Starfighter Resurrection begins (photo essay added)

[Tom H]

Resurrection!
A little over 3 months ago (March 29) the Alberta Aviation Museum Association received it’s long awaited Starfighter from the Netherlands in (2) large containers. After (7) years of searching and then (1 1/2 years of working through the process of importing the aircraft the Starfighter had arrived at it’s new home as (2) huge containers of parts.

Since then the task of cataloging, stripping and sorting parts has taken place and as of today (July 5th) the assembly process begins. As this release is being written the Starfighter is undergoing a high tech polishing process that will take the now bare metal finish and bring it back to the shining aluminum of Starfighters flown in Canada.

Other components such as the Wings, Horizontal Tail, Nose and External fuel tanks will be starting to return next week for installation finished in special (2) part paints and back to the colours of Starfighter 104651 which was based in Cold Lake in 1980.

Thanks to the donations by the family of Don Hamilton, AirSpray Aviation Services Ltd and many private donors from Edmonton, Alberta and across Canada the Alberta Aviation Museum was able to acquire this complete and relatively undamaged aircraft, the first the Museum has purchased rather than recovered or had donated. The Museum is working hard to reward the donors with what may be our fastest restoration ever and hope to see the Starfighter Roll Out ceremony take place in early August, date to be announced shortly.

The aircraft will be completed representing the Starfighters flown by Canadians from 1961 to 1984 in Canada, Europe and most important for the Museum 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta.

Here in Edmonton the Starfighter history is deep as North West Industries overhauled the Canadian Starfighters right on City Centre Airport in the late 70s and early 80s. North West Industries was one of Canada’s high tech aerospace powerhouses through the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and into the 1980s employing thousands of Edmontonians and placing Edmonton at the top of the Aerospace field.

When the resurrection is complete this former Dutch Starfighter will return as the "Ghost of Canadian Armed Forces Starfighter 104651” which was lost (with no fatalities) during a training mission in 1980 at Cold Lake.

The Alberta Aviation Museum is proud to be returning another piece of Edmonton, Alberta and Canadian history to the public. Join us for the soon to be announced Starfighter Roll Out.

Thomas Hinderks
Executive Director
Alberta Aviation Museum Association

[Colonel Sanders]

Tom: as one of your biggest fans (I'm over 6 feet and
over 200 pounds), we need eye candy! Pictures!

If you keep this up - posting without pictures - I'm going
to send you one of those fancy new unlocked cellphones
so you can take pictures

PS It ain't gonna be an iPhone. Might as well become a
Scientologist. Probably an Android, Samsung or HTC.

[MikeAndHike]

I got to see it today. What a beauty! I didn't take pictures as the volunteers were hard at work polishing the fuselage. It was our first time to the museum and both of my boys and I had a great time. Can't wait to go again!

[Tom H]

Tom: as one of your biggest fans (I'm over 6 feet and
over 200 pounds), we need eye candy! Pictures!

If you keep this up - posting without pictures - I'm going
to send you one of those fancy new unlocked cellphones
so you can take pictures

PS It ain't gonna be an iPhone. Might as well become a
Scientologist. Probably an Android, Samsung or HTC.

Ah come on Colonel

Bunch of pics coming but they haven't been posted to our photo bucket account yet.

Soon as they are I'll get em up!

You really don't want me taking pics, my older brother (recently pasted) was an aviation photo journalist, many of his photos won awards...problem is he got all the talent. The stuff I take pics of are beyond god awful. (lol)

Sides, been spending all my after work time fixing the paint on one of our T-Birds and making our CF-100 look good again.

All that said...I will get pics up as soon as I can.

Tom

[Tom H]

I got to see it today. What a beauty! I didn't take pictures as the volunteers were hard at work polishing the fuselage. It was our first time to the museum and both of my boys and I had a great time. Can't wait to go again!

I am so glad you had a good time, especially your boys!

We try really hard to make sure our museum is a good place to be and welcoming for kids.

Thanks for coming and the good words

Tom

[Bushav8er]

When the resurrection is complete this former Dutch Starfighter will return as the "Ghost of Canadian Armed Forces Starfighter 104651” which was lost (with no fatalities) during a training mission in 1980 at Cold Lake.

I was in Cold Lake in 80. You could always tell a 104 from other aircraft, it had a neat howl and watching them take off in pairs in evening/night you could see diamond shapes in the AB...good memories.

Congrats on your acquisition.

