IN 1959, CANADA WAS on top of the world with aircraft interceptor and jet engine programmes so advanced that the Avro Arrow introduces almost 30 aviation firsts. Simultaneously, the Orenda Iroquois is also on stage, set to be licence-built by Curtis-Wright Inc. of America for a production run of 12,000 jet engines!
In spite of these incredible technological achievements, the Prime Minister of Canada, J.G. Diefenbaker, cancels both cutting edge projects and squanders Canada's chance to retain its technological lead.
Canada would never recover.
The CF-105 Avro Arrow Interceptor program, and the PS-13 Orenda Iroquois Engine program, become the last time CANADA reaches 'for the stars' and contributes seriously to military technological advancement as a NATO member nation.
Awesome photo courtesy of Marc-Andre Valiquette's Destruction of a Dream Volume 3! If you don't have Marc-Andre's four volume series about Avro Canada and the Avro Arrow…what…are you waiting for?!
WELL, IT'S MARTIN-BAKER ejection seat certainly has.
Well…maybe not from Arrow 204, but likely Arrow 206!
And that Arrow seat is for sale on eBay for a cool $250,000—or you can make an offer!
Since the 1960s…there is still a rumour amongst the ex-RAF personnel from RAF Manston that an Arrow did indeed make it to that English air base.
The ONLY TWO possible flying Arrows would be Arrow 203, or Arrow 204, that were set aside for the RAE (Royal Aeronautical Establishment).
So, who knows?
Someone knows!
TOMORROW—the ANSWER!
…from Marc-Andre Valiquette, world's foremost Avro Arrow collector, and, of course, leading Avro Arrow expert!
STAY TUNED!!
Oh—and IF an intact Arrow was found—I'd have to call in sick for the entire week, 'cause I'd be sick, intoxicated—with rapturous joy!!
…the sacrifice CANADIANS made in WW II.
Here's a tiny glimpse into that world, as told to us by some of our Canadian Army veterans.
THE FIRST RCAF SQUADRONS to serve under the British Coastal Command were formed in Great Britain in 1941. Three squadrons, No 404, No 407, and No 415 took part in attacks against German ships along the coasts of north-western Europe.
Equipped with Bristol Beaufighters in the spring of 1943, No 404 played a role in the development of a new weapon, the three-inch (7,6 cm) rocket with a 25-pound (11.3 kg) armour-piercing charge, as it hunted down Axis ships off the coasts of Norway.
SEE: www.404squadron.com/
(accidentally deleted my November 11, 2011 post , 404 was my dad's squadron after the war)
DON'T SAY I DIDN'T tell you!
AVRO ARROW DAY - Book Launch & Presentation at Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.
NOVEMBER 12, 2011 - 1 pm in the Dome
AVRO ARROW POWER POINT PRESENTATION by Author Marc-Andre Valiquette. Regular admission, FREE to members.
Following the presentation, Marc-Andre Valiquette will launch his latest book on the Avro Arrow, "DESTRUCTION OF A DREAM - Volume 4". Avro Arrow artifacts from Marc's personal collection and the Museum's collection will be on display.
THERE ARE NOT many places within the City of Toronto that still exist, have significant local and national historical importance, and remain, much as they were "back in the day".
That have the weight of history upon them.
65 Carl Hall Road is such a place.
The former de Havilland Canada manufacturing site (built in 1929) groans under the weight of the Canadian history—it bears witness to. Participated in.
65 Carl Hall Road Canadians fought their war on the home front.
Our soldiers, sailors, and airmen fought the war on the war front.
Here, at 65 Carl Hall, the yet unrealized potential of the emerging industrial might of Canada squared off surely—against the already realized, ominous industrial might of Nazi Germany, back in the late thirties, and early forties.
Here, at ole '65…DHC Gipsy Moth and Tiger Moth production went into full swing.
Canada never seemed able to build a successful homegrown automobile. No matter how many times we wannabes tried.
CANADA HOWEVER has manufactured dozens of very successful homegrown aircraft, sold, to countries the world over.
Most of them have—a 65 Carl Hall Road connection.
Many of these Canadian aircraft or projects were either envisioned, mocked up, or manufactured at 65 Carl Hall and/or at the adjoining de Havilland facilities.
