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Re: CWH and jet collection..?

Posted by Martin Keenan on Mon Nov 03, 2003 10:12:16 AM

In reply top Re: CWH and jet collection..? posted by Steve T on Fri Oct 31, 2003 07:16:38 PM

I had heard a while back (accurately?) that the Hunter was going to be leased to the Northern Lights Team, and flown as part of a contract service to the military (presumably subbing for the retired T-33s). I haven't heard anything about this recently, so perhaps the deal fell through.

I think that the only other jet CWH has that could easily be run is the Vampire, which I understand was more-or-less complete when acquired, and could be put into running order with a certain amount of work (probably a *lot* of work, but at least all the bits are there). The CF-104 is totally stripped inside, as is the CF-5 and the T-33. The CF-100 isn't, but the museum doesn't own it, and in any case, there aren't any operable engines available.

As for the activity at the airport -- I think that CWH may sooner or later have problems conducting any kind of operations there. With the landing fees at YYZ as they are, there's a lot of incentive to move cargo, charter, and cheapie domestic flights to Hamilton. If Hamilton gets U.S. pre-clearance (which could happen with a lot of charter traffic), then the U.S. carriers could get interested again. The EAA has already been forced out of Hamilton -- CWH could be next. There's certainly almost no possibility of ever having an airshow there again, and even the flying days that CWH has had in recent years may become difficult.

Martin
: Interesting idea, but I think they've only one aircraft
: with which this could be done. Most of the jets are on loa
: n and not, in any case, fully serviceable; but the ex-Swis
: s Hunter F.58, J-4006, probably could be readied for runup
: s. If you're thinking of Bruntingthorpe-style taxi runs, t
: hough, sadly that doesn't work at Mt.Hope anymore; most of
: the field is in fact invisible from the CWH ramp, with th
: e terminal (soon to be much larger, too) to the northwest
: and the UPS facility due north...The price of progress!
:
: S.

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