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I just loved visiting these.........

Posted by Michel Lemieux on Thu Nov 13, 2003 07:51:26 PM

Doing what you like most..................I have to share this

And yes I have pics....when I get a chance to process them.

Was in Alberta on Memorial Day.

Started in Edmonton

The local museum opened at 8:00 am due to an early memorial service.

Visited a great museum & spoke with RCAF WW2 veterans.

Hopped on to the Reynolds museum & again.........I do heavily recommend this museum. It is an unknow gem, treasure with incredible stuff. I wanted access for a quick tour of their storage area but could not due to the limited staff during that holiday. But in storage they do have:
Boly. Swordfish, Yale, Stinson, Avro replica used in the CBC movie, Moth and a hell of lot more. Sadly that was way too short for me.

And to top it off. A MILLION TKS FOR THE INPUT
Stopped in Red Deer where Air Spray & Air Buffalo is.

These guys are great. They actually where working and due to my interest in the old birds gave me the grand tour.

Air Spay
Next year is the last season in Alberta. That is what the govermetn said. So if the A26 ?s are to work, it will be else where?.most probably in South America.

They will have 6 flying units. But there is around 10 more used as spare on the ramp. The reason they are grounded is due to crack spars. There is an AD for this but for them it is not worth while.

They do love the old bird and even if they are now using more & more Electra?s they will keep on using them as long as the $$$$ makes some sense. It could still be a couple of years.

MAN WAS IT GREAT TO BE IN A FROOZEN COCKPIT??..

After that went to Air Buffalo. They had 2 Canso water bomber on the ramp. 4-5 DC-3?s waiting to be overhauled & a DC-4 being retrofitted to water bomber all in a wooden WW2 hanger.

The nicest part was to meet people whom appreciate your interest & curiosity and will go out there at ?8C for you to take pictures.

I did not have time to visit Nanton or Calgary aerospace museum.

However in Winnipeg got to go to stop at the museum at the airport just before closure. A very nice collection. I got to talk with 2 very elderly gentleman about their unique Fairchild model 71 in restoration.

ALL OF THIS made me realize how much effort is being put into keeping these places open & accessible to the public. Most of our local museums in Canada are staffed by elderly volunteers whom give 500% + to keep these places open & going???.

I know that in Canada due to very, very, very??limited fundings we would not any aviation history to preserve if it was not from their efforts.

Hopefully one day when my kids are older; I hope I will be there to take their place to commemorate history.

Air Spray

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