Yes, yes…even the current Dash 8-Q400 family series of airliners (over 1000 sold to date to airlines globally) have a 65 Carl Hall Road connection.
But folks, let's go back to WORLD WAR II.
When Herr Hitler threatened to enslave the world, de Havilland of Canada (then entirely based at 65 Carl Hall Road) responded by producing thousands of military aircraft to supply our great Canadian war effort. Without these very aircraft, the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) could never have gotten off the ground…if you'll forgive my pun. And as you know, or should know, without Canada's BCATP the Allies never would have won the war.
Over a 100,000 airmen were trained in Canada through the BCATP. Even 9000 Americans!
But you can't train aircrews without airplanes!
You can't practice dog-fights with bicycles—although early in the war, the British tried that.
You need AIRPLANES!
DE HAVILLAND of CANADA (located at 65 Carl Hall Road) the largest employer of Torontonians at the time, and for decades thereafter, responded overwhelming with:
• 1,500 DH 82C Tiger Moths
• 375 Avro Anson II training aircraft
• 1,133 DH98 Mosquito fighter-bombers
Merlin-Packard engines for the DHC Mosquitos were even assembled in the main room of the CASM, in the Museum area that opens up behind the gift shop/museum entrance area.
Moving right along, still under the weight of history…after World War II ended in victory, the Cold War began for Canada.
And de Havilland of Canada was there!
DHC produced:
"…the very successful DHC-1 Chipmunk trainer, and the DHC-2 Beaver and the DHC-3 Otter 'bush planes" that opened up Canada's north to be first mapped and then later protected from a first strike by the establishment of the DEW Line. These hardy aircraft were designed and built through project overseeing headquartered at ole' 65.
DHC aircraft are Canada's most successful original aircraft designs from the 40s, 50s, and 60s besides of course the illustrious Avro Jetliner, the famed Avro Arrow, and the secretive Avrocar which were also great successes, but sadly—never saw production!
De Havilland of Canada and the government of Canada donated 200 Canadian-made Mosquitos and Canadian DHC pilots to train the democratic Nationalist China air force fighter-pilots in their war effort bid to suppress the Chinese Communist factions. The Communists did eventually overtake China—the Nationalist Chinese lost, and thus China is still without democracy. But De Havilland of Canada had a very active role in the Allied attempt to suppress Chinese Communism.
SPAR Aerospace, the maker of the Canadarm -- Canada`s biggest contribution to current space technology -- began in Building #1 at 65 Carl Hall Road. Here, again, at ole' 65, Canada's first spacecraft - the Alouette I- was assembled. SPAR also built the innovative STEM antenna for satellites in this very building.
In 1990, the Federal Heritage Building Review Office (FHBRO) completed an historical assessment of this site. The building was assigned the status of Recognized Federal Heritage Building in May 1992 because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value."(CASM, 2011)
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE those Canadians who sell CANADA short.
Just as there are those Canadians who forever think of Canada as a one trick pony.
Good at hockey, or, winter sports.
End of story.
But, that isn't the end of the story.
That's as far as their historical knowledge, and myopic vision of Canada takes them. Of course it's the lowest common denominator vision of Canada.
As if Canadians have had only a hockey focus.
AS IF, we never did anything else. And while a lot can be said for simplicity—absolutely nothing good can be said about simpletons.
And yet that's exactly who the CANADIAN AIR and SPACE MUSEUM (CASM) contends with these days. En masse.
PDP. Parc Downsview Park. Simpleton, central.
You gotta' feel for the CANADIAN AIR and SPACE MUSEUM.
With each passing day…Parc Downsview Park looks for ways to make it harder for the museum to survive.
CASM were even firstly locked out of their own museum by Parc officials. And then they were let back in. CASM was told they need to pay rent arrears—and then they were forbidden from allowing paying patrons to visit the museum, and generate further revenue! CASM were told their museum building at 65 Carl Hall Road wasn't up to code—as if the museum building would suddenly implode—at any given moment—and therefore the only solution recommended by Downsview Park—was to demolish the building!
Still, my biggest concern is that nobody has been able to see the root cause of the problem.
