CANADIAN MUSEUM OF FLIGHT AND TRANSPORTATION
MINI NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 30, 1986
CMFT’s Bolingbroke takes shape at the storage site, September 1985.
OUR APOLOGIES
This mini is sent out to keep everyone informed until we have the chance to produce a regular newsletter. Things have been extremely busy as a result of Expo and we are only just now starting to catch up. Please bear with us and we should have something out to you soon.
NEWS BRIEFS
ABBOTSFORD AIR SHOW:
The Airshow this year was a tremendous success, both for CMFT and for the Airshow in general. As you may have heard, attendance was far beyond anything anticipated, and officials had to close the gates early in the day because of capacity crowds. CMFT brought out the Fleet Finch, Waco INF and Sopwith Camel, as well as the usual gift shop and tee shirt booths. Our thanks to the people who came to help, and to the many others who offered to that we just didn’t have space for.
COMOX AIR DISPLAY:
The Comox Airforce Base had an “air display” on August 3, which CMFT attended with the Fleet Finch on display and a few items for sale. The show attracted a large crowd of people, and generated a lot of interest for CMFT, as well as some revenue from the sales.
PAT BAY AIR FAIR:
The Victoria EAA chapter sponsored an aircraft display at Pat Bay Airport on Aug. 17. CMFT attended with both the Fleet and the Waco, and used the opportunity to give some of the volunteer rides for the Vancouver Island group at the same time. Unfortunately through a lack of communication, some volunteers were not informed, and missed out. We will have to send one of the aircraft over again to get the people we missed. Thanks to the people who came out and supported CMFT, and to member George Spence who parked his Chimpunk with our aircraft for a more impressive display.
CAPA CONFERENCE:
CMFT hosted the annual conference of the Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association, which represents the aviation museums across Canada. The meetings were very productive, and the delegates really enjoyed their stay in Vancouver. Our thanks to the people who helped drive the delegates around, and to the crew of the Martin Mars who showed the endees their impressive aircraft.
NORTH SHORE MUSEUM DISPLAY:
CMFT has several items on loan to the North Shore Museum until next summer, including the Bensen Gyrocopter, Spezio Sport wing and tailplanes, DC-8 model, and several small artifacts. If you are in the area drop by and see the display.
SUMMER TOUR SEASON:
This summer has been extremely busy for tours at the storage site, with many visitors from all over the world coming to see us as a result of the display at Expo.The average count throughout the summer was 20 per day on weekdays and as many as 150 per day on weekends holidays. In spite of being short of help, we managed to accommodate almost everyone wanting tours. Special thanks to the few people who turned up on weekends to help us make it through.
AIR GUNNERS RE-UNION:
On Sept. 6, CMFT hosted a tour for 40 air gunners from a re-union being held in Burnaby. Everyone really enjoyed the day. Thanks to Harold Olsen for bringing the group out and to all the volunteers who came out to show them around and serve lunch to the group.
SITE CLOSED FOR TOURS:
Sunday Oct. 26 was our last day open for tours for the season. We will re-open again in March (weather permitting). We would like to remind everyone that there are no self-guided tours allowed – please do not ask for an exception as this policy is for your own safety as well as that of the aircraft.
WORK BEES:
Starting immediately we will need lots of help to put the aircraft away for the winter mostly strong bodies for lifting, etc. Please phone ahead to see when to come out if only one person shows up there is not a lot that can be done. The shop crew is here Tuesday thru Saturday, so please call and offer your help.
GIFT SHOP OPEN:
The Gift Shop will stay open Monday thru Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We will be closed Dec. 20 to Jan. 4 for holidays, so please make any purchases for Christmas, etc. early. We have a great selection of aviation related gift items, and are now getting new stock of items sold out at the Airshow. Keep us in mind when buying for Christmas, birthdays, or other special occasions and remember that all proceeds from sales go towards the restoration and disn of aircraft.
GENERAL MEETING SCHEDULE:
The schedule is as follows for upcoming General Meetings:
- NOVEMBER 20, 1986
- MARCH 19, 1987
- APRIL 15, 1987
- JANUARY 15, 1987
- FEBRUARY 19, 1987
PLEASE NOTE:
There is no meeting in December. The April 16 meeting is the Annual General Meeting when the elections are held. At most meetings we try to have some form of entertainment in addition to the business, such as a slide show or speaker. Unfortunately we do not know in advance who it will be, but sometimes a surprise can be better.
GORDON PETERS NIGHT:
An auction/slide show organized by the Pacific AME Association is slated for Friday Nov. 7 at the Lindair Hangar at Vancouver Airport South. Proceeds go towards a bursary in Gordon Peters name for deserving AME students. For more information phone: 278-9330. Everyone welcome.
H-21 HELICOPTER:
The Boeing Vertol H-21 helicopter which was stored in Arnprior, Ontario has been moved to the museum storage site. Special thanks to Jerry Van Humbeck and Peter DeVries for donating their time, vehicles, money and ingenuity for the trip, and got it here despite some unbelieveable obstacles.
EXPO PAVILION FOR CMFT:
A Vancouver Sun article several weeks ago stated that CMFT had acquired an Expo Pavilion. This is not the case. The true story is that the pavilion was offered to CMFT on the provision that we had a firm commitment from either Surrey or the Province (Boundary Bay Project) that the museum had a permanent place to locate the building. Unfortunately, we could not get that support and consequently lost the pavilion.
