Resurrection!
A little over 3 months ago (March 29) the Alberta Aviation Museum Association (in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) received it’s long awaited Starfighter from the Netherlands in (2) large containers. After (7) years of searching and then (1 1/2 years of working through the process of importing the aircraft the Starfighter had arrived at it’s new home as (2) huge containers of parts.
Since then the task of cataloging, stripping and sorting parts has taken place and as of today (July 5th) the assembly process begins. As this release is being written the Starfighter is undergoing a high tech polishing process that will take the now bare metal finish and bring it back to the shining aluminum of Starfighters flown in Canada.
Other components such as the Wings, Horizontal Tail, Nose and External fuel tanks will be starting to return next week for installation finished in special (2) part paints and back to the colours of Starfighter 104651 which was based in Cold Lake in 1980.
Thanks to the donations by the family of Don Hamilton, AirSpray Aviation Services Ltd and many private donors from Edmonton, Alberta and across Canada the Alberta Aviation Museum was able to acquire this complete and relatively undamaged aircraft, the first the Museum has purchased rather than recovered or had donated. The Museum is working hard to reward the donors with what may be our fastest restoration ever and hope to see the Starfighter Roll Out ceremony take place in early August, date to be announced shortly.
The aircraft will be completed representing the Starfighters flown by Canadians from 1961 to 1984 in Canada, Europe and most important for the Museum 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta.
Here in Edmonton the Starfighter history is deep as North West Industries overhauled the Canadian Starfighters right on City Centre Airport in the late 70s and early 80s. North West Industries was one of Canada’s high tech aerospace powerhouses through the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and into the 1980s employing thousands of Edmontonians and placing Edmonton at the top of the Aerospace field.
When the resurrection is complete this former Dutch Starfighter will return as the “Ghost of Canadian Armed Forces Starfighter 104651” which was lost (with no fatalities) during a training mission in 1980 at Cold Lake.
The Alberta Aviation Museum is proud to be returning another piece of Edmonton, Alberta and Canadian history to the public. Join us for the soon to be announced Starfighter Roll Out.
Thomas Hinderks
Executive Director
Alberta Aviation Museum Association
By: Peter - 15th August 2013 at 15:10
Plastic images of the correct instruments?? Any more info on how you did that Tom?
By: Tom H - 15th August 2013 at 05:16
The Starfighter is now complete for the Roll Out on the 17th of August.
Yes it is missing some 8/32 Flush screws…we used up all available in Northern Alberta and came up short some, we are also missing some instruments still held up in Holland. But thanks to the wonders of modern technology the holes are covered with plastic images of the correct instruments.
But…
The colours are correct
The markings are a dead match to the original 104651
All fairing tanks and other goodies are in place
The paint work is flawless
and it looks as it did in 1980.
It has been a huge challenge but our team once again met the target and the aircraft will look awesome for the Saturday Roll Out ceremony.
Pretty good seeing as the containers arrived from Holland March 29th.
If you are in our area please join us for the ceremony, details are here
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?125918-Starfighter-Roll-Out-event-August-17th-10am&p=2054717&highlight=Starfighter#post2054717
Admission by donation 10am to 12 Noon
Will post pictures after the ceremony
By: Tin Triangle - 9th August 2013 at 10:43
Roll Out ceremony August 17th…see our website under “What’s Happening” for details…it will be a big event
Tom
This is a great endeavour, and I hope the roll-out goes well. Looking forward to seeing some pictures when it’s complete and painted!
By: Tom H - 9th August 2013 at 03:05
Quick update on the Starfighter
Wings, Horizontal Stabilizer, Tip Tanks, external underwing tanks are all now installed including their fairings.
Cockpits in final assembly (except for instruments still held up in Holland).
Ejection seat and safety markings being painted on right now and all the final markings will be in place Monday or Tuesday.
The aircraft looks amazing and I will try to post a photo pre markings as soon as the nose is installed.
Roll Out ceremony August 17th…see our website under “What’s Happening” for details…it will be a big event
or see us on facebook
Tom
By: Peter - 2nd August 2013 at 23:43
Ah that wasn’t one then thanks Tom.
By: Tom H - 2nd August 2013 at 19:03
Thats fantastic! Might have worked it. What was her registration?
C-GIPW
By: Peter - 2nd August 2013 at 18:55
Thats fantastic! Might have worked it. What was her registration?
By: Tom H - 2nd August 2013 at 18:45
She is going to be stunning when she is complete…. What’s the story on the ex westjet 737?
Ex-PWA via Air Canda
This is a fully operational Boeing 737 that was donated and is used as part of a series of programs we run in house as well as Police ERT training, Dog Training and TV/Movie Work.
