“MINI” NEWSLETTER SEPT 22/83 Canadian Museum of Flight and Transportation

11040 Cambie Road, Richmond, B.C., V6X 1L2 (604) 278-9804

• THIRD ANNUAL FALL DINNER
  • It’s that time of year again. set aside the date, and make your reserviation NOW!! GRANVILLE AVE
• DATE AND TIME
  • Friday, October 14, 7:00 P.M. (Dinner) Bar Opens at 6:00 P.M.
• PLACE:
  • St. Paul’s Church Hall, 8251 St. Alban’s Road, Richmond, (see map).
• COST:
  • $8.00 per person – CHINESE FOOD (BUFFET STYLE)
• COME EARLY to help set up and get ready, or just to relax and have a “happy hour”
• GUESTS WELCOME.
  • But please let us know how many are coming, as we must order food.
• FOOD IS BEING SOLD AT COST, AND WE CAN’T AFFORD “NO-SHOWS”.
  • If you reserve tickets you must guarantee payment whether you show up or not. No excpetions.
• THE FOOD IS EXCELLENT, THE COMPANY THE BEST!
  • Renew old acquaintances and make new friends. This is a social gathering with little or not business conducted.
• A FUN AUCTION WILL BE HELD, AS USUAL.
  • Bring something as a donation to auction, please. About a $3. value (more if you wish). It’s all in fun but helps pay hall rental. Auction will be limited to 30 minutes.
• DOOR PRIZES AS USUAL
• WE’VE SAVED THE BEST TILL LAST! ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE EVENING IS SOMETHING SPECIAL
  • A. J. “Jim” Spilsbury, co-founder of Q.C.A. will give a very entertaining talk & slide show on the origon of Q.C.A. (Queen Charlottle Airlines) and early coastal flying. Don’t miss the opportunity to join us in sharing Jim’s experiences while helping to make B.C.’s aviation history.

MOSQUITO OVERHAUL OPEN HOUSE

– OCT. 22, 1983 at Masqui, The third annual Fall Open House is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.. If you’re interested in the progress of this beautiful and rare airplane, the OPEN HOUSE days are the only time to do it. Members are on hand to duscuss the project with you, and those of you with a soft spot in their heart for the “Mossie” can reminisce and relive old times. But, we repeart, do not make visits to the site at times other than Open House days unless you have something to contribute to the project, or are willing to help on a regular basis. The men working on the project are there to work, and there is an awful lot of work left to be done. They don’t have the time or the authority to spend their time chatting and giving special tours. Please respect this request. The museum is funding all the expenses and material costs for the project at present, and we must make every cent count. Those of you are able, and would like to contribute, are encouraged to drop a donation in the mail, or at Open House. Phone for instructions on how to get to the site.

NEXT GENERAL MEETING:

NOV. 17th, 1983, 8 p.m., at the storage site. Come and bring a guest. We will have a movie or a slide presentation at break, and the coffee pot is on all evening. Meetings are held in the shop, so you can monitor progress on your pet project.

QUARTELY NEWSLETTER

– Will be out during October. We’ll need help with the printing, collating, folding, stapling and addressing. One day of your time is all we need. Please phone in and leave your name so that we can call on you when its ready to do.

GUIDED TOURS

– People from all over the world are coming to visit the Museum. Special arrangements are made to accomodate out of town visitors during regular working hours, but the bulk of the visitors come on weekends. The storage site will be open for weekend tours til about mid-October. Four or five people have been doing tours all summer. We keep asking for volunteers, but those who offer seem to be too busy to come out when they are called. Please phone in if you can help. It is not fair that the same people give up their weekends week after week.

MINUTES OF THE SEPT. 15, 1983 MEETING

are included in this newsletter. Catch up on all the museum happenings.

BLACKBURN SHARK

– John DeVisser has a crew all ready to dig out and retreive the engine from the Shark, and will report next newsletter. The floast, and other fuselage chunks arrived here through the kind co-operation of B.C. Telephone Co. utilizing an empty truck on a back-haul, and our thanks go out to them for their help.

EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

being applied for to restore the Norseman, and possibly other projects, if enough people can be found who are willing to really work. The job pays from $200 to $350. per week, depending on your qualifications, but to qualify you must not be receiving U.I.C. benefits. Come in and fill out at application.

