All donations are very much appreciated and will greatly assist with the reclamation of this historic aircraft.
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FARS was formed to be the operating wing of the Canso PBY-5A, C-FNJE. The Society is currently coordinating the restoration of the Canso, raising funds to help rebuild the aircraft and planning to provide hangar space for FNJE and other historic aircraft. Upon completion of this restoration, FARS will organize demonstrations at airshows and community events to provide school children, aviation enthusiasts and the general public the opportunity to share in a part of Canada's rich history.
April 24th 2016
Exciting news this week - the airframe of Canso PBY-5A, FNJE has been rolled out of the shop and reunited with the 104 foot wing - after almost eight years!
A great day for Canso PBY-5A, FNJE!
Also a great day for Canadian History!
And a really great day for everyone involved!!
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The Fairview Post had a great article this past week on the background and update of the project. Please check it out at the link below:
Rodney Kozar, FARS member and former co-pilot of C-FNJE, was in town on days off from his job fighting wild fires at Fort McMurray and stopped for a visit with some of the Canso Crew.
Rodney currently flies one of the CL-215 water bomber tankers for the Alberta Government, following in his father's footsteps as a Canso pilot and a water bomber fire fighter.
FIRST ENGINE UP!
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There's been lots of excitement the last few weeks – the wing went on, the rudder was put back in place, both engines were mounted and finally Canso PBY 5-A, C-FNJE almost made it to the Fairview Airport, Tuesday night, June 7th, 2016.
The work-bee lasted until 2:00 AM when the Crew dragged the Canso through a canola field, then loaded it onto an old modified seed drill mover and pulled it sideways down the municipal road for 1½ miles until they encountered a low-hanging power line and a too-tall tail on the Canso!
A couple of hours and a lot of ingenuity later, under the power line it went and continued up the road. Another mile further the Canso was unloaded from the drill transport and back on its own wheels to head across another grain field.
You can just imagine the look on the faces of passersby, that next morning, when they saw that big old plane sitting there along the highway, in a field, a half a mile from the airport!
In the light of day the journey continued, down the highway for a half a mile, stopping traffic for 20 minutes, and onto the country road where the Canso Crew had to clear some trees to make the 100 foot right-of-way just a little bigger to accommodate the 104 foot wing span. It's amazing how many trees there are in just 4 extra feet! Then back through another field and onto the runway at the airport, just when the rain started. What a break that it held off that long!
Click on any photo below to start the slide show of the trip from the Wilson farm shop to the Fairview Airport
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Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society (FARS) had a great opportunity to share the fruits of all the efforts that have gone into the restoration of the Canso PBY with the aviation community and local people at the Father's Day Fly-In Breakfast on Sunday, June 19, 2016.
It was a very successful and enjoyable morning. The weather was great, the food was great, we had 26 landings including 2 helicopters. Of course, FARS was delighted to have the Canso there on location and proud to show it off to the more than 400 visitors. The cars were lined up half way back to Fairview. Next year we will maybe need to get a shuttle for a park and ride.
A big attraction to the event was the Grand Opening of new Fairview Air Terminal, a cooperative venture between the M.D. of Fairview # 136, the Town of Fairview and the County of Clearhills.
Other highlights of the morning were visits from Stars Air Ambulance helicopter, Alberta Sustainable Resources (SRD) Fire Attack Team, from Peace River, in another helicopter and the visit from a CL-215T Alberta water bomber, fresh from the wildfires at Fort McMurray. It was very impressive to see that big modern water tanker there on the tarmac in front of its predecessor, the Canso PBY-5A.
For a slide show of the Father's Day Fly-In event please check out this link below:
Arrival at the Fairview Airport via ground transport, in preparation for the Father's Day Fly-In Breakfast
Gov't of Alberta CL-215T Airtanker with Canso PBY in the background
Canso PBY-5A, C-FNJE, as tanker 702, loading water for forest fire fighting in the Northwest Territories. Photos provided by Rodney Kozar, FARS member and former co-pilot on FNJE in 1997, with Buffalo Air. Rodney is currently a pilot of the Alberta Government's CL-215T's stationed at Slave Lake, AB and responding to wildfires across the country.