It's D and his irregularly set up Crown corporation.
Parc Downsview Park (PDP) is a Crown corporation birthed into being to bypass regular Parliamentary review and the usual accompanying federal government restraints on such an endeavour.
Parc Downsview Park (PDP) to date has blown $100 million of taxpayers money with VERY little to show. This is a 'corporation' that was flagged by Sheila Fraser, FCA Auditor General WAY BACK IN 2002 as to how DPD was spending taxpayers money, and getting around the normal review process.
Today? Nothing's been done.
DPD…still spending…still unaccountable!
If you've ever seen the Lord of the Rings, then you know the deformed hobbit, Gollum, and his sickly obsessive, demented, refrain, "My precious", my precious" .
Switch up to a glowing, eager, PDP's D holding an artist's representation of his 'precious', his personally endorsed creation: a 4-plex of hockey arenas right where he imagines the CANADIAN AIR and SPACE MUSEUM (65 Carl Hall Road) won't be, when he's done wrecking Canadian heritage.
All D can see is his 'precious'.
More armpit arenas.
And the only difference between S and Gollum, that I can see, is that, well…Gollum was…actually…likeable.
These Crown corp execs, like D…….got the grandiose idea put into their head—years back—that they were actually real biz folk, real CEOs and stuff, you know like those commanding free-enterprise biz types whose jobs were on the line with every decision they made.
Poor D. He forgets he retains a government position that is exposed to no risk, whatsoever. Flanked as he is, on all sides by his union—and with the Canadian taxpayer as his safety net.
Oh, yeah—that's real biz, D-boy.
D, you'll never be a baron, or captain of industry. Or even a good manager.
Nor should you be.
Any anti-Canadian lunatic who would demolish the site of the oldest notable aircraft manufacturing facility in Ontario, a building dating back to 1929, the actual former site of Toronto's largest manufacturing employer for decades—and anybody who would wave away, wave off the gift of hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours—valued at millions of dollars—from those dedicated volunteers who stepped up and took on the thankless job of painstakingly restoring and even creating (the Arrow) fantastic remembrances of our precious, and honourable Canadian historical past—is not fit for the job of overseeing a convenience store—let alone a 500+ acre Crown park.
And once again—why is the CANADIAN AIR and SPACE MUSEUM even paying rent???
Museums have NEVER been about making money, D.
They've ALWAYS been about preserving and sharing a country's unique past…first, with ourselves, and then, with the world around us.
Go to the great American battlefield of Gettysburg and on many days there are relatively few folk milling about. But the historical aura is still there—because the actual battlefield and wartime buildings have been left standing. Its the very place where the US Civil War took a major turn, an unadorned place that would go on to define America as a nation forever.
And 65 Carl Hall Road is such a place for Canada.
Here, Canadians first embraced complex manufacturing processes. Here, we mastered them. And went on to fight the home front war! Because there was two wars. We have many remembrances of the war front, in other museums across Canada but none left of the home front.
Yet, 65 Carl Hall Road, is such a place. Is such a reminder of our past.
And if you can't see that. Or feel that—there's no hope for you!
Fast forward to today.
Does anyone realize the tens of millions of dollars in specialized work that has been donated by selfless volunteers to create and maintain the CANADIAN AIR and SPACE MUSEUM? All, given for free, by many generous volunteers —in order to FOREVER PRESERVE our uniquely Canadian, aviation and aerospace history, from both the commercial and military sectors!
These are our Canadian stories.
This is our notable past still ensconced at the cozy abode (by modern standards) within 65 Carl Hall Road.
Canadian aviation history holds no value to D-boy.
I hope it holds some for you.
Again, as of September 28, 2011…Parc Downsview Park has locked out all staff, volunteers, and visitors at 65 Carl Hall Road.
How can you help?
Go to: casmuseum.org/index.html
Upper left hand corner of CASM's web site, locate, "Send a message", and click.
A letter will appear noting the Museum's concerns, which are every true patriotic Canadian's concerns. Just add your e-mail into the box provided and send!
ALSO, sign this on-line petition: www.petitiononlinecanada.com/petition/longterm-reprieve-a...
Your support of the Museum will be sent to those who can really help save the Museum.
