Victory Aircraft LYSANDER Flies… in Hamilton!

Finally.

What's been the hold up?

Certification.

There is only one guy in the world (apparently) that can certify these babies. He resides in England. And he has to come over here, be lodged, wined and dined etc. Eventually, he gives the wave to the Lysander. And then declares her worthy.

The cost? $100, 000 CDN!

Yup, that's what I thought. Cheap—

So the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum will split the cost with Vintage Wings of Canada.

Say what?

Why is another museum, one based in Quebec, gonna help out with the Ontario museum's cert?

There's a SECRET here. Shhh……

TWO LYSANDERS are going to be certified at the same time! The service costs of the "guy" will be shared.

Where there was none… there'll be two—

TWO FLYING Lysanders now in Canada.

Both made in Toronto, in 1942.

Only in Canada, you say…… pity ~

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Lysander flew this past Tuesday! June 9, 2009.

At 4:15 pm, Rob Erdos (Vintage Wings of Canada) flew the Canadian Warplane Heritage's Westland Lysander C-GCWL on its first flight since restoration. The flight last 44 minutes.

The first public flights are scheduled at the CWH Museum's Flyfest event on June 20 & 21, 2009.

… and, one more thing… there seems to be no mention of the Vintage Wings of Canada Lysander. And why did a pilot from "Vintage" fly the CWH Lysander?

My guess. A surprise is coming, folks!

Look for TWO FLYING Lysanders at Flyfest 2009 in Hamilton, on June 20 and 21.

Wouldn't that be the illustrious!

Be there… or be [ ].

TRIVIA

"Most of the world's few surviving Lysanders are ex-RCAF.

Lysanders were affectionately know as "Lizzies" and their distinctive appearance caused some people to divide aircraft into two classes - airplanes and Lysanders! " (© 2009 Canadian Museum of Flight.)

The above photo is an old file photo.

In response to my article above, which was written AFTER I had spoken to an former Argus pilot who relayed all of the above MINUS the conclusion of two Lysanders flying simultaneously, I have been corrected by a secret CWH member. The correction follows below.

AND I didn't just make this up, folks. I trusted a former Argus pilot, since my dad once had Argus pilots in his command, in the illustrious 404 Squadron of the RCAF .

NOW, here is the CORRECTION:

Anonymous said...

After reading your blog (not that we often do at CWH, but someone told us about it), we felt we had to reply.

Let's start at the top - finally, after 34 years I guess it is about time, but when it is mostly volunteers who do the work under the guidance of a small engineering staff, these things take time. Certification has been slow from former engineering staff over the years due to work load. Mike Charters took over as a part-time (temporary) Chief Engineer in April 2008 for a short term and said this thing has to fly and had full support from the CEO Dave Rohrer.

A volunteer staff again undertook the long task of going over the work of 3 different restoration crews and the final inspection was carried out by the new full-time Chief Engineer Jim Vandyk as well as Rick Rickards and Mike Charters. It was then a long process to prepare the paperwork for Transport Canada.

Wayne Juniper of Transport Canada recently issued the flight authorization. No conspiracy theories here, no British influence (Oh sorry, Rick was born in England) and no $100,000 split! Rob Erdos from Vintage Wings of Canada was invited by Mike Charters and Dave Rohrer to do the test flight as he is a professional test pilot for the National Research Council. Vintage Wing's Lysander has no fabric on it currently but it may fly in 2009. Definitely not in time for our event as nice as it might be! That's the facts folks! But come out and see it fly at CWH on Father's Day weekend where it will fly as part of CWH's Heritage Flight (formation of Lancaster, B-25 Mitchell, Firefly & Lysander)! It will be a sight to behold!

June 14, 2009 2:19 PM