She came into service on our airport in 1979 with PWA and retired to us from Air Canada in 2005.
She is maintained so all systems are operational including engines and APU
745 is the PWA 737 still in here original colours.
Tom
By: Peter - 2nd August 2013 at 18:00
She is going to be stunning when she is complete…. What’s the story on the ex westjet 737?
By: Tom H - 2nd August 2013 at 17:53
Pictures as promised
One in place:
One on:
Second one going on:
Both Wings and Horizontal Stabilizer in place:
By: Tom H - 1st August 2013 at 15:52
Progress is rapid
Front cockpit refinished, except for several instruments we are awaiting to arrive.
Rear cockpit well underway
Fuselage fully assembled and polished
Horizontal Tail in it’s Scarlet Glory installed, only fairings left
Tip tanks RCAF Red waiting for install
Underwing tanks RCAF Red waiting for install
Wing (already painted, White in top/Gray on bottom) install begins this morning
Nose (already painted correct light gray) arrives in a few hours with underwing tank pylons (painted same gray as bottom of wings)
Correct markings in production
Tom
By: British Canuck - 10th July 2013 at 21:49
I never realized there were two Tbirds at the Edmonton museum…nice to be able to showcase the two different schemes on the same aircraft type.
Looking good indeed.
Andrew
By: Tom H - 10th July 2013 at 20:31
That sounds promising then Tom.. Love the spruce up of the other fighters!!
Thanks Peter
Will be announcing Roll Out ceremony date shortly
Tom
By: Peter - 10th July 2013 at 01:27
That sounds promising then Tom.. Love the spruce up of the other fighters!!
By: David Burke - 10th July 2013 at 00:27
The CF-104 in Portugal would be a nice addition to a Canadian museum.
By: Tom H - 9th July 2013 at 23:25
Here of some of the Starfighters company that has also been receiving touch ups, polishing and paint work to be ready for the Roll Out in August.
T-Bird…Early style
T-Bird…Late style
CF-100
With the Starfighter coming on line ALL the jets needed to be spruced up to look good with the new arrival.
Now we need to polish the paint on the CF-101, any volunteers?
Tom
By: Tom H - 9th July 2013 at 22:37
Well Peter, we tried but were told that one is a keeper and they have plans
Tom
By: Tom H - 9th July 2013 at 22:36
I hope she receives an authentic paint scheme. So many investments are made in warbirds, both flying and static and yet the often little attention is given to authenticity when it comes to colour schemes, colours used, etc… Fingers crossed she’ll be a good one! I certainly remember her in the circuit at Volkel in the 1970s and early 80’s. She deserves a good home! RR
This will be the aircraft’s final configuration…
The only differences will be
1) The fairings at the forward section of the top of the Horizontal Stabilizer will be painted the same Red as the Horizontal as they were not able to be polished due to pre existing damage.
2) The tip tanks and underwing tanks will be the RCAF Red due to corrosion of the surface discovered when original paint was stripped.
Otherwise that’s her in 1980
Tom
By: Peter - 9th July 2013 at 21:31
I wish they would do something with the RCAF twin seat 104 at Baggotville..
By: Tom H - 9th July 2013 at 14:56
Any reason why you had to aquire and inport a Dutch F-104 ? Are there so few original RCAF ones in Canada ? Seem to remember see several dotted around Trenton area many years ago. After all the polishing hope she goes in doors.
We could not get a salvageable, complete Starfighter in Canada.
We took a look a several in Ontario and they were seriously incomplete (missing wings, engines, cockpits, systems) and very damaged.
We were pretty specific on what we wanted for the collection.
2 seater to reflect on the Cold Lake legacy.
Cockpits had be complete so we could allow public access under supervision and a dual makes it possible for twice as many!
Had to have engine and all systems so it could be integrated into our education program later.
Had to be one we could realistically be able to fund raise for to purchase and maintain.
After 7 years of on-off searching this was the only one we found that met all criteria.
The leading edge can easily scalp a person who’s not watching out. We always installed RBF covers on them while working.
You bet, we have the cover and they will be installed
I hope she receives an authentic paint scheme. So many investments are made in warbirds, both flying and static and yet the often little attention is given to authenticity when it comes to colour schemes, colours used, etc… Fingers crossed she’ll be a good one! I certainly remember her in the circuit at Volkel in the 1970s and early 80’s. She deserves a good home! RR
She is being redone as close as practical to the 1980 Canadian Armed Forces specification as 104651 which was lost in Cold Lake in 1980 due to bird ingestion (crew survived and returned to flying a few days later). We are using the CAF manuals, photos of the specific aircraft and input from the Starfighter pilots and crews in our museum.
Tom
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July 6, 2013 at 12:15 am