Canadian Heritage Flight

[aesop081]

Agreed!  There are a couple of them up at Borden, as well as a few others scattered around the country. 

Baggotville and Comox each have one as well

 

[Bandit1]

FYI...I'm pursuing this...I know it'll take time and all but I think that it's something worth trying for.

Any support (verbal encouragment) would be welcome, and I'll try to update this thread when I can with information.

 

[krustyrl]

Here's a fellow who has several flying Vintage Aircraft who flys out of the Airport in Gatineau.


http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/media/press_releases/14jul06.shtml


He is an avid collector and pilot .

 

[Globesmasher]

FYI...I'm pursuing this...I know it'll take time and all but I think that it's something worth trying for.

Any support (verbal encouragment) would be welcome, and I'll try to update this thread when I can with information.

Rather than re-invent the wheel and take on the huge associated workload (you can tell I'm truly lazy) ... why not try to contact the RAF.  They have a very active "Heritage Flight" from what I understand ... just the sort of thing you are trying to push for on this side of the Atlantic.

Might be worth a try.  Couldn't hurt.

 

[Bandit1]

Rather than re-invent the wheel and take on the huge associated workload (you can tell I'm truly lazy) ... why not try to contact the RAF.  They have a very active "Heritage Flight" from what I understand ... just the sort of thing you are trying to push for on this side of the Atlantic.

Might be worth a try.  Couldn't hurt.

Thanks for the tip Globesmasher.  I've built up relationships with 1 CAD and found out that something is in the works, starting with the Centennial anniversary and maybe moving forward from there.  I'm getting a chance to meet with those involved this weekend at the air show here in Toronto to talk about it all.  I've also been in contact with the folks over at http://www.airshowbuzz.com (great site with great videos and stills) who fly and perform in the USAF Heritage Flight and will be talking with them alot more in the near future as well about things - as you said, easier not to re-invent the wheel. 

Thanks to all for their help....this WILL come together, and when it does, hopefully everyone in this country will see just how proud we should be of where we came from and where we're going.

 

[Globesmasher]

Oops - I shouldn't have called it the RAF Heritage Flight.
It is actually called the RAF Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight.

Checkout their website at http://www.bbmf.co.uk/

They keep and incredible inventory of WW2 aircraft flying for airshows etc .... and the aircraft are kept and maintained to modern day Technical Airworthiness Standards overseen by the MOD and RAF.  It's incredible.

There is no sound that beats the roar of those Merlin engines ........ goosebumps I tell ya'.

I think this is the sort of thing you're pursuing .... I think.

 

[observor 69]

Oops - I shouldn't have called it the RAF Heritage Flight.
It is actually called the RAF Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight.

Checkout their website at http://www.bbmf.co.uk/

They keep and incredible inventory of WW2 aircraft flying for airshows etc .... and the aircraft are kept and maintained to modern day Technical Airworthiness Standards overseen by the MOD and RAF.  It's incredible.

There is no sound that beats the roar of those Merlin engines ........ goosebumps I tell ya'.

I think this is the sort of thing you're pursuing .... I think.

In the latter years  of my career I did a lot of Flight Safety.  Upon retirement I found myself working as a volunteer at the Lone Star Museum in Galveston, TX.    http://www.lsfm.org/ 
Goosebumps oh ya....but only from watching this organization flying heritage aircraft in shows and about the country.
At the time I figured it was just a matter of time before these Texans slowly destroyed their fleet due to a lack of professional standards of maintenance and operation. 
They're working on it.

If an organization is going to be set up to display and operate these rare and few in number aircraft best they be under the care of professionals.

 

[Bandit1]

Some of the planes I wouldn't mind involving in the Flight....

 

[Bandit1]

Some classic lines...

 

[Bandit1]

Step one....done.

Vintage Wings of Canada (VWC) has acquired a Sabre! Canadair Sabre Mk V with RCAF s/n 23314, c/n 1104 and c/r N8687D arrived at the Gatineau Executive Airport on the 19 September 2007, at 11:19 AM. Ferry pilot Ron Iberg was at the controls.

With the 100th anniversary of powered flight in Canada on the horizon (23 February 2009) VWC has been looking for a unique way to contribute to celebrations commemorating this event, beyond what it already does every day. Another significant piece of Canadian aviation history is the Golden Hawks display team, which was formed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of powered flight in Canada. VWC founder Michael Potter comments, “A wonderful way to recognize the 100th anniversary is to bring back a Golden Hawk Sabre. The Sabre has so many memories as a front line fighter of the Korean war era, and also the with Golden Hawks formation team that captured the hearts and minds of people all across Canada.”

The plan is to make the aircraft available for public events. Tim Leslie, Chief of Flying Operations at Vintage Wings comments, “It is Vintage wings intention to fly the Sabre at a number of events celebrating the 100th Anniversary in 2009.” The airframe has been mothballed for almost 10 years. When the Sabre arrived in Gatineau via a ferry permit, the VWC crew started scoping the work required to prepare the jet for the 2009 season. Leslie continues, “The plan is prepare the aircraft over the winter in Gatineau and register the aircraft in Canada. Although many things can happen to alter the plan, we hope to have the Sabre flying by May. It will be painted in the distinctive red and gold colours of the Golden Hawks and will become known as ‘Hawk One’.”

