Toronto Aerospace Museum visit 4/30

Hi all–

Canadian Aviation Artists’ Association had nine members plus several spouses present at the opening yesterday evening of CAAA’s “Millennium Collection” tour TAM stop. Afforded an opportunity for a good look round TAM; numerous changes since my most recent previous visit.

Still early days yet for the project to restore ex-pylon Lancaster FM104 to full static display condition, but the acquisition of a section of former range target FM118 (mangled though the latter is) has provided a valuable source of missing “bits”.

Nearing completion is the fullscale metal mockup of Avro Canada Arrow “25203”; this is going to look very impressive indeed once fully assembled (the Arrow was nearly ten feet longer than the Lanc!). Bombardier Aerospace are painting the completed “airframe” sections, so TAM’s mockup will have just as fine a finish as Bombardier’s commercial birds (and the original Arrows).

Canadian-born aviation executive Bob Laidlaw (he of Flight Systems) donated his superb DH82C Tiger Moth to TAM last year, flying it much of the way from California himself. It now takes pride of place in TAM’s main display hall–part of the same building where the Canadian Moths were originally manufactured from 1929 to the 40s.

A CT-133 from CFB Mountainview was also recently acquired and is on view partially dismantled but in excellent condition; T-birds flew with the RCAF Auxiliary (400/411 Sqns) from Downsview in the fifties.

TAM’s Percival Sea Prince (WF133/C-GJIE) has been sold to an owner in the Niagara area and is in the restoration area being prepared for delivery.

Other aircraft at TAM include a CF-5A and a CS2F-2 Tracker (RCN 1600, the last of the DHC-built batch); other interesting potential arrivals are in the wind as well. Very much worth a visit…especially in the next few months with the loft gallery occupied by CAAA’s paintings: though I may be a smidgen biased about that… :rolleyes:

Cheers

Steve T