MEMBERS LOUNGE AND MEETING ROOM:
One of the projects planned for the New Horizon’s Senior’s Wing was to complete the Atco building now at the museum as a meeting room/member’s lounge. The seniors are sort of “burnt out” from the Expo project and would welcome any assistance with leveling, interior work, fixtures and furnishings and other touch-ups to make the building useable.
EXPO A HUGE SUCCESS:
The display at Expo was very successful, both in the amount of work accomplished and in the amount of recognition for CMFT. During the past 5 1/2 months a large portion of the 22 million visitors to the fair stopped by our Stampe restoration as those of you who helped out at the site well know. The Lysander, Norseman and Quickie were probably the most photographed airplanes in the world during the summer. We would like to thank the many people who helped out on the restoration project, especially Frank Coulter and Fred Gardhom for over-seeing the project. The project required over 80 volunteer hours each day to fully staff the booth. Some days we were short people, and some days we had too many, but we managed to get the aircraft completed, and at the same time tell the world a lot about the CMFT. For those of you who didn’t see the aircraft during the last few weeks of the fair, the Expo logo and colour flash was put on the tail – and looks great! The aircraft will be flown in the Expo colours at airshows, displays and other functions, and you can all be very proud you had a part in its restoration
VOLUNTEER RIDES DAY:
Volunteer appreciation rides were given on Sept. 27 at Delta Air Park, with a total of 25 people coming out for the flights. We had lots of aircraft willing to give rides, including the Fleet and Waco, Wayne Manning and his J-3 Cub, Randy Jackson and his Beech Debonair and Dave Smith and his Bellanca Cruisair. Thanks to the people who offered their aircraft, even though we didn’t have enough people to make use of all of them. Unfortunately, many of the people who deserved rides were volunteering at either Expo or the museum that day, and missed out and others were out of town or had visitors. We will have another rides day in the spring, so if you missed out please let us know and we will put you on the list for the next one.
FABRIC WORKSHOP:
The fabric workshop will be started up again as soon as we have a reasonable number of people committed to take the course. The cost is $40 per person, which goes towards the cost of materlals. This is an excellent opportunity to learn how to recover an aircraft from scratch, as well as helping the museum to complete restorations. The course will run every Monday and Wednesday night from 7:09 to 10:00. You can attend as many sessions as you wish for the one fee. Please phone and sign up if you are interested.
REVISED ZALESKY/WARD PROPERTY PLAN:
The latest report from Surrey council is that the newest plan for the property does not include CMFT in any way, shape or form. Everything else in included in the new “park” such as the Surrey Museum, boat building shops, etc. but the official word is that there is no room for CMFT here. A recommendation was made that CMFT could relocate behind the Airfow Ultralight field off King George Hwy and Colebrook Road but nothing has been said to us yet.
VOLUNTEER COMPUTER OPERATOR WANTED:
We desperately need someone to input lots of data, as well as update what is already on the computer. Experience is preferred, but we are willing to offer excellent training to someone who is willing to make a committment to come on a regular basis. Please call Rose or April at the museum.
BOLINGBROKE DISPLAY:
Those of you who have visited the museum recently will have noticed the Bristol Bolingbroke which we now have put together for display. It is what can be called a cosmetic overhaul – it is not a proper restoration. It has been put together using whatever genuine pieces we have, and utilizing other material such as wood and fabric to make it look complete. Eventually when we have enough parts we will put it together properly, but for now at least it looks like a real airplane – better than the heap on the ground that it was before.
VAMPIRE:
The DeHavilland Vampire jet has been restored to static display condition, and is now our gate guardian at the museum site. Several comments have been made that it “looks ready to take off” so we can assume that it looks pretty good.
FLOATS FOR NORSEMAN:
Austin Airways have found and donated to CMFT a damaged set of 7170 Floats for our Norseman, CF-BSC. They are hard to find, and very expensive. Thanks to Austin Airways for their support. They will be repaired and fitted on to ‘BSC to complete the restoration. If anyone is heading this way from Northern Ontario with a trailer, we would like to hear from you.
CHECK YOUR EXPIRY DATE:
Please check the upper right corner of your address label, which shows your membership number and expiry date. If you have expired, or are about to soon, we would appreciate your renewal. We need all the support we can get. Page 6
THE CANADIAN MUSEUM OF FLIGHT AND TRANSPORTATION *** 6TH ANNUAL FALL DINNER ***
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29, 1986 Bar 6:00 PM – Dinner 7:30 PM – Chinese Food Buffet
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER: *** PETER BOWERS *** aircraft designer, photographer and author
Location: St. Paul’s Church Hall, 8251 St. Albans Road, Richmond
TICKETS: $10.00 per person MEMBER & FAMILY $12.00 per person NON-MEMBERS
NOTE PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS AVAILABLE
Phone April at 531-3744, 531-2465 or mail your reservation form today.
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 25.
Please note: If you reserve tickets they must be paid for whether you attend or not as food is ordered according to the number of reservations.
STAMPE SVACU STAMPE VAC CMFT’s Stampe in the final stages of restoration at the Expo 86 site.