Latest acquisition by Canadian Warplane Heritage

[Matt Gunsch]

Are there ANY firebombers in any museum displayed as such? Now the MARS, that would make a nice display...have it do a water drop at airshows!!!! The fact that utilizing warplanes in a civil purpose saved many from the scrappers should be acknowledged somehow.

Pima has a section just for firebombers.

[Barrie MacLeod]

Oops. That would be 53607 at the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum in Halifax, Canada. Was N8398H and then CF-ZYC which crashed in New Brunswick, 20 May 1975. It has been rebuilt with parts from other TBMs and is painted as an FPL sprayer with the fictitious C-GFPL to honor FPL.

[AirJimL2]

Actually two TBMs have been preserved in Canada as FPL birds. 53607 as Barrie posted and 85733 at the Woodsmen's Museum in NB.

Not a TBM, but A-26 43-22357 is preserved in Conair markings in BC.

Jim

[rcaf_100]

There's also a Tracker in Conair markings at the Bushplane museum in Sault Ste. Marie (along with a CL-215).

As a side note, I'm curious if it would be easier to restore the TBM as a later AS 3 variant with the extended 'greenhouse' as opposed to purchasing and restoring a turret. I'm sure the clear panels could be formed for a lot less money, and the 1950's two-tone gray scheme would compliment the Firefly and Tracker.

http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/v2/equ ... venger.jpg

Just my two cents anyway.

If it's CWH's intention to build a replica of C-GCWG, then all the power to them. I just thought it would be neat to see an airworthy Avenger at airshows without a turret, to set it apart from the others.

[Fouga23]

I just thought it would be neat to see an airworthy Avenger at airshows without a turret, to set it apart from the others

I second that. I really like the looks of that version.

[AirJimL2]

I just thought it would be neat to see an airworthy Avenger at airshows without a turret, to set it apart from the others.

Actually the former Steve Hay TBM restored by Corky Meyer (N4171A) has a AS.3 canopy on it. The fuselage came from BuNo. 53489. (Whose wings are in storage at Geneseo.) I think it is out in Calif. now.

Jim

[AHancock51]

[/quote]

Actually the former Steve Hay TBM restored by Corky Meyer (N4171A) has a AS.3 canopy on it. The fuselage came from BuNo. 53489. (Whose wings are in storage at Geneseo.) I think it is out in Calif. now.

Jim[/quote]

I don't know of any TBM wings in storage here, any more details about this?

[AirJimL2]

I don't know of any TBM wings in storage here, any more details about this?

They are across from the field on Austin's property and were in the same barn with the Canso fuselage that is now at Pima.

Jim

[AHancock51]

I don't know of any TBM wings in storage here, any more details about this?

They are across from the field on Austin's property and were in the same barn with the Canso fuselage that is now at Pima.

Jim

Ah, cool! Thanks for the info, you learn something new everyday

- Austin Hancock

[Steve T]

Several of the FPL Avengers were ex-RCN and sported the AS3 style aft canopy...I'd suggested in the past that CWH might go with the double grey if they ultimately obtained one of those Avengers, but in the event, the one they've acquired has the faired-in aft greenhouse (somewhat like what was on the ASW "Guppy" versions), so the choice between turret and AS3 canopy is more of a toss-up. Everybody around here (myself included) likes the idea of bringing back ol' "ABG" anyway!

(There's one other option; the first two Fairey-converted AS3s actually did wear the Glossy Sea Blue livery, but with large square-cornered call letters, AB:Y and AB:Z if I remember right.)

Colour me curious about the mooted "first season" scheme. Since we're talking, probably, 2011, might that be a CWH 40th-anniversary commemorative...?

S.

[retroaviation]

I'm embarassed to say that I wasn't aware of all of the aircraft displayed as firebombers that y'all mentioned here. It's good to hear. I wish there were more publicity about them.

Gary

[JDK]

There's also a Tracker in Conair markings at the Bushplane museum in Sault Ste. Marie (along with a CL-215).

And a Douglas A-26 Invader in Conair colours at the British Columbia Aviation Museum on Vancouver island. Good to see there's more than we thought!

http://www.bcam.net/bc-aviation-museum-aircraft.html

[m charters]

We had some discussions today about the greenhouse and turret issue.

We do have a turret with it, but it needs a lot of work. I would think it has the likely potential of flying at least one season with the ASW extended greenhouse scheme.

It has been told to us that that extended greenhouse variant actually had the turret seat still that turned on the track for the observer with the bulk of the gun mounting removed.

Any Avenger that is flying is a huge plus to the warbird community.

Wait and see!

[Steve T]

Mike--

Agreed--not to mention a sight for sore eyes at the Hope after all these years. I'll be delighted to see the TBM, whether blue, grey, or FPL livery; faired-in canopy, AS3 canopy or turret; ABG, AB:Z, or XYZ!

Still curious about the "first season" scheme though. On the up side, I just have to take a 15-minute drive out 403 and 6 to see how she's coming along...

Cheers

S.

[JDK]

Still curious about the "first season" scheme though.

"Laydeez and Gennlemen, from your right in the sparkling (coff) bronze scheme, rumbling by in the medium-high speed pass, may we present TURKEYHAWK ONE!"