Canada Aviation Museum - Thursday July 1st - Part 3

[Mike Berry]

On behalf of my dad (Bill) and myself, I would just like to say that it was great to meet some fellow WIX members at the Aviation Museum. It's always good to put some names and faces together. I hope everyone visiting Canada enjoyed their stay and had a safe trip home.

It was my second chance to attend the Canada Day Festivities at the museum. If there is any day to go to the Museum, July 1st is it!

I posted a few of photos to my webshots:

http://community.webshots.com/user/turretmike

Take care,
Mike

[Scott Rose]

Scott and Ryan left in one car, and Steve Tournay in another just a little while ago, bringing to an end the Ottawa WIX B-Flight.

We all had a great time. Wednesday night we sorted out the IDs off a number of aircraft featured in some slides that had been loaned to me. They were shots of various aircraft operated by Kenting in Canada, including B-17s, Hudsons and Cansos.

The largest number of people at the gathering occurred on Thursday at the museum. I believe it was our first tri-national WIX meet with James Kightly representing England, Scott and Ryan representing the U.S., and of course a number of Canadians. All had a great time. The best part was watching Ryan drool all over the B-24. I heard they are still cleaning it!

On Thursday evening Scott, Ryan, Steve, Catherine, and myself, bussed ourselves into the down-town and went to a concert on Parliament Hill including Tom Cochrane. That was fun! We were there with a huge number of jubilent Canadians, shoulder-to-shoulder, who also filled the streets around the hill. The concert ended with the start of the fireworks, which was an impressive display.

Friday morning we concluded the gathering with a chat on various topics at the Henniger Hilton.

Now I am trying to catch up on WIX.

Looking forward to seeing many of you a Geneseo!

Mike

I just wanted to take a moment and thank Mike And Catherine Henniger for letting Ryan and myself stay with them. I had a wonderful time and it was great meeting so many WIXers in one place and finally meeting so many friends in person. I especially enjoyed dinner and the opportunity to discuss a wide range of subjects from aircraft to Red Dwarf. The fireworks were amazing. On the way home we stopped by several small airfields including one with a Canso tucked away in a vintage hanger.

I'm looking forward to Geneseo and will start getting film developed tommorrow.

Thanks again to the Hennigers!

[Ryan Keough]

I'd like to thank Mike and Catherine as well for their great hospitality over the past three days... it was a great time and a wonderful mini-vacation! Yes, I was guilty of oogling over the B-24... but can you blame me? I am sure if I could have weaseled my way into the storage area, I'd do the same with the Mossie and the Battle! It was also outstanding to see Steve's and Mike's photos... some really great captures of great aircraft! I loved seeing the slides that Mike had too... it was like getting a first shot of photos like the Larkins collection... warbirds in civil use and unknown to anyone else!

It was wonderful meeting everyone and putting faces and voices with the words we see on WIX all the time. Scott and I chatted on the way home (continuously) that this was the best part of WIX and the internet... people from far away and closer than you think can get together and share interests on a system like this, build a community here, and then meet in person like old friends and have a heck of a great time without the need to break the ice!

Can't wait until next weekend at Geneseo!

Ryan Keough

[Al Moore]

Could anyone tell me if Potter operated his Spitfire out of Rockcliffe?


Thanks

[J-F St-Pierre]

He only did a couple of pass and one touch-and-go at Rockcliffe. I don't know from where he arrived.

[mrhenniger]

He only did a couple of pass and one touch-and-go at Rockcliffe. I don't know from where he arrived.

I would guess he is still operating from Uplands. However, I have heard that we will be moving his collection to Gatineau. I am not sure if he is operating from there already, but from the direction he exited, I would say Uplands.

Mike

[Ollie]

He's in Gatineau, some one I know saw it last week.

I had not heard that he was thinking of moving. At least in the smaller airport in Gatineau it may be easier to get a peak at his collection once in a while. Though I'm not sure how photography is out there. I've never tried.

I missed his flypasts, but I did have an interesting view I had never had before. I was heading east along the parkway near the museum when he made one of his passes. Headed straight towards my car, then banked right, out over the river, just as he was passing over us. Windows were all opening just to hear the music. Never had a Spit come straight at me before. Good thing those cannons were not loaded!!

Charles

[Ollie]

Nice one Charles!

I envy you!!

But it would have been better if I has been out of the car, camera in hand!!

[JDK]

Hi all,
A rather belated greetings and thank you. It was great to meet up with so many familiar names and put faces (and in the case of Scott, hair) to them!

I certainly had a great time chatting with everyonre, and it certainly enhances the experience going about with people with so many different sorts of experience. And as Mike Berry said, Canada day is the day to go.

Big thanks to Scott for instigating WIX and making it happen, Mike and Catherine for getting it all together (and keeping the meet going) Ryan for his input and generosity, and everyone who said 'hi'.

If you are thinking of joining a meet, do. A knowledge of comedy TV shows will help...

All the best,
James K