DONATE to the Museum—if you are able.
Thank-you!
(PHOTO: is of the CASM-created, exact replica, of the once mighty and imposing Canadian designed Avro Arrow) Must see LARGE!
PERHAPS THE BEST SUMMARY I heard in relation to the impact of Steve Jobs came from a Canadian journalist who summed up Steve Jobs life with the techie term, 'disruptive innovation'.
Through that 'disruption' Steve changed the world for the better.
iTunes, the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad, the iMac, etc ~
I certainly don't do Windoze…
THAT SAID, all was not well with the much-ballyhooed man who was synonymous with Apple Inc.
In the end our habits own us, and we shouldn't be too surprised that Steve's habit of inter-personal severity owned him, and the resentful petulant man who was forever upset with underlings that failed to impress, but more so upset by being put up for adoption as a baby, later refused every opportunity for amends to be made by the once offending, now, contrite.
Through the years, Steve nursed his rage against his biological father.
Steve did forgive his birth mother for the great heave-ho, and later acknowledged a daughter he too initially rejected—but forgiving an aging father with outstretched arms proved to be too much, too overwhelming for the fastidious nerd who changed the world. And who—eventually learned to take regular showers.
Still, I guess being surrounded by paid accolades who bow to your every whim at 1 Cupertino Loop can set one up with a false dichotomy, whereby your petty personal viewpoint is always right, and the whole rest of the world is terribly wrong.
Except, Steve's father, John Jandali, wasn't another computer or software brand, he was, well—his father.
The man who gave Steve life.
Yeah, that guy.
Whatever false, morally relative construct Steve used—throughout the long years—to shield himself emotionally from his father, will, happily, never replace that seemingly innocuous and obvious command to honour one's father and mother. And with that eternal directive, came the general, temporal promise, of a long life.
Or could it be, as it is in most cases where father-son, father-daughter estrangement occurs, the divorced/separated/offended mother fuels the on-going separation and hostility of her offspring—against their biological father. I do not mean Clara Jobs here. I mean Joanne Carole Schieble, Steve's biological mom.
Or was it a tandem thing? Mother and daughter (Mona Simpson) against John Jandali? This is also often the case.
Steve, and his biological sister Mona (the other offspring of John and Joanne) became best friends after having not known each other until their late 20s. Such can be the fall-out from adoption, and disappearing into the night. After their brother-sister relationship solidified, Mona encouraged Steve to reach out to their mother, now Joanne Schieble Simpson, and Steve later invited Joanne to some Apple events. Mona paved the way for Steve to reconcile with mom, Joanne. However, Joanne had likely so sabotaged Mona and John's continued relationship, from the earliest of times, that the foundation had already been laid for Steve to later follow suit. And so, he too, joined with Mona in rejecting father John.
Good one, Joanne. Good one, Mona.
Divorced fathers this is likely the most famous example you will ever have, of the effects of the negative power-play, your former spouse can exert over your mutual offspring.
If its a stormy break, she'll turn the kids against you, forever.
It's her one final way to hurt you.
Hurt, unstable mothers, are working behind the scenes, sabotaging your chances to keep an ongoing relationship with your son or daughter. The provincial family courts in Ontario, Canada are quite wise to the potential for this extended Mommie-dearist tactic and strongly encourage mediation.
Courts elsewhere—not so much~
Steve Jobs: Incredible visionary! Spectacular inventor!
Good son?
Well, two out of three, ain't bad.
Closing off a homily one Sunday at Mass, I remember one of our parish priests noting, that whatever disasters befall us—short of death—we never did have the right to expect perfect parents.
But apparently, Steve still did.
Good-bye, Steve.
Thanks for the presents.
Your dad never had your presence, but he has one of your iPads. And he lined up like everyone else to get one.
Roll that image through the theatre of your mind, folks.
The closest John Jandali (Steve Job's father) was able to get his son—was to buy one of his son's products—from one of said son's stores.
ABSOLUTELY disgusting. Monumentally saddening.
While Steve Jobs, being a Buddhist, never had access to the treasure trove of Christian admonishment to act otherwise, still the moral law is written on the hearts of all men—even those outside of the influence of Christian revelation.
