::: LYSANDER STEALS the Show!

FOUND IN a Manitoba's farmer's field, in 1980.

Restoration began earnestly in Hamilton, at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in 1993, when the project was taken over from the "Friends of CWH" who had been working on the Lizzie since 1983.

Completed last year.

Flew for the first time earlier this month, and IS NOW making public flying appearances for the first time. Here is the second flight for the day.

Trainer aircraft, target tug, and spy plane… the "Lizzie" did it all in an imposing way!

A ridiculous looking aircraft… it looks like a flying high-chair but you'll fall in love with it. Toots through the sky at an impressive clip… and was the first aircraft produced at the Malton facility then known as National Steel Car, in 1942 under license from Westland Aircraft Ltd. of the UK.

Made in Toronto, in 1942, folks!

The camouflage paint scheme represents an aircraft of No. 400 Squadron "City of Toronto", folks!

:::::::::::::::::::::::Make No Mistake…

…she's ready to fly AND she'll be flying soon.

Red tape only, now.

AND WHEN SHE takes to the air…she'll be the only other AIRWORTHY Lysander in the whole damn world.

This "baby" a WESTLAND Lysander Mk IIIA (serial no. 2361) is owned and operated by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario. Painted in No. 400 "City of Toronto" RCAF Squadron markings, she was also MADE IN TORONTO in 1942!

AWESOME WORK Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum!!

You keep continuing to amaze us!

Look to see her fly at CIAS, this year, as the last minute, MYSTERY GUEST~

AND TOMORROW…I'm gonna tell you another secret.

OOOpps…camera slip! At FLYFEST 2008.

NOT BAD for an "accidental" picture.

::... MUMS the Word ::..:.

CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE: One question.

Everyone wants to know.

When. Will. She. Fly?


Duane at the controls…

The Lysander, pictured above, was made in Toronto in 1942 and was one of the 225 that were made in Canada, at Malton. Only 1660 in total were built worldwide.

A LYSANDER can take-off or land in 300 feet! Very handy to drop off spies!!

The Lysander’s unique wing trailing edge flap and leading edge slat arrangement is a precursor to those highly complicated computer-controlled systems that are standard on virtually every high performance commercial and military aircraft today. At the time of its introduction, however, it was unheard of.

The camouflage paint scheme represents an aircraft of No. 400 Squadron "City of Toronto" This "Lizzie" was used as a target tug during World War II. (CWH)

© 2007 Special Projects IR
© 2007 Paul Cardin