The NORSEMAN is expected to be leaving for Vancouver Sept. 30. We are trying to organize another Manpower project this time hiring who have no unemployment insurance benefits left, or are not eligible for U.I.C. The original list of applicants has been mis-filed. Please apply again immediately.

The organization and cataloging of PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION is still a long way from being finished. Please volunteer your time (on a fairly regular basis) if you possibly can. Rod Ramage, Ross Gregory, Fabienne Theberge have been working on it, as have the summer students, but new material keeps coming in, and there are still hundreds of photos that need their negatives matched and put intoalbums.

The LIBRARY continues to grow, and now that the summer student program has ended, we need someone to come in regularly (for three or four hours a week – more if you can spare the time) to keep the incoming material up to date and continue with binding and preservation of library materials.

WORK RECORDS. It is imperative that volunteers keep an accurate records of hours spent on museum work. For one thing, we will be able to judge time required to do similar projects in the future, but most importantly, the time is recognized as the Museum’s contribution when making application for funding. Time is credited at the rate of $5. per hour and means that we may be able to get matching funds. So, work lots of hours, and be sure to mark them down. We have forms at the office. Sign in and sign out if the work is done at the storage site, or take a form with you if your project is a do-it-at-home or a travel-oriented one. PLEASE USE THE FORMS. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND WORTH $$ TO THE MUSEUM.

COMPUTER INPUTTING (ALL SAME TYPING). Our new computer has just been delivered, and there are masses of information to be typed in. The programs are still being developed but we’ll be ready for the flood of volunteers offering to type in the information. One finger typing is perfectly acceptable, and you don’t have to know how to run a computer. Please phone in now and tell us how many days or hours per week you can work. No, it can’t be done at home.

COMPUTER ASSISTANCE WANTED: Someone familiar with dBASE II to help Rose learn how to use it. Prefer someone who lives close enough toCrescent Beach to be available in case of problems. Pay is the same as Rose gets.

INFORMATION POOL

Stored in the heads of the supporters and members of the Canadian Museum of Flight and Transportation is a wealth of information. Virtually all of our important “finds” have been as aresult of a member or interested individual passing on a scrap of information, which was subsequently followed up and lead to the acquisition of an airplane, a much-needed part, an item for our Library, or for a display. Please keep the tips coming in- including those items that seem insignificant. You might have the missing bit of information that will tie a jig-saw puzzle of information Logether and make it possible to obtain or locate an item. You are all doing a terrific job of passing on information. Please keep it up.

RESTORATION AND RECOVERY MEETING,

SEPT. 17, 1983. 18 people turned up for the 3 hour meeting at the storage site. The various restoration projects were discussed, and problems and priorities worked out. Its your museum, get involved. Some of you forgot the meeting, and others apparently don’t care enough. 250 Members indicated that they wanted to help in restorations. So…how come only 10 came to the planning meeting?

RESTORATIONS PROGRESS

The TIGER MUTH is slowly being finished. The engine has finally arrived, after a costly and frustrating search for serviceable parts. Our very special thanks to Norm McEachren who, under the supervision of Sig Petersen at Valley Aero Engines facility, overhauled the engine. It took a lot of work and a lot of runing around. Thank you, Norm. The canopy is now pretty well finished, and the cowls are expected to arrive any day. The Canada Employment project which made it possible to rebuild this airplane ends on Sept. 30th, and there will still be work to do. We welcome volunteers.

The VAMPIRE has been at a virtual standstill all summer, with Gary Gibson often the only one to turn up for work. Michel Ferland, and Ray Marbray are now on the job and along with Mark Zalesky, Dave Smith and Jim Kneesch comprise the crew. The Wednesday night sessions should start to produce visible results. Lots of room for more help, especially someone who knows Vampires. Where are you retired RCAF and Reserve people now that we need you to work? More manuals have been donated, so all that is needed is labor and cash for materials. Its in a nice well lit ship, and the coffee pot is on for the work crew.

The CORNELL is at a dead stop. The project is in Clearbrook, and Gordon Dann is the “crew chief”. Gordon would like some help – there are a lot of ribs to build, and every one is different. Ian Morrison has been working for months re-drawing the original plans, and making new ones. The whole set will be for sale when they are completed, for anyone contemplating building their onu. Phone Gordon at 859-6905 and offer your help. We’re still looking for parts, as the airplane is not complelte. A tailwheel was donated this week, which is a very welcome item. There are still parts and pieces in barns and garages, and stuck under houses. Pegar kop looking.

