Attn: Canadians...Alberta Aviation Museum pursuing F-104

[andyman64]

i count my self lucky in my career as a motorcycle race mechanic to have been able to go to calgary hamilton and halifax air museums also the yamaha road race team was sponsored by all canada express so we got to fly jump seat in 727,s when travelling cross country!

[Tanker 336]

Tom,

I heard back from both of my buddies in Cold Lake and neither of them heard anything about the F-104 fund raiser and one of them works right on the Airport. Do you have any literature they could post at their work station/hangar?

Greg

[Tom H]

Sure do

E-mail me direct at eahs.execdirector@shawbiz.ca and I will send RFN.

Sent a bunch of information up that way so I'm surprised but nothing that can't be fixed

Tom

[Tom H]

14 Days to go…$20,000.00 raised, $50,000.00 remaining.
Dec 14th is the deadline.

In what is becoming a race against the calendar the Alberta Aviation Museum is working hard to raise the needed dollars to import an F-104 (2) seat Starfighter from Europe.

Because of the demand for Starfighters in the commercial market and the tight time line the Museum has had to turn to the public for assistance.

Normally the museum acquires aircraft one of two ways.
1) By donation of the aircraft by the owner/restoration costs covered by applying for various grants available through the Governments and Private interests.
2) By collecting unwanted wrecks or parts over an extended period of time and then applying for grants (as above) for the restoration

In the case of the Starfighter our normal methods will not work.

The Starfighter has seen increasing commercial demand by companies offering high altitude/zero “G” training, threat simulation for military exercises and as recently discovered launching “Sub Orbital” research rockets. Because of this demand both aircraft capable of being returned to flight and complete aircraft suitable for parts have seen increasing demand and dollar value.
The Starfighter being an extremely complex and (comparatively) advanced aircraft has meant that the tried and true system of gathering parts over an extended time unviable due to the sheer volume of complex systems on the aircraft.

The Starfighter that the Museum is working to acquire is essentially identical to the CF-104D (2) seaters flown from CFB Cold Lake from the early 1960s to the mid 1980s and is intact right down to the equipment in the cockpit and the engine creating a unique opportunity to restore and present the aircraft to all Edmontonians and Albertans. Just as important it is of the same type and equipment as the Starfighters overhauled here in Edmonton by North West Industries, a time when Edmonton, through North West Industries, was a leader internationally in aerospace. All Canadian Starfighters were overhauled at North West Industries at what is now City Centre Airport.

The Alberta Aviation Museum needs your help to acquire this aircraft so we can tell the story of both Alberta’s Air Force personnel that operated the Starfighter and of the Edmontonians that overhauled and maintained this amazing aircraft.

Thomas Hinderks
Executive Director
Alberta Aviation Museum

[Tanker 336]

Tom,

Have you gotten any television coverage from Global? They seem to be the more aviation friendly station in Edmonton.

Greg

[Tom H]

Hi Greg

So far we have received coverage from one of the major daily newspapers, several radio stations, (2) of the television stations and across the internet through contacts and forums.

The soonest Global can get me on the morning show is December 8th ( I know the morning show gang well).

To date we have received donations to the project from across Canada...seems lots of folks think we need a "Widow Maker".

The support has been great...just need a little more and we are pulling out all the stops to hit the target dollars and date.

Thanks again.

Tom

[Tom H]

Just a quick update...

Not going to jinx myself by throwing numbers around but......

The Alberta Aviation Museum has closed to within throwing distance of hitting our fund raising target to acquire the Starfighter we are after!!!!

The opportunity to bring in this aircraft to tell the stories of both Canadian Military personnel as well as the Aerospace workers of Edmonton is too important to let this opportunity pass.

The final push is on.

To quote Tim Allen from the movie "Galaxy Quest"...never give up, never surrender!

With 7 days to go we believe it is absolutely reachable so wish us luck and spread the word!

Thanks Tom

[Tom H]

Update...

Well this weekend is the final push to reach our target on the Starfighter acquisition....and I believe we can make it!

There is a ways to go but the overwhelming support we have received from Edmontonians, Albertans and Canadians has been phenomenal!

Donations have been received from across Canada and it makes a person feel good that our history is still important to so many.

Spread the work and wish us luck on the final stage of this fund raising drive!

Tom Hinderks
Executive Director
Alberta Aviation Museum

[Tanker 336]

I apologize in advance for the quality of this video. However, it gives the general spirit of this fund raiser and knowing the time restriction, I thought it was necessary to post it anyways. This video was broadcasted today on Global News (08 Dec 2011)

http://www.youtube.com/user/B25master?feature=chclk

[Flagon]

Italiano,TF 104 G/M or F 104 F ex Luftwaffe ?
If so,we italians were told that they had all been demilled/destroyed/mounted on poles.
Our government loves us people.

[Tom H]

Thanks to the commitment of a major donation the Alberta Aviation Museum is going to be getting a Lockheed F-104!!!

Details here:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/health/E ... story.html

Posting from Hamilton Ontario...on a training mission.

I want to express my personal thanks to Lynn Hamilton and all the members of her family as well as the fine people from Airspray and all those that donated.

This aircraft will become a special tool to tell the history, inspire a new generation and act as a tool to educate in Aerospace technology.

Tom Hinderks

[CWH Museum]

Tom,

Congrats on your latest acquisition!

It was great spending the day with you at our museum today.

Thanks.

[Tanker 336]

Tom,

Great persistence, Bob Morgan must be happy to see this coming to reality.

Greg

[peter]

Tom, that is great news! Congratulations!

[Tom H]

Thanks everyone your support and kind words are greatly appreciated.

Great working with the CWH gang over the weekend, real good folks, and I guess I have to find a way to get to Hamilton and return the favor in June.

Tom