The fabric replacement on the ailerons for FNJE has progressed very well during the last few months.  The work needed to be done but it was decided that it would be a great idea to do it before Robert Lawrence and his wife, Jolene, left Fairview in late January to join the family veterinary practice in Westlock, AB.  Robert was very instrumental in the fabric work and painting on other control surfaces done earlier in the year and we knew he was the man for the job.  Robert was up to the task and, under the direction of Henry Dechant, the Canso Crew started the replacement of fabric on the two ailerons.  The fabric was replaced, the ribs stitched and taped, layers and layers of polybrush applied, coats of polyspray were followed by silver spray and the final coats of white and orange trim -- all in just two months' of spare time work. Our special thanks to Robert for all the good work he has done to help "Save the Canso".

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Sorry that the blog is a little behind .. but that doesn't mean that nothing is happening!

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Peter J.Austin-Smith (Pete Smith, ex RCAF said on 8/3/11 - 03:18PM

Comments by Chris brought back memories of our boat school training out of Sea Island back in early 1955. We would fly over to Pat Bay to do our circuits and splashes and also practice beachings, moorings, etc. It was great fun. At mid-morning we would shut down and let the a/c drift while the crash boat would come up and we would have coffee and shrimp. What a life. One day we were basking on the wing when we heard a light a/c, then silence which was broken by a voice from above that said "hey the tower wants you", then the light a/c took off again. As for 11089, Gene Marklund and I ferried that a/c back east in Nov 1957 after delivering 11079 to Sea Island. Thanks for the memories, Chris Peter

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We had a very interesting visitor from England, Dick Milne, a former school teacher who's now on a mission that's taken him around the world in his search for Catalinas, and their Canadian cousins, the Canso PBY.  Dick says his interests in Catalinas only developed in the mid-70s, so his fascination lies with the "modern" role of the type as an executive aircraft, as a fire fighter and as a museum attraction.  

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Since December, 2010 fabric work has been going on Norbert Luken's farm shop, just outside of Fairview, and we are finally finished for now.  The months of work have really paid off and resulted in two re-finished ailerons, the rudder and two stabilizer extensions.  A very special thanks to Norbert and Janice for making space and putting up with our frequent visits to the shop.

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Here is a very interesting story from Chris Templeton regarding some of his experiences with a Canso...

Shortly after the CAHS meeting in Calgary, I was contacted by author Shirlee Matheson about Save the Canso project. Shirlee knew that I had some experience  on Canso's while stationed at Sea Island in the RCAF. I was transferred  there in 1957 and we had I think 7 Cansos, 3 DC3s 2 Otters and 2 Piasecki H21 helicopters. The boat school where all RCAF Canso pilots were trained  was part of 121 Search and Rescue squadron. I was an aircraft electrician and we got to work on all aircraft and as I loved flying I went up when ever I had a chance.

I was part of the crew on a medevac trip to Prince Rupert on June 30,1959 in Canso 11041 and we had the misfortune to crash on landing in Seal Cove when the right nose door broke the front hinge and the door swung back and right through the fuselage. The aircraft front end was destroyed and the nurse on board was killed. The rest of us were picked up by a tug and some of the crew were injured but luckily survived. The Canso's were replaced by SA16 Albatross in 1960 and I had the good fortune to be picked for the last official trip for the Canso in RCAF service when we ferried 11089 from Sea Island-(now Vancouver International) to Claresholm, AB - Rivers Man-Lakehead to Toronto Downsview. It took us 17+ hours going east and we flew back in a new CP Air DC-8 in 4 hours. 

+. Great recollections

Chris Templeton 250-493-4645 email tomahawk422@shaw.ca

Thanks,Chris: If you have any photos or other stories, 

please send them along.