Still, Jobs loved the Beatles, and he should have, at least, listened to them.
"For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder"
(Hey Jude)
How many letters and postcards from father John Jandali (through the years), went unanswered, Steve?
I hope someone in the Jobs or Simpson family will FINALLY take the high road and reach out to John Jandali, Steve's estranged (not-by-choice) father in these, his twilight years.
But since we're dealing with Buddhists and pagans here—don't hold your breath.
You can't reason with pagans.
The world may praise Steve Jobs all they want. And he certainly deserves their praise—for the amazing Apple products that were brought to fruition under his leadership—for those eager, and consuming masses.
But, and there is always a but… Steve's final denial of his father, even from his deathbed, certainly gives me, great pause~
(Photo: Apple Canada Head Office, take pictures here and security comes out to meet you!)
YOU'VE GOT TO WONDER where these condescending Crown organizations find those bureaucratic disconnects who are so far removed from any passionate knowledge of the history of Canada that they would attempt to replace 65 Carl Hall Road with hockey arenas. There are a hundred other sites WITHIN Parc Downsview Park's 572 acres that could house a 4-plex hockey arena, but some yahoo wants to bulldoze the Canadian Air and Space Museum and put it there.
In the old days, at the turn of the last century we use to horse-whip those individuals that dared to sally forth with such tomfoolery.
Now, we actually hear them out.
I'm all for Canada maintaining hockey dominance on the international scene…but not at the expense of our great Canadian aviation history.
Aviation is another area where Canada ONCE dominated, however briefly, and we need to acknowledge that.
Young Canadians need to see and reflect on our past.
And where better than at the actual historic site of the de Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada, right where their first plant was located at 65 Carl Hall Road.
De Havilland first produced British designed aircraft (de Havilland Moths) under licence in order to train up Canadian airmen across the country in the 30s. But, later in the 40s, over 1100 units of the legendary de Havilland Mosquito were produced at 65 Carl Hall Road for action in WW II. In the Cold War, over 200 of these Canadian-made Downsview Mosquitos saw fighting action again, and were involved in Communist suppression in China, by a then-decree of the Canadian government.
Bigger projects were in store for Downsview's de Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada, though.
The De Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada went on to design and manufacture 8 wholly Canadian aircraft.
You might have heard of some of them.
1) DHC-1 Chipmunk
2) DHC-2 Beaver
3) DHC-3 Otter
4) DHC-4 Caribou
5) DHC-5 Buffalo
6) DHC-6 Twin Otter
7) DHC-7 Dash 7
8) DHC-8 Dash 8
The first four designs were exclusive to 65 Carl Hall Road and the nearby hangers. The Caribou, Buffalo, Twin Otter, Dash 7, and Dash 8 were manufactured on the south side of Downsview airfield at the Garratt Blvd facility. The Dash 8 continues on as the Bombardier Q400 which is still in commercial production today.
The Cold War fostered the development of a Canadian Guided Missile Division, located, guess where? I'll give you a hint, its on Carl Hall Road. This era drew a whole new breed of scientists with a whole new agenda. This time in space.
The Canadian-built Alouette I satellite was both designed and assembled at 65 Carl Hall Road. The Alouette I became the first satellite in the world—that would be put into space by a country, other than the USA, or the USSR. SPAR began right here as well. SPAR, you remember, went on to produce the Canada Arm for NASA's space schuttles.
In spite of all this rich history, Parc Downsview Park has the bulldozers on stand-by to level 65 Carl Hall Road. Six months and counting down…
Parc Downsview Park advertises itself as a place for all Peoples. It's just not Canadian friendly.
Isn't it funny that no matter what noble thing people try to do, I'm thinking of the thousands of Canadian Air and Space Museum volunteers that have put hundreds of thousands of hours into restoring historical Canadian aircraft (Tracker, Lancaster, CF-5 etc) or restoring historical Canadian jet engines (Jetliner Derwent, the Orenda 5 etc) building another Arrow(see above photo), or hosting great aviation history commemorative events that even Jim Floyd attended…there's always some Judas waiting in the wings to push his own petty agenda, and ruin everything.
There is one more thing Canadians need to know.