It's been a busy and productive summer for the Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society (FARS) with restoration of Canso PBY-5A, C-FNJE. Firstly, the 104 foot wing was lifted back on the airframe, the engines were re-installed and then the aircraft was moved overland for about 5 miles to it's new home at the Fairview Airport. Since that time the electrical, hydraulic and all other systems have been connected and checked and now it's almost time to run the engines!
FARS is most grateful for the generosity of Brian and Karen Wilson for the use of two of their shops, their yard, their tools and equipment during the eight early years of the restoration of the Canso. Without their assistance the restoration would not have progressed as it did - FARS will remain very, very appreciative.
All donations are very much appreciated and will greatly assist with the reclamation of this historic aircraft.
For the very first time, on November 13, 2016 both Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp Radial Engines, rated at 1200 hp each, roared to life on the Canso PBY-5A, C-FNJE!
Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society (FARS) is very appreciative of a great number of people and organizations for their generous help in putting together the
"GREAT CANADIAN AIRCRAFT ENGINE EXCHANGE"
And to the towns of St. Anthony and Stephenville, NL, a big
"THANK YOU"
without your act of generosity the whole engine exchange would not have happened.
(learn more about the Exchange by clicking the "Engine Exchange Button below)
Check out the link below to a very good article in the Western Producer, written by Barb Glen who visited with us recently at the Canso Shop. Barb does a great job telling the story about the history the Canso and the salvage and restoration of this aircraft, Canso PBY-5A, C-FNJE
This year Christmas came a little early to Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society. In early December, after several months hard work, we received word from Transport Canada saying that, and I quote from the letter:
"A review of the Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society Maintenance Schedule Approval for the Consolidated Vultee PBY-5A is now complete and found acceptable. Please find attached MSA RAXE-FNJE-PBY-5A. The Original document and letter will be mailed from this office in the near future."
This is incredibly good news and the Canso is now just one more step closer to being ready to fly!!!
DECEMBER 2016 - Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society (FARS) had to finally put the Canso away for the winter. Shown below was the move to its designated parking area alongside the Save the Canso Clubhouse. Work-bees continue on a smaller scale but plans are now in full swing for spring and the first "official" flight of Canso PBY 5-A, C-FNJE on Father's Day, June 18, 2017. Stay tuned for more information.
Very special news from James McRae, our friend and long time FARS supporter from Nova Scotia, who recently told us about the soon to be minted Canadian $20 silver coin depicting
Canso PBY-5A, RCAF 9816.
Flight Lieutenant Jim McRae was onboard the Canso PBY-5A Patrol Bomber 9816 when, after a successful strike on an enemy submarine, was hit by gun fire from the sub and went down in the North Atlantic. Click the link below to read his story or to listen to Mr. McRae tell, in his own words, the details of that fateful day in history and the loss of RCAF Canso 9816 and three of it's crew members.
Welcome to the Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society (FARS) website dedicated to the restoration and exhibition of
historic World War II Patrol Bomber
Canso A, FNJE, formerly known as RCAF 11094.
The Canso is a rare and remarkable plane that has played a vital role in Canada's history. It was used as submarine hunter and for search & rescue during the war, flying over the North Atlantic. It was also one of the first aircraft to be converted into a water bomber, after the War, helping to fight forest fires across the country. Our Canso is one of the few remaining airworthy examples of this type of aircraft in the world, and it now has a distinctive orange and green paint scheme that represents the provincial colours of the Province of Newfoundland who repainted it during the conversion to become part of their airtanker fleet.
But don’t let the colour change fool you. Our Canso is still a warrior at heart.
To lead you to the history, goals and aspirations of our non-profit organization, please check out the buttons to the left.
The date for the long awaited "First Flight" since restoration is June 18th, 2017 at the Father's Day Fly-In Breakfast and Historic Wings Over Canada 150 Celebration!
The Honourary Flight Crew is now up to SIX!
