Updates from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

[CWH Museum]

Now that the flying season is pretty much over at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, emphasis now turns to winter maintenance and restoration. In addition to the yearly annuals on such aircraft as the Lancaster, Firefly and Lysander, to name a few, other aircraft are undergoing additional work:

Fairchild Cornell C-GCWC, looking naked, will be receiving new fabric on its fuselage over the winter months.





In addition to the recently obtained Canso fuselage that will be used to provide the internal structure for the turret installation into our flying Canso, CWH has just recently obtained the turret from the Fighter Factory. The blue turret can be seen sitting in position on the Canso fuselage. As well, a forward side exit will be added for safety reasons. The aircraft will remain grounded until all of these changes are completed so don't expect to see it flying again until 2012.





The Bolingbroke crew continues to work hard and are concentrating their efforts on the centre section with the trailing edge almost finished. The goal is to mate the centre section to the fuselage over the winter months.





Finally, the Avenger continues to take shape quickly. Currently the main landing gear are off being rebuilt.

[peter]

Excellent update and good to see more progress being made on the boly!

[rcaf_100]

Thanks for the update!

In addition to the recently obtained Canso fuselage that will be used to provide the internal structure for the turret installation into our flying Canso, CWH has just recently obtained the turret from the Fighter Factory. The blue turret can be seen sitting in position on the Canso fuselage. As well, a forward side exit will be added for safety reasons. The aircraft will remain grounded until all of these changes are completed so don't expect to see it flying again until 2012.

When I was there a month ago I heard someone mentioning that some of the structural members in the ex-Carlaw Canso hull could be used in C-FPQL if the tanks are taken out to increase seating capacity.
Is this plan still in the works or is it a future project?

[daveymac82c]

Hi Al,

Great updates! I am so happy to know that your Canso is going to get the face-lift it's been needing to get it into true WWII RCAF configuration. It will definitely be worth the wait.

I'm also excited to see the Bolingbroke getting closer to flying. I can't say I've ever witnessed one flying, be it recent airshow flights or WWII footage. Considering how many of those things were in the skies above Canada, it'll be nice to have one back there again.

Peace,

David M

[m charters]

Using some of the structure is a possibility.
The turret and access door are the priority for now. It will give it a great look once complete.

[Toddb]

What are the plans for the Avenger's paint scheme?
RCN colours in Navy blue or the 2-tone Grey?

Todd

[Rhino-9-3]

Thanks for the update! Some of the other FM212 crew and myself are heading up there this weekend, looking forward to seeing everything in person.

[CWH Museum]

Todd,

No official decision has been made whether the Avenger will be navy or two-tone grey. Obviously, that decision will need to be made soon.

[Pat Carry]

Thanks for the updates and photos. I love to see a museum as well lit as yours is.

[CWH Museum]

Today was a busy today at Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum as the Bristol Bolingbroke took a giant leap forward to looking like a complete aircraft. Many of the crew were on hand, plus there was coverage from the local newspaper and TV, to witness the centre section being removed from the jig and being attached to the aft fuselage. Soon the nose and landing gear will be attached.









As well, the Cornell is progressing quickly. All of the wood on the fuselage has been replaced and new fabric is starting to be applied.





Originally, when Cornell C-GCWC "10835" was restored in the eighties, it was painted in the markings of 10835 as delivered. It will be repainted still as 10835 but in a later scheme like the following images:







The Grumman Avenger restoration is continuing on well. The main landing gear have been refurbished, painted and reinstalled. The colour of the landing gear is a pretty good clue as to the scheme the TBM will end up with.



Finally, the engine and cowlings for the L19 Birddog have arrived. Now we are just waiting for the rest of the aircraft to show up!

[Pat Carry]

Thanks for the latest update. How many other Bolingbroke survivors are there worldwide?

[AirJimL2]

Thanks for the update. I'm excited to see that there is a good chance the TBM will go gray and I was wondering what happened to the Bird Dog project.

Jim

[m charters]

There are numerous survivors around the world, mainly Canadian Bolingbrokes, but currently none are flying.
There is one Bolingbroke actively being restored to fly in the UK as Blenheim Mk.I, and our Bolingbroke it is hoped is not too many years down the road as well.
In Canada I can think of numerous complete airframes in museums across Canada. The CWH aircraft is a composite of airframes. We started with 8 to make the best one out of them all.
I recall Kermit Weeks has at least 1 or 2 airframes, and there was a couple in California.
Warbird registry has currently the most comrehensive list showing 50 aircraft. I believe there is at least 2 others not on that list. Interesting to note is that several on the registry state destroyed in hangar fire at CWH. I don't know of any of those airframes being in that hangar when it burned. They were stored in the side that was saved or at a storage area.

[54H60]

Interesting tire treads on that black and white Cornell

[CWH Museum]

A few more quick updates:

The Cornell is nearing completion.



Now that the Bolingbroke centre section has been removed from the jig, one wing has been brought out of storage and is now in the jig so work can begin.



This is not a picture of our TBM Avenger but we are looking for an emergency escape window (the window with the red handle) for our restoration. Please PM us if you can help. Thanks.