OF ALL THE GTA AIRFIELDS that were a part of Canada's EARLY robust aviation history:
▪ Armour Heights Field 1917-1919
▪ Barker Field 1927-1953
▪ Leaside Aerodrome 1927-1931
▪ Long Branch Aerodrome 1915-1919
▪ Toronto Aerodrome 1928-1939
Only Downsview Airfield 1929–present STILL remains.
That's right, just Downsview!
Downsview remains connected to its illustrious aviation past with one operational airfield still owned and managed by Bombardier Aerospace (the successors to de Havilland Canada) and ALSO through the existence of the Canadian Air and Space Museum at 65 Carl Hall Road who should also be the final tenants at number 65.
The Canadian Air and Space Museum (CASM) resides in the hanger that once was the original manufacturing building of de Havilland Canada. Well, that ongoing historical residence is quite precarious now.
The Canadian Air and Space Museum last week was tendered its eviction notice September 20, 2011 from the Parc Downsview Park (a Crown corporation) because they were $100,000 in rent arrears.
Why the Canadian Air and Space Museum was paying ANY RENT, and why they don't also have the former associated de Havilland hanger unit in their possession…just boggles my Canadian mind.
So I guess the TAM Arrow gets tossed to the curb along with the RAF Nimrod tail Memorial that the Museum has housed for the families of the seven RAF airmen who sadly lost their lives while performing in the Canadian International Air Show, in Toronto, in 1995.
The British are going to love to hear how tiny Canada has become in its mentality.
You have to wonder why a Crown corporation (Parc Downsview Park ) would thoughtlessly damage the museum's reputation and enlist a sheriff to LOCK OUT Museum personnel and CASM members for rent arrears.
Again, WHY IS THE MUSEUM EVEN PAYING ANY RENT, Parc Downsview Park? What has Park Judas ever done to preserve Canadian history? Seems you want to steamroller over it—that's your pathetic 'vision'.
What a bunch of losers.
All last week I have been getting emails (even from Americans) and message appeals asking me what I think? Why this happening to the Museum? Don't Canadians preserve their history? Why is the Museum even paying rent? Why was the Museum not just given the lands—by the Government of Canada? Etc., etc.
Folks, I am just as bewildered as you are!
I have no idea why Parc Downsview Park are such development-obsessed, history-destroying a••holes!
They don't get it. They'll never get it. Stooges never do.
You are dealing with bureaucratic disconnects who promise to save a few bricks from the facade of the Museum and put them in the new four-rink hockey arena.
How thoughtful, how nice.
PUBLC APPEAL: Tonight, Parc Downsview Park is coincidentally holding their annual public meeting at 35 Carl Hall Road at 7;30pm. I know there will be a real temptation to heave tomatoes at these idiots. There ARE a••holes. Don't be one.
Ask them why they are destroying Canadian history.
Accept no excuses—that's exactly what they've proposed.
The arenas can go elsewhere on the site, somewhere, more conveniently located. Like, right on Keele. Why hasn't THAT been proposed?
Even for dummies from the Parc, this alone should be a no brainer…why locate well inside the Park when you can locate on the Park's edge THUS making access much easier for those parents and their kids who will use the future sport facilities.
YOU CAN HELP SAVE THE MUSEUM by watching this video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0TIYNarr2g&feature=youtu.be
AND
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbVYh73-QOQ&NR=1
Now write a brief note to:
Rona Ambrose (Cabinet Minister responsible for Downsview Park), Mark Alder (MP for York Centre where Museum is located), James Moore (Minister of Canadian Heritage), Steven Blaney (Minister of Veterans Affairs), Monte Kwinter (MPP for York Centre), Maria Augimeri (Toronto City Councillor for York Centre) and YOUR Member of Parliament!
