Canadair CL70 CFR 58-91588

[Robin Craig]

That one Ed has no engine, it was removed because it made it too heavy for easy handling in the museum I am told.

[Ed Storey]

Engine removed because it was too heavy to move, nothing surprises me when it comes to the CWM vehicle collection. Note as well that the one fuel cap is missing.

[Wayne Henderson]

Nice Rat. Is the hull aluminium?
Brian, I also have a Canadair product and am also looking for a manual, a CL13B, no luck finding a copy here in Australia yet.

[BCA]

Wayne, sorry I have not seen any other Canadair manuals. The Rat manual was a lucky find years ago. ... Brian

[Robin Craig]

So, yesterday evening I made initial contact with Mr Chisholm by phone and we had a good discussion.

He was RCEME attached to the RCR in London ON in the early 1960s and had a lot of time spent supporting the CL70 Rat. He went with them all over the artic and remembers them well.

I asked him what the biggest faults were with the machine. He said that the lack of any braking system was an issue. There was talk of an incident on an airstrip where one ploughed into the side of a Hercules and caused damage.

Another flaw was the cleats in the tracks on ice which allowed the machine to slide sideways as if on skates. Add to this the inability of the springs on the cable steering system to be able to full control the slack that develops when crossing major ruts and causing the cable to birds nest on the steering shaft.

All great first hand information.

We have agreed that he will come out and visit mine over the winter in a dry shop at work.

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Robin Craig

had a lot of time spent supporting the CL70 Rat. He went with them all over the artic and remembers them well.

I spent a couple weeks in the Arctic supporting a later bombardier snowmachine: the alpine. I thought we had cold in Manitoba, and don't get me wrong, our climate in the winter is absolutely life threatening. But up there was a whole nuther storey.

Mr Chisholm has my respect.

[Ed Storey]

I have never served in the Canada's north.