The STRANRAER is still on the dyke at the farm, and unfortunately, the water-borne “looky-loos” can’t seem to leave it alone. Our volunteer crane operator has been busy, but we hope to have it closer to the main buildings soon. The big job of scraping barnacles and ridding the hull of its accumulation of sand and mud have been started. INKY KLETT spent a day with the Mosquitos and gave blood but there is still a lot left to do. We’re seriously considering the idea of building a static display up, using whatever materials we can get in conjunction with the genuine parts we have. This will take a great deal of work and ingenuity. How about offering you help! At this point, its cleaning and scraping and try ing to stop further deterioration. It’s a BIG airplane, even the part of it that we have, so we won’t be able to get it inside, except for one component at a time.

The BOLINGBROKE crew haven’t been doing much, but lots of promises to “get with it” now that summer vacations and other important things are behind us. Provided that work actually takes place on it, the nose section will be moved into the shop for work…and right back out again if it doesn’t get worked on regularly. We have very little shop space, so it must be used for active projects. More help needed for replacing metal skins, stripping, painting and such.

The DAGELING PRIMARY GLIDER is now just about ready for cover. How about a few of you experienced homebuilders or others with fabric experience getting together to get it covered before weather gets too cold. Inexperienced people need ed too, as lots of sanding and ribstitching to do which is easy to learn. Shop space will be allocated to the Dageling if the recover project can be organized. Phone in, please.

1983-84 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• Cromie, Wayne, Richmond, B.C. Partsman
• Duncan, Bruce, Richmond, B.C., Salesman
• Swartz, Ken, W.Vancouver, B.C. Student
• Griesbeck, Wener, Abbotsford, B0 Transport C
• Kennedy, Rob, Richmond, B.C., Supervisor
• Thompson, W.A. Garden Bay BC Businessmen
• Stunden Ron, Richmond, B.C. Technician
• Jackson, Barry, Langley, B.C. Contractor
• Zalesky, Edward, Surrey, B.C. Parts deal.
• Zalesky, Rose, Surrey, B.C. OFF/ Mgr.
• Jones, David F. Victoria, B.C. Civil Serv.
• Hatch, Adele, Victoria, B.C. Housewife
• O’Byrne, Dave, Victoria, B.C. Sales Agent

OFFICERS, who are appointed, are:

• Zalesky, Edward, President
• Zalesky, Rose Vice-President
• Duncan, Bruce Sec’y-Treasurer
• Jones, Dave, Chairman, Vancouver Island
• Knowles, Peter, Acting V.Chair, Vr. Island
• Hatch, Adele, Public Relations, Vr Island

COMMITTE HEADS, who are appointed, attend Directors meetings

• Kennedy, Rob Newsletter
• Manning, Wayne Recovery & Haul
• Dann, Gorcion Special Events
• Vernon, Jerry Research
• Swartz, Ken Communications

THE CANADIAN MUSEUM OF FLIGHT AND TRANSPORTATION MINUTES OF A GENERAL MEETING, SEPT. 15, 1983 13527 Crescent Road, Surrey, B.C. V4A 2W1

