The Westland Lysander at Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum flew for the first time this week. There are pictures here http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... hp?t=30390. This is a very exciting event, there have been many people working hard for a long time to get this aircraft back in the air.
The aircraft was recovered from a farmer's field in the 1980s and restoration began in 1982. It is painted in the markings of a target tug, markings a Lysander flying in Canada during WWII likely would have been wearing.
The first public flights will be at Flyfest, the Museum's annual open house, information can be found on the museum's website, or click here http://www.warplane.com/pages/Flyfest2009.html. This will be a very exciting weekend, with a variety of aircraft flying throughout the day.
CWH Lysander Flies!
Moderators: sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, lilfssister, North Shore, I WAS Birddog
Re: CWH Lysander Flies!
Good to see another bit of history flying again.
I wonder about the Auster, C GCID, is it flying?
I wonder about the Auster, C GCID, is it flying?
Re: CWH Lysander Flies!
That is one ugly aerodyne and I would give my left nut to fly it! Well done - fantastic restoration!
Should lose the paint, though - everywhere except Canada they went stealth!
Should lose the paint, though - everywhere except Canada they went stealth!
"What's it doing now?"
"Fly low and slow and throttle back in the turns."
"Fly low and slow and throttle back in the turns."
Re: CWH Lysander Flies!
I like it...
Years ago I had an innocent blue and white (Taylorcraft) Auster MkV, with big registration letters across the top wing.
People would go gaga over the Tiger Moths around the field including the oldest flying registration and perhaps data plate!
But that MkV has been shot at for sure, it was documented as being in France shortly after the 6th June 1944.
It was bought and repainted in its WWII colours, a shame perhaps as it had had many adventures since then as a civilian aeroplane.
Why not paint an aeroplane in the colours of what it had been used for... We see so many combat colours that perhaps we miss a lot of honest work these aircraft did otherwise.
Years ago I had an innocent blue and white (Taylorcraft) Auster MkV, with big registration letters across the top wing.
People would go gaga over the Tiger Moths around the field including the oldest flying registration and perhaps data plate!
But that MkV has been shot at for sure, it was documented as being in France shortly after the 6th June 1944.
It was bought and repainted in its WWII colours, a shame perhaps as it had had many adventures since then as a civilian aeroplane.
Why not paint an aeroplane in the colours of what it had been used for... We see so many combat colours that perhaps we miss a lot of honest work these aircraft did otherwise.
Re: CWH Lysander Flies!
Excellent! It's always wonderful to see an antique
aircraft flying again.
btw, I think Vintage Wings in Gatineau has a Lysander
being restored. Given their standards, I am sure it
will be an authentically-restored beauty when it is done.
aircraft flying again.
btw, I think Vintage Wings in Gatineau has a Lysander
being restored. Given their standards, I am sure it
will be an authentically-restored beauty when it is done.
Re: CWH Lysander Flies!
Yes, Vintage Wings has one being worked on. The pilot of CWH's Lysander on it's first flight was actually Rob Erdos, a Vintage Wings (and NRC) pilot. Great demonstration of the cooperation between the two great organizations. Wouldn't it be something to see two Lysanders in formation some day soon?? I wish I could be involved with both organizations, but I'm happy to at least belong to CWH.
I really would encourage people to come out for the Flyfest Weekend. I think it's safe to say it will be the most vintage aircraft in Hamilton since the Airshow was cancelled years ago. It's not an airshow, however last year there were planes flying all day, doing member rides, demo flights etc, and there was really more flying than most airshows!
I really would encourage people to come out for the Flyfest Weekend. I think it's safe to say it will be the most vintage aircraft in Hamilton since the Airshow was cancelled years ago. It's not an airshow, however last year there were planes flying all day, doing member rides, demo flights etc, and there was really more flying than most airshows!
Re: CWH Lysander Flies!
Here's a video put on youtube by the museum, shows some pictures documenting over 20 years of restoration work, and a video of it's first flight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMeXckf7Tbo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMeXckf7Tbo