(Be sure to copy the museum on any of your communications at casm@casmuseum.org )
Rona Ambrose
Minister, Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Status of Women
Email: rona.ambrose@parl.gc.ca
Telephone: 613-996-9778 (Ottawa) & 780-495-7705 (Edmonton)
Mark Alder
MP York Centre
Email: Mark.Adler@parl.gc.ca
Telephone: 613-941-6339 (Ottawa) & 416-638-3700 (Toronto)
James Moore
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Email: james.moore@parl.gc.ca
Telephone: 613-992-9650
Steven Blaney
Minister of Veterans Affairs
Email: steven.blaney@parl.gc.ca
Telephone: 613-992-7434
Maria C. Augimeri
Councillor, City of Toronto
Ward 9 - York Centre
Email: Councillor_Augimeri@toronto.ca
Telephone: 416-392-4021
Monte Kwinter
Member of Provincial Parliament for York Centre
Email: mkwinter.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Telephone: 416-630-0080
Ian A. McDougall
Chairman
Canadian Air & Space Museum
Email: casm@casmuseum.org
Seen in the picture is the Canadian Air and Space Museum's Arrow replica, loving built from scratch by Museum volunteers for Canadians to enjoy, and help them to revisit our glorious aviation past that was Avro Canada. Bombardier Canada, the other Canadian aviation success story has some very interesting aircraft displays at the Museum.
AS WE REMEMBERED the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 this month, and the needless loss of thousands of American civilians, people who were not combatants, we also remember those nations that have a long history of acting honourably on the world stage (America, etc).
Simultaneously, we note there are other nations, or peoples, who also have a long history.
But, of dishonour. Of treachery. Of civilian murder and civilian brutality.
15 of the 19 9/11 hi-jackers were Saudi-Arabians.
Earlier this year, United Arab Emirates airline demanded flight-route access to every major Canadian city, in order to compete directly against Canadian-based airlines! No—I'm NOT kidding you!! When Harper's government refused to grant that privilege…Canada was then told by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to vacate Camp Mirage. Mirage was the Canadian Forces base in the Middle-East for supporting Canadian Forces active in Afghanistan.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has recently threatened to sue various Canadian TV stations for running Ethical Oil ads which denounce the purchase of Saudi-Arabian oil based on that country's horrendous human rights track record. The ads which are based on facts related through Ezra Levant's book, 'Ethical Oil' note that while processing oil from the oil sands in Alberta, which have a larger carbon footprint, impact on the environment is not the only measurement for one's consumer ethics.
How does a country treat its citizens? How are their women treated? Their minorities? Does the nation in question fight or aid terrorists on the world stage.
Saudi-Arabia FAILS in every category but the environmental one.
To process Canadian oil, some additional refining (more energy is consumed) is needed.
So, is the minor impact on the environment OR the major impact on humanity—more important to you?
CTV pulled their 'Ethical Oil' ads after receiving a threatening letter from 'the Kingdom's' legal representatives.
SUN Media and the Oprah Winfrey Network continue to run the ads.
The Government of Canada is now investigating the recent actions of the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia and their success in stifling the free speech of Canadians.
Ezra Levant (you gotta love that guy) has the the full scoops, from Blazing Cat Fur and Kathy Shaidle:
www.fivefeetoffury.com/2011/09/feminist-hypocrites-silent...
And the update:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=83zUeV1K8ZI&feature=player_em...
SHE'S A BEAUTY—but she's deadly!
THE A-10 was designed AROUND the GAU-8 Avenger which is basically a 30mm cannon/Gattling gun. Think an impressive 3,900 rounds a minute! Think bye-bye tank, armoured carrier, or column of vehicles. Think Operation Odyssey Dawn and bye-bye Libyan ground forces.
A-10s are famous for taking out enemy supply lines—in 1 to two second canon bursts! That's all it takes.They pounce on and pound their victims!
The A-10 has 1,200 pounds of armour and can fly even after being heavily damaged.
Remember Kim Campbell (not Canada's laughable PrIme Minister) but the USAF female pilot whose A-10 sustained incredible damage during the 2003 invasion of Iraq? With one engine gone on her A-10, her hydraulics gone, she still flew for over an hour in this condition and made it home.
MUST SEE: www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Stories1/001-100/0016_A-10...
The stubby wings are clipped for incredible manoeuvrability at low heights and at low speed.
The A-10—I thought I was watching flew around a 50 foot building, disappeared, and then was on top of us startled photographers—before we could fire off a shot. A camera shot that is!
I said to everyone there, that if this had been war—we'd be done!