• CALL TO ORDER:
  • 8:00 P.M.
• MEMBERS PRESENT:
  • 27 at opening (although a total of more than 50 eventually arrived)
• GUESTS:
  • Dolly Hoban, Paul Conway
• MINUTES OF JUNE 16, 1983
• MEETING:
  • Distributed to attendees.
• INTERIM TREASURER’S REPORT:
  • Posted for period ended July 31, 1983. Books in audit.
• REPORTS: RESTORATION:
  • VAMPIRE – Gary Gibson reports lack of participation by volunteers. Has been working mostly be himself. Wed. night and Sat. are work days.
  • AUSTER – Val Hinch reports ready to cover. Very little done during summer, but expect will be worked on over winter.
  • BOLY – Coming into shop in next week or so.
  • TIGER MOTH – Ted Harris. Engine has arrived, glass here. Coming along fine now.
  • MOSQUITO – Repairs to leading edges required.
  • DAGELING – Pretty well ready for cover for week starting Sept. 19 (Ted Harris) CORNELL – Ian Morrison reports no work being done except his drawings.
• RECOVERY:
  • Stranraer at Belize Inlet Bill Thompson reports on dyke now, along with Bellanca Skyrocket from Growler cover and two spruce logs. A standing ovation given to Bill for job done.
  • Stranraer at Quesnel – Bruce reports has been sold for scrap, and we are trying to trace the buyer.
  • Beech (XX)- PVI instructors were to arrange transport.
  • Norseman – Donor advises property sold, move it.
  • Shark – John DeVisser reports one third here, one third in Vancouver on B.C. Tel truck, and 1/3 still in ground. John asking for volunteers to dig.
  • Barkley-Grow Offer of donation to use withdrawn as had already been sold to the Calgary museum several years ago.
  • Fairey Battle Rob Chanona brought out from Quebec (part of) Problems on way with tires and gas at 592 litre in Quebec.
• VANCOUVER ISLAND REPORT:
  • Val Hinch reported, as well as telephoned report from Adele Griz Lyne resigned effective Sept. 1, 1983. Tofino trip is on for Weekend of Oct. 8, 9, 10. Workparty removed prop from Fairchild 82 engine. Pete Knowles checked on Beech at Salmon Arm. Showed video tapes to two meetings where 60-70 persons were present. Peter will be taking over Griz’s responsibilities.
• TOUR GUIDES –
  • Needed til mid-October.
• RESEARCH AND PR.-
  • Keen young people geeting involved. Ken Swartz away in school in Montreal for 1 year. Jeff Cooper reported sending letters, contacting AF Assn wings. Jerry has researched all CMFT airplane Shows.
• ABBOTSOFRD AIR SHOW:
  • Rose reported a net of approximately $5,000.
• PACIFIC AVIATION MUSEUM (RED BARD)
  • Frank and Bruce reported took Fleet and Waco down for weekend of 20, 21 Sept. Good P.R.
• MALL DISPLAYS:
  • More help needed for future Mall displays.
• CAPA CONFERENCE:
  • Bruce reports hosted by CMFT. Very successful
• WORK BEES:
  • Every Sat. and Sun 8-3 p.m., rain or shine. Much work to be done.
• FALL DINNER:
  • Agreed to hold in Richmond, Chinese Food, $8. per person, Oct. 14th.
• GRANVILLE ISLAND PROJECT –
  • 32,000 sq. ft. building will cost $500,000 to refurbish according to extimates collected by Ian Morrison.
• BREAK:
  • Jerry Vernon gave an excellent presentation of slides showing CMFT airplanes and progress. Impressive. Drawing of a number of articles donated by Ross Kimmerly took place.
• OLD BUSINESS:
  • The motion to discuss the setting up of the Vancouver Island Branch as a legal entity was taken off the table on motion by Rob Chanona and seconded by Werner Griesbeck. Discussion held as authorized by motion. A number of suggestions made by members.
• ANNOUNCEMENTS:
  • Battle of Britain Memorial Parade will be held in Stanley Park. Norm McEachren applauded for overhauling the Tiger Moth engine, in co-operation with and at Valley Aero Engines shop in Langley. Flypast, Air International and Aeroplane Monthly available to CMFT on a per issue basis, with profit accruing to CMFT. Request for someone to take on the lining up of Meetings entertainment.
• ADJOURNMENT:
  • 10:06 P.M.

AND ONCE AGAIN! AND AGAIN! AND AGAIN! AND AGAIN!

More people must attend the weekend work-bees for the next 3 or 4 weekends. There is much work to do before the weather turns miserable. 2 & 3 shed has to be reorganized and more airplanes fitted in in better order than now. We must find room for the HUP, Howard, Leopard, Tiger and other airplanes now outside. We have lots of work in the library. The shelves hade to be re-shuffled to make room for more units. Several hundred posters need rolling, a collection of plastic scale models need to be stored, and a list made, show-boxes to repair, hundreds of snapshots to be matched to negatives and about 15,000 magazines to be bound. The library work can be done any day of the week from 8:00 – 4:30, or evenings, but the outside work is best done on the weekends. Although, if you can only come weekdays, we’ll find some “one-man” jobs for you.