101 uses for a dead Anson…

Thanks for the clarification Steve, I hadn’t heard anything about the Boly remains since the fire sp presumed they had been destroyed.
Yes Having been all over the ansons when they were in storage, I think it is a fitting tribute to their and the BCATP history.

Hi Cees, Peter et al–

The CWH Boly spares were NOT lost in the February 1993 hangar fire; what Boly parts were indoors at that stage were in the south bay of Hgr#3 where the Lancaster was, but most were stored outdoors. There were parts of at least nine airframes. The one now under rebuild is 10117, or at least the aft fuselage is and that’s apparently the ID being used. It was to have been restored as a 119 (BR) Sqn Mk.IVW with Pratt & Whitney engines but that plan has been changed and it will now emerge as a standard Mercury-engined Mk.IV in the same unit’s markings.

The spares were moved, first to an open space near the new airport firehall, then most went to O’Con Aircraft near Uxbridge.

The Ansons at Nanton were a marvelous sight in a ghostly heap amid the hay on Mr Evans’ farm years ago…but as has been said they were in pretty sorry shape, some being tough to identify at all, and everything useful had been removed. One or two hulks went to other museums before the Gravitas installation took shape. Being a straight-arrow realist aircraft painter myself, I nonetheless think Gravitas is rather nifty…

S.

Thought this might be of interest regarding the Ansons……

The artwork is located at latitude 50.466850; longitude -113.849560

If you put this latitude and longitude into Google Earth (format: 50.466850,-113.849560) there is a photograph showing what appears to be the Anson remains sitting in the field before they were re-displayed.
(“Panoramio Photo” layer needs to be switched on to see the photo icon)

I rather like the plan.

It’s clear that the airframe pieces to be used are never going to be in an airworthy…or even complete aircraft.
Ansons’ don’t have enough value (monetary or even sentimental it seems) to be restored or flown, so what else is going to be done with the many partial airframes?

At least they’re going to be part of a monument and not resting/rusting behind some hangar or sold for scrap (which is all all some look to be good for).

I remember seeing them as well but werent they heavily damaged or destroyed in the fire?
Bruce, most museums have a couple of ansons in storage still. Not sure if there are many left on the prairies now. Trouble is the cost of removing and shiping them make it uneconomical to buy..

Thanks Peter,

So are there any others in storage, or perhaps still on the prairies?

If not, I still contend that this is a finite resource going to waste. One could easily justify BCATP airframes in museums in this country to tell the story….

As Cees says, there used to be at least half a dozen Boly’s with CWH. Where did they all go?

Bruce

Peter,

What happened to the half a dozen airframes then they had lying behind a hangar?

Cees

If these airframes were in a storage yard for many years I wonder why the museums involved have not tried exchanging items like engines for other items . The Anson as a type might not have a strong following but I bet I could find museums interested in acquiring some of the airframes displayed.

Maybe I should perceive it as art of maybe the art was in the decaying airframe on a farm rather than putting skeletal remains in a pattern which will have little or no significance to 99 percent of the people who see them from the air.

No they don’t, just the one under restoration..

CWH has also several Bolingbrokes lying derelict, wouldn’t it be an idea to do a similar thing?:rolleyes:

Nâââhh!:diablo:

Cees

Some silly comments here really..
Bruce off hand I can think of 8 ansons restored here in canada with at least 2 others being worked on…

CWH has a MKV which was airworthy for years,
Reynolds Museum has a MKV as well static
Greenwood has a mk2 static restored restoration recently completed.
Nanton is restoring a mk2
Calgary has a mk2 completely restored
Trenton has a MK2 under rebuild
as well as a static display Anson Ottawa
a MK1 with turret in Saskatchewan at Western Development Museum

for good measure they could bury an old beat up (yellow)Fairchild Argus with a big spring and use it as a Cookoo.:)

Brilliant – it must be done!!

While I understand the theory of it being seen from the air, I have to wonder how many airline passengers will just look down and see ‘scrap airplanes in a circle’.

It’s a nice idea (while not counting as art in my book) and if it raises awareness of the BCATP then it has to be a good thing. But will it?

Despite my initial reaction (which was ‘what a waste’ of Ansons) I have to admit that the airframes are no worse off here than they would be if they were left in a storage compound to rot. So no harm done really.

Look on the bright side, it could have been worse………

…..it could have been Mosquitos!!!!!!!!

To my undoubtedly very simple mind came the immediate thought

“Pretentious crap”

Fantastically well put Peter!

I like it.

I like the idea.

Er…is it finished or are they going to put hands on it? and for good measure they could bury an old beat up (yellow)Fairchild Argus with a big spring and use it as a Cookoo.:)

..did I say I liked it?

Baz

OK – how many properly restored and conserved Ansons are there in Canada?

How many ‘other’ projects are there waiting in the wings?

I dont know the answers – so am genuinely interested to know.

Bruce

The circulation of aerial views of this very eye catching display will result in far more publicity about the memorial and those commemorated than the more conventional plinth or expensive bronze. It is intended for viewing from above so the limited ground access is not an issue.

I really like the design and the use of Anson parts which if we are honest were surplus and not rare.

I like this a lot and I only hope that I will get to fly to Calgary sometime to see this how it is meant to be seen, from the air.

I like it,and these photos online are far more entertaining than seeing the same lot stacked behind the museum hanger.