We all laughed—but one guy didn't.
I love this airplane. In my top 5 for sure.
You 'gotta love Toronto's Air Show for 2011!
SECOND OF TWO USMC Ospreys to visit Toronto for CIAS 2011.
I'm still see'in' the "84".
SEE: Directly BELOW—
The ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY could use a few of these. Hear Boeing has been showing these around in NOVA SCOTIA to the Feds.
First time for Boeing Ospreys to appear in a Canadian air show.
TOMORROW THE VTOL V-22 OSPREY (inset) will make its first Canadian appearance at a Canadian air show, at CIAS 2011. Insider Jenny of CIAS, hinted about the V-22 being in this years line-up—and sure enough the Osprey's attendance has been confirmed.
If you attended school in Canada—as I did—once upon a time, you likely don't know a damn thing about the 40 year ago C a n a d i a n VTOL precursor to tomorrow's pre-show favourite. Canadian history classes at the high school level are filled with leftist teachers with typical leftist tales about political do-nothings WHILE ACTUAL Canadian achievers are condescendingly ignored.
Leftists have a fascination with dreamers, you know, instead of doers. Think Obama.
So here we go folks…
LONG BEFORE the tiltrotor V-22…there was the tiltwing Canadair VTOL CL-84.
Say what?
Starting in 1957 Canadair carried out research in military aircraft VTOL possibilities. Vertical takeoff and landing, for those not in the know.
By 1963, Canadair had the kinks worked out—and started the construction of three prototypes.
By 1965, on May 7, the first "84" flew at the hands of Canadair Chief Pilot Bill Longhurst.
The CANADAIR crowd loved its newest baby and referred to the CL-84 as the "84".
GENERAL DYNAMICS which had acquired Canadair during the CL-84 developmental process added the moniker "Dynavert".
Unfortunately, after 700 successful test flights (including one where the "84" ended up landing on the White House lawn!) and after rave reviews by over 40 international test pilots, Canada was not able to secure a single purchase order. Not even with its own Canadian Armed Forces!
The Canadair CL-84 Dynavert Project was subsequently scrapped in 1974.
One "84" crashed, and the other two ended up in Canadian museums.
CL-84, CX8402 (pictured above), was retired to the Canadian Aviation Museum (CAM) in Ottawa and sits right beside the remnants of an Avro Arrow. Have you had your irony supplements for today?
NOW, I don't know what you'll be seeing when the V-22 dazzles the CNE crowd—but I'll be seeing the "84".
That's the beauty about a country, and people, like the United States of America—Americans, I repeat AMERICANS don't ever throw away technological greatness, unlike Canada and Canadians whose history is filled with such frivolity.
The original CL-84 photo is mine (purchased) and the colourized treatment was also done by moi.
THANKFULLY THE PILOT, Joseph Auger, of Brampton Ontario, was relatively unhurt.
After a rough landing, on Saturday July 9, in which Mr. Auger's Fokker DR-1 Triplane (C-GDRI) did cartwheels through a New York cornfield, the lucky pilot was able to walk away from the crash with only a broken arm! In the 18 year history of the Geneseo Air Show there's only been one other crash. That too involved a World War I replica. A Fokker as well.
As fate would have it, the third accident at this airshow would happen the very next day, on Sunday and involved an Beechcraft Bonanza. That mishap was attributed to pilot error.
All right back to the tri-plane, which is, actually is, a replica.This replica made from Fokker plans was operated by Great War Flying Museum in Brampton. The Fokker Triplane had been participating in an re-enactment dogfight when suddenly the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The pilot was able to bring the plane down successfully…but as she was landing…its wheel snagged something, and then violently flipped over on impact.
The airplane is a complete write off.
The picture I have posted is from BETTER TIMES at last year's Brampton air show (Great War Flying Museum Open House and Fly-In) approximately 9 months ago.
Here's a crash photo: www.airliners.net/photo/Fokker-Dr-1-replica/1949320/L/
Thank God, the pilot is all right…but it still remains a very sad loss of an absolutely fantastic airplane.
A flying replica this grand, this precisely detailed, is the result of thousands of hours of devoted work, both by its owner and Museum club members. Sad, indeed ~
