I have read the full thread and it is very confused, primarily my feelings lie with the aircraft and what is best for their restoration preferably to flying. If the end results are that a Mosquito and a Huricrane back in the air then that is definately what should be the end goal. I would hate to think that the aircraft end up as static exhibits in a museum someplace.

Yes if people in Canada are capable of restoring both aircraft (and that’s a very expensive ask) then that would be desirable. Failing that then having one restored and flying in Canada and the other restored and flying somewhere else would be the second best option.

The worst outcome would be the the current status quo ie no progress on the rebuilding these aircraft. There is a lot of outcomes in between the best and worst options.

Huricranes and Mosquitos projects to flying are both achievable and there are people somewhere in the world with both the money and skill to achieve that.

Volunteers are OK to a certain extent, however the usual pattern is that the volunteers have a lot of enthusism and little aeronautical engineering skill – unfortunately (there are exceptions to every rule). My opinion is that the best role for most volunteers is in the fundraising aspects of the project and in the general management of the resources of the project

Having been involved in the restoration of a number of vintage aeroplanes (including 2 of my own) and being a member of a prominant vintage aeroplane group in Australia I appreciate the value of volunteering – however that experience has also taught me that there are limits on what volunteers can achieve on a complex technical project (and both of the aircraft in this case fit that).

Widened up the thread a bit, but still on the general theme of the future of these aircraft in Canada. My opinion as an outsider is sell the Mosquito, keep the Huricrane and focus on it. It has a direct link to wartime Canada and as such has the most historical significience.

Dustyone

Maybe you might get the owner of the Proctor to get in contact with me. I am currently restoring a proctor in Australia and am likely to be of help with information, drawings and other knowledge.

cheers
Ross

With reference to Proctors, I spoke to Ken Beard earlier this week, as you likely know, he restored VH-AUC. He mentioned that it took him 9 years. I got the last of his Proctor bits and pieces, just a couple of items. Ken is well underway building what looks like a 1/4 scale Proctor Mk1.

cheers
Ross

>> Melbourne Victoria

involved with the Australian National Aviation Museum at Moorabbin

http://aarg.com.au/

regards

Mark Pilkington

**********

for dustyone,

we have Proctor VH-AUC at Moorabbin, while VH-DUL is under airworthy restoration elsewhere on the airfield, and a friend of mine in Queensland has the remains of Vega Gull II VH-ACA formerly owned by Lord Casey, for hopefuly long term airworthy restoration.

http://aarg.com.au/Proctor.htm

http://aarg.com.au/ipix_images/VirtualTour5.htm

sounds like a good (expensive) swap in theory. What is the Australian connection with the Heron prototype (otherthan the fact that its there) ?

Are the Conditions of both airframes equivalent?

How many Aussie Dragons are in oz?…. I think the question is : would it be in the Australian’s interest to swap?….

We have one Dragon (owned by Des Porter and there is a photo of it flying at Watts Bridge on this forum) that is very familar to people attending airshows and vintage aeroplane fly-ins in S.E Queensland, Australia.

One of my mates – John Sinclair has a Dragon Project that is well advanced and progressing well. I think there may be others flying as well. Hopefully within a few years will have 2 in the area.

Australia built quite a number of DH84 Dragons during WW2 and they were used by the RAAF. Most of the restored examples here are English examples that had significient Australian civil aviation history.

regards
Ross