The Journey
Inuvik, NWT to Fairview, AB
Approx. 2,750 km. by road to Inuvik and then 1500 km.
on a NTCL barge up the MacKenzie River to Hay River, NWT - THEN 800 km. down the Mackenzie Highway by truck to Fairview, AB
- click on photos or map below to enlarge
All donations are very much appreciated and will greatly assist with the reclamation of this historic aircraft. Your help will assure its future as a flying museum, to be shared with everyone across the country that it served for almost 70 years.
Welcome
The Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society (FARS), a non-profit organization, was formed to be the operating wing of the Canso PBY-5A, C-FNJE. FARS is currently coordinating the restoration of the Canso, raising funds to help rebuild the aircraft and planning to provide hangar space for FNJE and other historic aircraft. Upon completion of this restoration, FARS will organize demonstrations at airshows and community events to provide school children and the general public the opportunity to share in a part of Canada's rich history.
WE HAVE ENGINES!
FARS is most grateful to the towns of St. Anthony and Stephenville, NL. Through their spirit of Canadian neighborliness, some of the Canso Crew will travel to Newfoundland and exchange display engines and props for the excellent low time engines and props currently on Canso PBY FIZU, which is on display in the town of St. Anthony.
Click the links below for more on the story of the Newfoundland engines & props .......
Our heartfelt thanks goes to Alvin Gregorash and Aero Recip of Winnipeg, Manitoba for supplying a runout Pratt and Whitney 1830 engine to FARS. Aero Recip's quick and gracious response to our request for a display engine to install in the town of St. Anthony's Canso, FIZU, has made a significant contribution towards getting NJE flying again. Aero Recip carries on a long tradition of excellence in piston engne overhaul.
Contact them at 1-204-788-4765 or see their webpage: www.GregorashAviation.com .
May 16, 2013 - The Canso Crew is now in St. Anthony, Newfoundland!
Brian & Karen Wilson and Norbert Luken left Fairview, AB on May 3, 2013, with two runout (display) Pratt and Whitney 1830 radial aircraft engines loaded on a trailer, heading for St. Anthony, NL, as stage one of the Great Canadian Aircraft Engine Exchange.
Ten days later and with 6500 km's behind them the Crew and their cargo of engines and props arrived in St. Anthony, NL - tired, but happy to be there. The rest of the FARS Canso Crew, Don & Marg Wieben and Joe and Jo-Anne Gans, arrived by air the same day. Then the real work began - exchanging the built up display engines and props hauled from Fairview, for the two good serviceable engine and props, currently on St. Anthony's Canso PBY FIZU.
It hasn't been all work, however, on Wednesday night the St. Anthony Chamber of Commerce hosted a "meet and greet" for the Crew, at which time a letter of greetings from the Town of Fairview and M.D. of Fairview, along with a commemorative plaque was presented to Mayor Simms of St. Anthony. A similar letter of appreciation from the Town and MD of Fairview will be delivered to Mayor Tom O'Brien and the Town Council of Stephenville, on the return trip to western Canada.
The Canso Crew reports that the people of St. Anthony and all of Newfoundland have been incredibly helpful and friendly - that is certainly in keeping with the acts of generosity of St. Anthony and Stephenville in donating the engines and props to the Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society (FARS) Canso Project.
LIVE: Click the link below to follow the Great Canadian Aircraft Engine Exchange
At the Fairview Canso Engine Shop - one of the runout P&W 1830 engine to be used in the engine swap with the low time St. Anthony/Stephenville, NL engines.
Please feel free
to add a comment or words of encouragement in our Guest Book. Thanks,
The Canso Crew
The Fairview Canso Crew's first look at the Canso PBY FIZU as it sits on display in the Town of St. Anthony, Newfoundland.
Click on any photo to start a slide show
Ready to "hit the road" with the Great Canadian Aircraft Engine Exchange - Fairview, May 3, 2013
