Edmundston needs a home for it's Lancaster

[Brian Gough]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-br...seum-1.3854570

Edmundston's Lancaster bomber getting new home in Trenton, Ont.

National Air Force Museum will make airplane centrepiece of its celebration of 100th anniversary of RCAF

CBC News Posted: Nov 16, 2016 9:36 PM AT
This Lancaster bomber was purchased by the City of Edmundston in 1964, but is in need of restoration, which the city cannot afford. (Edmundston society for the Preservation of the Lancaster/Facebook)

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A Second World War military aircraft that has been a landmark at the New Brunswick-Quebec border for more than 50 years has finally found a new home.
The Lancaster bomber is badly in need of restoration work, and it seemed no one could afford to do it.
The City of Edmundston couldn't, so it searched for an institution willing to take on the project.

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The Alberta Aviation Museum submitted the winning bid for the airplane, but then backed out in June when it realized it didn't have the money needed.
Now, another bidder has come forward, and on Tuesday night, it was announced that the Lancaster is headed for The National Air Force Museum of Canada in Trenton, Ontario.
"I guess wow is the best word, knowing how important this aircraft is to Canada," said Chris Colton, executive director of the museum, of his reaction to hearing that his bid was accepted.
"Knowing what a tremendous story it can tell, the bravery of the crews flying it in World War II, and the after-war, post-war, Cold War timeframe when it flew some very interesting, shall we say, missions in the electronic intelligence gathering role."
The Lancaster bomber, KB-822, is one of the last of its kind in the world and will be taken apart and shipped to Trenton, Ont. for permanent display at the National Airforce Museum of Canada. (City of Edmundston)

Colton knows all about the history of that very Lancaster, one of just four still intact that served in the skies over occupied Europe.

Cold War, WW II service

"It was reconfigured into what's called an area reconnaissance configuration," he said, "which then allowed it to provide services to the RCAF for mapping and charting, for photographic work, and to do some sniffing, shall we call it, some electronic intelligence gathering during the Cold War. In fact, this aircraft flew missions against Russian trawlers during the Cuban Missile Crisis."
The City of Edmundston bought the Ontario-built Lancaster in 1964, paying $1,600.
Over the years, sitting outside, it has deteriorated, with rust setting in, and even had birds nesting in it.
"I have watched this aircraft over the last 10 years in hopes that someone would eventually grab on to the restoration project to save it," said Colton. "It's a very special, iconic aircraft for Canada. This year when we determined that the Edmonton museum was unable to go forward with their plan, I did approach the City of Edmundston and offered our help."

Major plans for airplane

The Trenton museum had finished second in the initial bidding for the airplane, and was thrilled to have a second chance. It has big plans for the Lancaster.
"I would guess it's going to cost at least $250,000 over the next seven years to work on it and get the aircraft fully restored to a display status," said Colton. "We're confident we have the funding available to do that, so right now, it's just a question of time. We are targeting Apr. 01, 2024 to have it unveiled to the public, which is the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force."
The Lancaster will join the museum's other pride and joy, a fully restored Halifax Mk. VII bomber, which coincidentally took to the skies on two different missions in 1945 above Germany at the same time as the Lancaster.
It will be the only museum in the world to feature both restored airplanes, helping tell the important history of the war and post-war years for future generations of Canadians.
Museum volunteers and trained RCAF recovery specialists will visit the Edmundston site and hope to begin the disassembly of the aircraft in March or April of 2017, which will take about three months.
Then it will be shipped to Trenton, for the long process of restoration. "We have a wonderful force of about 25 volunteers who just can't wait to have their hands on it and start the process," said Colton.


Brian

[Ed Storey]

This is good news and am I reading the report correctly that the aircraft will be on indoor display?

[Darrell Zinck]

Hi

This is good news indeed! Thanks Brian; you couldn't pay me to read CBC.

NAFMC has an announcement:

http://airforcemuseum.ca/en/news/lan...renton-on.html

"... Her appearance along with our Halifax Mk. VII bomber will be unique in the world as the only museum having both in a fully restored condition...."

She'll look great beside NA 337.

Now to recover/restore a Stirling!! None were saved but perhaps Scandinavian lakes can assist?

regards
Darrell

[Brian Gough]

more from the Museum's website:
http://airforcemuseum.ca/en/lancaster-kb882-faqs


Lancaster KB882 FAQs



When will the aircraft arrive in Trenton?
An NAFMC restoration team will make a site visit to Edmundston in the spring of 2017. At that time they will evaluate what is needed to move the aircraft and prepare her for transport. The NAFMC anticipates the arrival of KB882 in Trenton to be early summer of 2017.

How will the aircraft get to Trenton?
The NAFMC will work in conjunction with RCAF aircraft recovery specialist to move KB882 in the safest manner possible for the aircraft. This will be dependent on what conditions are found during the site visit.