This new-to-VWC airframe is a jet, and is the first jet in the VWC collection. One might ask if the necessary skill-set is available to VWC for jet operations, but don’t be concerned, as a number of the VWC air crew are seasoned jet pilots, ready to step into the role of a Sabre pilot. Checking out on the Sabre are Tim Leslie, Mike Potter, Doug Mathews and Paul Kissman – all have jet time, some with thousands of hours.

As for the long term operations of the Sabre, VWC isn’t looking beyond 2009 at this point, but rather is simply focusing on the mission to commemorate and educate. Leslie explains “It is something new for Vintage Wings to be operating a jet aircraft, and we will be easing ourselves into this type of operation. We feel the 2009 milestone, and recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Golden Hawks is in keeping with everything else we have done at Vintage Wings.” VWC’s three main purposes are to commemorate the achievements of our veterans, educate Canadians and inspire our youth. Leslie continues, “What we haven’t done yet is to pay tribute to the importance of the Cold War and Canadian aviators who flew during this period. This part of our history is often overshadowed by events of the Second World War or modern technologies like the CF-18. We need to remember there are a significant number of pilots and crew members from the 1950s and the 1960s who deserve to be recognized. We looked at how best to put an exclamation mark on the 100th anniversary of powered flight in Canada, and we hope Hawk One will be that exclamation mark.”

 

[WannaBeFlyer]

I got a picture of her from a friend here in Ottawa. I thought I would share. (Click to enlarge)



Here is another photo I found on the net.



Aircraft (FAA)
Manufacturer: Canadair
Model: F-86 MK.5    Search all Canadair F-86 MK.5
Year built: 1954
Serial Number (C/N): 1104
Mode S Code: 52767740
Aircraft Type: Fixed wing single engine
Number of Seats: 1
Number of Engines: 1
Engine Type: Turbojet
Engine Manufacturer and Model: Orenda 14
Source: http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N8687D.html

Vintage Wings also purchased a Mustang with US markings. They repainted her in 442's markings and did and excellent job.
Here's a link if you are interested:
http://www.vintagewings.ca/rsrc/vwc/pdf/mustang.pdf

I can't wait to see what the Sabre will look like!

 

[Bandit1]

She'll be in Golden Hawk colour scheme...

 

[Bandit1]

This is the type of promo video I'll be helping out on....I'd love to hear your thoughts...working with folks who have a common interest like these is just beyond anything that one could have imagined. 

We can't let our rich heritage and the lives of all those who paid for our freedom go without remembering.

Bandit

 

[lotion]

Nice looking Aircraft!

 

[Spencer100]

Did the US AF use Canadair build Sabres?  Or was this one just painted to look like one?  Just interested in the history of that air frame.

 

[aesop081]

Did the US AF use Canadair build Sabres? 

No

 

[time expired]

According to my sources the USAF did indeed use Canadair built
Sabre CL-13s,they were used in Korea and referred to by the USAF
as F86E-6-CAN.The RAF also received 428 CL-13s which were know
to as Sabre Mk.4s.
                        Regards

 

[old medic]

http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/collections/artifacts/aircraft/CanadairSabre6.shtml

In 1948 the RCAF chose the North American-designed F-86 Sabre as its next fighter, to fulfil its NATO commitment in Europe. These Sabres were built by Canadair in Montreal. Early Sabres were similar to their American counterparts, but the Sabre 5 and Sabre 6 had Canadian-designed-and-built Orenda engines. The Sabre 6, with its extra power and slatted wing, was the finest version of the airplane built by Canadair. Canadian Sabres served in Canada and with Canadians overseas, as well as in the air forces of Britain, West Germany, South Africa, Columbia and the United States.

 

The F-86 was also manufactured by Canadair in Canada as the CL-13 Sabre to replace its de Havilland Vampires, with the following production models:

Sabre Mk 1
    one built, prototype F-86A
Sabre Mk 2
    350 built, F-86E-type, 60 to USAF, three to RAF, 287 to RCAF
Sabre Mk 3
    one built in Canada, test-bed for the Orenda jet engine
Sabre Mk 4
    438 built, production Mk 3, 10 to RCAF, 428 to RAF as Sabre F 4
Sabre Mk 5
    370 built, F-86F-type with Orenda engine, 295 to RCAF, 75 to Luftwaffe
Sabre Mk 6
    655 built, 390 to RCAF, 225 to Luftwaffe, six to Colombia and 34 to South Africa

 

[Spencer100]

Wow, thank for the reply and the info.  Interesting looking at the numbers built.  Imagine have 500 fighters in the airforce!

 

[aesop081]

I am burning the eroneous book as we speak........ ;D