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Another great contact from a post war pilot of C-FNJE!  A few days ago we got an email from Neil Shae of Riverview, NB (see below) with a wonderful photo of the Canso in Conception Bay, Newfoundland (photo on the front page)

     I was looking at your web site on Canso C-FNJE. I worked with the NL Government Air Service and was a canso co-pilot for the 1979 and 1980 fire seasons and C-FNJE was part of our fleet , a check in my log book indicates that I have some time on this particular canso and have fond memories. I probably have about 250 hrs all told on the canso. I have attached a photo of C-FNJE taken by Kelly’s Island, Conception Bay, Newfoundland probably 1980 or 1981 not sure.

 Cheers

 Neil Shea

Riverview, NB

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I received the below email from Henry Dechant about their meeting with CAHS on March 17, 2011 in Calgary.

Hi, Doug, 

As an addendum to my little report on the CAHS meeting last Thursday, I also want to express our sincere  thanks to the group at the meeting not only for their hospitality but also for the contribution$ to cover our expenses in coming to the meeting.  After covering our expenses there will be a significant contribution to our society to be applied to the restoration of FNJE.  

Thank you, CAHS and CMS.   

Henry Dechant

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A few months ago we received an invitation from CAHS, Calgary Chapter, to speak to their group about the rescue and restoration of the Canso FNJE.  It seemed like a great opportunity to spread the word and and meet with a group of fellow historic aircraft enthusiasts.  Last Thursday Don Wieben and Henry Dechant travelled to Calgary and attended the CAHS meeting and made a presentation.  Don and Henry were very pleased with the time spent in Calgary.

Below is email from Henry regarding their visit.   

Hi Doug, 

The meeting and presentation went very well.  Don and I joined some 40 to 50 enthusiastic members of the Canadian Aviation Historic Society on Thursday March 17th at the Art Smith Aero Centre of SAIT in Calgary.  The President and Chairman Richard de Boer conducted the business of the organization in the first half hour of the meeting and this consisted mainly of short reports from several members on activities and achievements.  This group is also heavily involved in the proposed restoration of a WWII mosquito aircraft for display purposes.  The Calgary Mosquito Society has been formed to conduct the project.  Their website is  calgarymosquitosociety.com 

Our presentation was very well received.  The savethecanso video presentation was shown and with the additional photos the allotted time went by very quickly.  A couple of points which I observed were:  The savethecanso 'brand' has taken hold as it was used on a few occasions, also our project is being held up as an example of what can be achieved with determination and focus.   Our success with the retrieval and transporting of FNJE from the Arctic down to Fairview was regarded as an exceptional achievement.  We received gratitude and admiration for our achievements so far. 

Receiving this kind of credit and publicity should be extremely rewarding for us.

The CAHS also has a website:  http://www.cahs.ca/chapters/calgary.html, we could put their site on our site as a link.

Henry

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Work goes on - some days and every Wednesday night with several enthusiastic Canso Crew members involved.  The weather has been very cold, -25 to -35 degrees C. with strong winds, but progress is good and the crew is learning as they go.

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What's a JATO?

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Great progress is being made on the fabric work at the Canso Crew shop.  Check out a few new photos on the first page slide show.  I received the following note from Don Wieben with an update on the work: 

Did 3-4 hrs rib stitching this evening and Norbert got fabric glued on the 2nd stabilizer tip. About 5 ribs left to stitch on the first elevator. Kind of nice, relaxing work. 

 Tonight's episode of "Ice Pilots" had one of Joe McBryan's sons in South America retrieving a Canadair and showed pics of derelict PBY6A.  (Editor's Note: Ice Pilots is a reality t.v. show about Buffalo Air's operations out of Hay River and Yellownife, NWT.  Joe McBryan is the owner.)

Best regards, Don 

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Work at the fabric shop is off to a very good start.  The Canso Crew has been hard at it through out the last week and will have another work-bee tonight.  Prep work and taping is done and a lot of the fabric has been stretched in place. Ironing to tighten the material and then stitching is the next order of the day. 

Check out the six new photos on the first (HOME) page - more to follow.

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