[Tom H]

Fuselage polishing was just completed

Will try to post pics tomorrow

[Tom H]

As promised here's the first few scrounged up

Out of the can


From this Edmonton Journal article
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Alb ... story.html


On the way back from stripping


From this Edmonton Sun Article
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/06/20/p ... n-edmonton

During polishing



From this i880 News article
http://www.inews880.com/Channels/Reg/iR ... ID=2000233

More when ours hit photobucket

Tom

[Beefitarian]

I am sort of happy the polished livery won yet..

I think you might need to get a couple more and paint them in some of the other great looking designs that are rarely seen on display in Alberta.

[iflyforpie]

Awesome!!

[Tom H]

Here of some of the Starfighters company that has also been receiving touch ups, polishing and paint work to be ready for the Roll Out in August.

T-Bird...Early style


T-Bird...Late style


CF-100


With the Starfighter coming on line ALL the jets needed to be spruced up to look good with the new arrival.

Now we need to polish the paint on the CF-101, any volunteers?

Tom

[Colonel Sanders]

Awesome photos, Tom!!

[Tom H]

Awesome photos, Tom!!

If you liked those...

Check out the list of aircraft currently in collection.
(note it will drop by about 7-8 aircraft as the airport closes)
http://www.albertaaviationmuseum.com/Current_Collection

And for more pics, check out the collection photos
Starts with the Atlantic Aircraft Fokker Universal (conserved)
http://www.albertaaviationmuseum.com/Ai ... _universal

Tom

[Tom H]

Starfighter Roll Out ceremony date to be announced shortly

Tom

[Tom H]

Wings arrived back today.

Top the correct gorgeous white and the bottom the correct gray.

Will post photos of the install next week

Tom

[Tom H]

Progress is rapid

Front cockpit refinished, except for several instruments we are awaiting to arrive.
Rear cockpit well underway
Fuselage fully assembled and polished
Horizontal Tail in it's Scarlet Glory installed, only fairings left
Tip tanks RCAF Red waiting for install
Underwing tanks RCAF Red waiting for install

Wing (already painted, White in top/Gray on bottom) install begins this morning
Nose (already painted correct light gray) arrives in a few hours with underwing tank pylons (painted same gray as bottom of wings)

Correct marking in production

Tom

[Whiplash]

It ain't gonna be an iPhone. Might as well become a
Scientologist.

Well played sir.

[sidestick stirrer]

More than any other airplane, the Starfighter seems to me to epitomize the adage that airplanes look best when they are as clean as possible, meaning gear up and slick wings and fuselage.
While the museum cannot do anything about the landing gear, the amazingly-short, thin and sharp wing of the Starfighter is best appreciated without all the clutter that four tanks add.
All my very-humble opinion, of course.
Say; will there be a speaker hidden inside, playing an audio loop of that famous J-79 howl?

[Tom H]

Tail on and first wing in place


One on


Second one


Wings and tail on

[Meatservo]

Boy, she's going to be a beauty!

[Tom H]

Thought everyone might enjoy photos of the transformation to date...

Arrival from Holland:
From Global News Edmonton:
http://globalnews.ca/news/441115/saturd ... ning-news/





Off the cradle and on to her wheels:
From Alberta Aviation Museum Association




Off for stripping and then back:
From Edmonton Sun:
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/06/20/p ... n-edmonton



Polishing:
From Alberta Aviation Museum Association


Assembly begins:
From Alberta Aviation Museum Association

Starboard Wing:


Port Wing:


Both Wings and Tail on:


More next week as work progresses

[Tom H]

12 days to the Roll Out

Tip tanks now on after a three day battle with frozen latches

It is looking like a 104 now!

Tom

[cyeg66]

I'm planning on bringing my sons before the end of summer. 12 days, you say, huh? The timing's looking good (factoring vacation and all...) I'm excited to see the -104 beside the other, spruced up birds. Nice work.

[Tom H]

The Starfighter is now complete for the Roll Out on the 17th of August.

Yes it is missing some 8/32 Flush screws...we used up all available in Northern Alberta and came up short some, we are also missing some instruments still held up in Holland. But thanks to the wonders of modern technology the holes are covered with plastic images of the correct instruments.

But...
The colours are correct
The markings are a dead match to the original 104651
All fairing tanks and other goodies are in place
The paint work is flawless

and it looks as it did in 1980.

It has been a huge challenge but our team once again met the target and the aircraft will look awesome for the Saturday Roll Out ceremony.

Pretty good seeing as the containers arrived from Holland March 29th.

If you are in our area please join us for the ceremony, details are here
viewtopic.php?f=54&t=91003&p=834538#p834538

Admission by donation 10am to 12 Noon

Will post pictures after the ceremony

[Tailwind W10]

Just got home from the Starfighter Rollout. Here's some shots:

Gerry