Where will the aircraft go when it arrives?
When the aircraft arrives in Trenton it will go directly into the Museum Restoration shop.
Once restored, KB882 will be proudly displayed to the public in the NAFMC as its premier exhibit celebrating the 100th anniversary of the RCAF (1st of April, 2024).

How will the aircraft be restored?
KB882 will be restored to her post war Mark 10 AR (Area Reconnaissance) configuration.

How long will it take?
Restoration is anticipated to take between 5 and 7 years.

Will the aircraft be able to fly?
KB882 will be restored for display status.

What will the restoration cost?
Costs are expected to be about $25,000 per year.

How can I donate/help?
If you would like to make a donation to the Lancaster project, or would like to assist in its restoration, please contact the Executive Director at 613-965-2208 or director@airforcemuseum.ca


Brian

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Update?

http://inquinte.ca/story/lancaster-t...r-force-museum

[Hanno Spoelstra]

RCAF to help restore Lancaster bomber in preparation for its 100th anniversary

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/nation...th-anniversary

[Brian Gough]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-br...ston-1.4301968

'National treasure': Edmundston gives up its Lancaster bomber


After 50 years by the road in northwestern New Brunswick, plane will be dismantled and sent to Ontario museum

By Elizabeth Fraser, CBC News Posted: Sep 23, 2017 8:00 AM AT Last Updated: Sep 23, 2017 8:00 AM AT


This Lancaster bomber was purchased by the City of Edmundston in 1964, but it is in need of restoration, which the city can't afford. (Edmundston society for the Preservation of the Lancaster/Facebook)

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Edmundston has bid farewell to its very own Lancaster bomber, one of the last survivors of a celebrated Second World War fleet and a landmark in the area for more than 50 years.

Residents gathered Wednesday for a small ceremony to commemorate the Lancaster KB 882 before the start of the aircraft's long journey to Trenton, Ont., where it will be featured at the National Air Force Museum of Canada.

"It's a mixed feeling, obviously," Edmundston Mayor Cyrille Simard said during the ceremony. "This plane has been here more than 50 years.
"It's part of our community, it's part of our history."

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The bomber, which has been sitting still on the grass near the Trans-Canada Highway for decades, was flown on 12 operational missions during the Second World War.

'It's a new beginning for future generations.'- Cyrille Simard

It then served in area reconnaissance for 15 years, providing service to the Royal Canadian Air Force for mapping, charting and photographic work in the Arctic, said Kevin Windsor, the curator of the air force museum.
The City of Edmundston bought the plane in 1964 for $1,600.
Over the years, Simard said, people from around the world have come to see it.
But after being outside for so long, the Lancaster bomber was in desperate need of restoration work, which the city couldn't afford to do.

Too costly to keep

For many years, volunteers looked for help to get the plane restored and preserved and worked with government to find ways to raise the millions of dollars needed.
Preservation was just too costly, however.
"If you want to do something right, you need some resources," said Simard. "If you want to preserve it you have to do something."

Initially, the Alberta Aviation Museum submitted the winning bid for the plane, but later backed out after realizing the plane was too expensive to take on. The Trenton museum finished second in the initial bidding and was still interested.
Simard said the City of Edmundston eventually gave the bomber to the Ontario museum, and he's looking forward to residents from the area visiting the plane in its new home.
"It's part of us, so there's a bit of sadness to see it going away, but at the same time we feel satisfied of the fact that … this national treasure has to be preserved."

Prior to the long journey to Ontario, technicians will carefully dismantle the hundreds of pieces that are part of the plane, a process that could take three or four weeks. Bits and pieces of the plane could start arriving in Trenton as early as next week.
Some of the pieces, such as engines, propellers and different parts of the wings, will be crated and taken to the museum on a truck. Technicians are still trying to figure out how to transport larger pieces such as the fuselage.
"These aircraft were built during the war era, so it's been about 70 or 80 years since we've really had a lot of experience with the actual assembly," Capt. Jamie Boudreau, the on-site officer in charge of the Lancaster recovery project.
"It's a step-by-step process, but there will be snags and issues along the way that we'll overcome to get the aircraft back safely."

History in the making

It could take up to seven years to restore, at a cost of about $25,000 a year.
"It's going to add to our displays at the National Air Force Museum of Canada," Windsor said.


Technicians begin dismantling the aircraft this week for the trip to Trenton, where it will eventually be seen at the National Air Force Museum of Canada. (Elizabeth Fraser/CBC News)

The plane will also be joining a fully restored Halifax bomber, which served two different missions in 1945 above Germany at the same time as the Lancaster.
Windsor said the National Air Force Museum will be the only museum in the world to feature both restored airplanes to tell the history of war and post-war years.
Two Lancaster planes are still flying today, in Hamilton, Ont., and the U.K. More than 7,377 Lancasters were built, including 430 in Canada, the museum website says.
"At the end of the day I feel like this is a new beginning for this plane," Simard said.
"It's a new beginning for future generations."

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[Barry Churcher]

At 9:00 am on Oct. 04 two tractor trailers arrived at the National Air Force Museum with Lancaster KB882.