparation for placing airplanes on outside display for the summer. Phone during the week to let us know when you’re coming.Turn out on Sunday has been dismal, so except for tour guides and those working on specific projects, work bees on Sundays will be by pre-arrangement.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED

Our jigsaw died, along with a couple of our ancient hand drills. Replacements gratefully accepted. An Ohmmeter, some sheet metal rollers, a parts washing cabinet and a portable welder would get good use, also.

New Air Peril Revealed at Inquest on British Flyer

by HERBERT BAILEY. (By Cable to The Province. Copyright, 1925, by British United Press.)

LONDON, May 30-A new peril of the air is revealed in the testimony given at the Inquest on the death of Flight Sergeant Frank Lowry, who died while carrying out wireless tests in an airplane, over Andover Afr drome: The flying officer in charge gave evidence that after they had. been in the air for fifteen minutes he noticed a peculiar smell and saw smoke Issuing from the rear of the cockpit. On investigation he found that Lowry had collapsed at the bottom of the cockpit. The only conclusion he was able to draw as to the cause of the smoke was that Lowry must have able to draw as to the cause of the smoke was that Lowry must have come in contact with an electrio current in the air due to atmospherlo causes. Never in his career, he said had he heard of anyone being killed- by atmospheric electricity, although apparatus was sometimes damaged. Experts are now carrying out exhaustive tests to discover if this sinister force has been responsible for any of the unexplained air crashes, and how It is possbile to protect pilots against it.

The above clipping is from a collection gathered between 1918- 1925 by Mr. B. M. Curtis of Barriere, 8.C. and donated by Mrs. Brenda Morrit via Mrs. M. Morton of Burnaby, Our thanks for this very special donation.