Alberta Aviation Museum Association update 02/23/2013:

[Tom H]

Today is the 104th Anniversary of Powered Flight in Canada

People are asking about our future so for an update with the information on hand:

Phase One
Inside the building:
Currently all of our displays and display cases are being revised and going into new locations for our major floor change that will be happening this spring…a massive under taking. This has been in progress since last year and part of the process in trying to adapt to the new circumstances that are approaching. The floor change is a huge deal as all the aircraft have to come out of the building, and then go back in with a new layout that will include a new location for our classroom area. All aircraft currently suspended overhead will have to also come down.

At the time of the floor change we will be losing a number of aircraft including the DC-3 that will be flying back to Buffalo Airways (the Ice Pilots). We may also lose the Dehavilland Vampire and R-22 helicopter also on display courtesy of Joe McBryan of Buffalo Airways. We have already lost the 1928 Cirrus Moth (one of the actual original aircraft of the Edmonton Flying Club) on loan due to uncertainties going forward.

Our B-25 will be added to the display floor at the time of the floor change.

While the new layout will be more open as well as easier for photography and viewing it will also restrict even more what can be on interior display.

Outside the building
- The CF-104 Starfighter will arrive March 26 by the latest shipping update and once restored be added to our jet fighter collection on the East side.
- We will be losing a Beech 18 on the North ramp area that will fly out and has been on loan, displayed by our 737.
- We are also working on to loan one of our (2) T-33’s (we have one 1950’s version and one that is representing the 1980s version) to another museum to gain room
- We need to add temporary facilities to protect and house our Bell Jet Ranger, Robson R-22 (if it stays) and Bell 47 helicopter in outdoor display areas.

We may also have to move a number of aircraft to an offsite location in an effort to gain space for display and operations.
- The Spirit of Edmonton is going to have to fly out
- Our Ercoupe will need to fly out when completed this spring/summer
- Our Piper Super Cub will need to fly out when completed this spring/summer
- Plus a number of aircraft and major artifacts awaiting restoration.

Some of these moves may be temporary dependent on determining how the Museum fits in with the proposed development and if additional space may be made available.

The end result will be clearer and easier to view/tour, but contain fewer displays and aircraft on interior display. Unlike an art gallery or typical broad based museum each aircraft or display removed removes a piece of the Edmonton and Alberta story and a piece of the history.

At this time we have no confirmations on how we fit in to the new development or commitment to additional space so we are making short/mid term plans based on the space we currently occupy.

Phase Two
Restructured acquisition list:
The Museum’s acquisition list has had to be radically cut and re focused.
We are now looking at only acquiring an additional 14 aircraft in total for our site.

Interior display:
1) Curtis Model D headless pusher constructed for internal hanging display
2) Curtis Canuck constructed for internal floor display
3) Dehavilland Cirrus Moth constructed for internal floor display
4) AVRO Avian constructed for internal floor display
5) Hawker Hurricane or representation for internal floor display
6) Bell P-39 or representation for internal floor display
7) Vampire TG 372 acquired from National Museum, restored for internal floor display

When completed this will require moving the Beech 18 currently on inside display, with public access to the interior, to a closed external display on the North ramp.

Exterior display:
1) Curtis Canuck look a like for external display, replacing Bomarc missile on mount
2) Bristol Freighter, arrival 2013, restored for external display mounted above West yard
3) DC-3 to be acquired and restored for external display
4) Vampire to be acquired and restored for external display (currently on loan)
5) Canadair Sabre (any Mark) to be acquired and restored for external display
6) CF-5 to be acquired and restored for external display
7) CF-18 to be acquired and restored for external display
This will create a minimalist collection covering the City of Edmonton specifically and Canada’s only complete display of RCAF jet fighters.

Additionally we are having to look at mounting our 737 above the front parking lot over the Memorial walk way.

At the end of the acquisition process there will be a total of 20 aircraft/major sections/ artifacts/training aircraft assets that will have to be removed from the current site.

These aircraft and artifacts tell the broader history of Greater Edmonton and Northern Alberta or stories that we have had to choose not to present due to space restriction issues.

Total collection on our current site will have dropped from 61 (3rd largest in Canada) with the arrival of the Starfighter to 49 (approximately 4th or 5th largest in Canada) on completion of the changes to the collection.

Again note: At this time we have no confirmations on how we fit in to the new development or commitment to additional space so we are making short/mid term plans based on the space we currently occupy.

Phase Three and Phase Four should be place by our March 17th AGM if the ongoing planning meetings go well.

Thomas Hinderks
Executive Director
Alberta Aviation Museum

[Beefitarian]

Thanks Tom. As with any aviation museum. (even Calgary)
I appreciate what you and everyone else involved are doing there.

[Moose47]

G'day Tom

Keep up the outstanding work Tom.

"Canada’s only complete display of RCAF jet fighters."

Would the Gloster Meteor not meet your criteria as an R.C.A.F. jet fighter?

Gloster Type G.41 Meteor F. Mk. III
T.O.S. with R.C.A.F. on the 28th of September, 1945
S.O.S. with R.C.A.F. on the 5th of March, 1948
Serial numbers FP471 and EE361

Gloster Type G. 41 Meteor F. Mk. IV
T.O.S. with R.C.A.F. on the 12th of February, 1948
S.O.S. with R.C.A.F. on the 4th of June, 1955
Serial numbers RA421 and VT196

Cheers...Chris

[Tom H]

G'day Tom

Keep up the outstanding work Tom.

"Canada’s only complete display of RCAF jet fighters."

Would the Gloster Meteor not meet your criteria as an R.C.A.F. jet fighter?

Gloster Type G.41 Meteor F. Mk. III
T.O.S. with R.C.A.F. on the 28th of September, 1945
S.O.S. with R.C.A.F. on the 5th of March, 1948
Serial numbers FP471 and EE361

Gloster Type G. 41 Meteor F. Mk. IV
T.O.S. with R.C.A.F. on the 12th of February, 1948
S.O.S. with R.C.A.F. on the 4th of June, 1955
Serial numbers RA421 and VT196

Cheers...Chris

It would except for (4) issues
1) Never taken on operational strength, only tested
2) Weak provenance to Edmonton
3) None available
4) Combined with the other factors we cannot dedicate the space when we are already looking at having to remove (20) aircraft from the site.

Shoulda worded my post a little better too.

[lionheart27]

tours inside the lanc as when I was there last year u needed an escort but none available

[Tom H]

tours inside the lanc as when I was there last year u needed an escort but none available

Think you have the Alberta Aviation Museum mixed up with another museum (Canadian Warplane Heritage or the Bomber Command Museum)

The Alberta Aviation Museum doesn't have a Lancaster and did not have one visit last year.

Thanks

Tom

[Beefitarian]

There is one in the new tent in Calgary also. It used to be on a pedestal out by the terminal before the present terminal was built on the North end of CYYC. There is rarely someone present to give tours there.

Bomber command in Nanton typically has someone available.