WWII pilots Jim McRae (Yarmouth, NS), Hal Burns (Victoria, BC), Bruce Olson (Edmonton) and RCAF pilot Peter Austin-Smith (Wolfville, NS), Flight Engineers, Herb Chanin (Winnipeg, MB) and Robert Smith (Elnora, AB). Flight Engineer Roy Foster of Wetaskiwin, AB regrets he is unable to attend.
Plan to come join in the fun!
The Canso gets on solid footing - a new "boardwalk" - thanks to long-time FARS' member Brian Wilson and son Jason who donated the wooden mats.
Hurrying to lay oilfield mats before the spring thaw to create a safe and secure place to finish restoration work on the aircraft.
Historic Wings Over Canada 150 Celebration, June 17 &18, 2017
What A Celebration
It was non-stop for two days and with the help of dozens of volunteers everything was great!
The help and support of FARS members and the community at large was amazing and the only way a event of this size can be possible. Thank You All!
Special thanks for Captain W.J. (Bill) Brady and his Co-Pilot Gary Wieben for taking the Canso PBY-5A into the air for the official "First Flight"
Thank You to our Sponsors
You made it happen!
MARK THESE DATES AND TIMES ON YOUR CALENDER:
June 17, 2017
1-3 PM HONOURARY FLIGHT CREW OPEN HOUSE, Fairview Legion Hall. Meet Five Veterans who flew or worked on the Historic Canso PBY-5A
5-8 PM HISTORIC WINGS OVER CANADA 150 CELEBRATION DINNER, Dunvegan Motor Inn, Fairview
June 18, 2017
8 AM - Noon FATHER'S DAY FLY-IN BREAKFAST and OFFICIAL FIRST FLIGHT of the CANSO PBY-5A, Fairview Airport
(Click on any photo to enlarge)
This is Fairview, Alberta, home of the Canso PBY-5A C-FNJE
(Click on any photo to enlarge)
Historic Wings Over Canada 150 Celebration
June 17 & 18th, 2017 - WHAT A WEEKEND!
First, at the Open House at the Fairview Legion, where our Honourary Flight Crew of six RCAF Veterans received a warm, appreciative and patriotic greeting from an enthusiastic full house.
Then, at the Celebration Dinner in the evening, to a sold-out room, the Flight Crew and the Canso Crew were joined by so many other supporters to raise a glass to the First Flight of the Canso and hear it's colourful history. All ears listened closely as the Honourary Flight Crew shared their stories of how they had connected with the Canso, as young men more than 70 years ago.
Finally the Big Moment - 11:00 AM Sharp, Sunday, June 18, 2017
The Canso taxied out and started it's warm-up. There was some sputtering, some backfiring, some smoke - and the crowd of well over a 1000 thought "oh no". And then ... Captain Bill Brady and Co-Pilot Gary Wieben headed the Canso down the runway, turned into the wind, gave her full throttle back toward the crowd, and she lifted like a bird into the clear blue sky!! What a thrill for all as the crowd clapped and roared when the Canso PBY-5A made a perfect take-off on its "First Flight".
Click on any photo below to enlarge photos taken by Sharon Krushel, capturing the "First Flight" of the Canso
It is with great sadness Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society (FARS) announces the passing of a very good friend, mentor, and inspiration to us all.
Roland (Rollie) Hammerstedt of Kenora, Ontario, passed away at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital on Friday, July 21, 2017.
Rollie spent over six decades as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) on all sorts of aircraft but seemed to have a special connection with the old radial engine powered Canso PBYs. He knew everything about them and was always willing to share his knowledge. Rollie travelled to Fairview at least twice a year for the past seven years to spend two to three weeks working with our AME, volunteers and summer jobs AME students. There was always great progress made when Rollie was here and we all benefitted from his wealth of experience.
FARS extends its deepest condolences to his wife Shirley and family. We will miss Rollie greatly and will think of him often as the Canso takes to the skies, remembering his amazing contribution to the project.
Fairview
2016
Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society (FARS) and the Canso PBY-5A, C-FNJE is on the move again this week!
First, we are off to visit our friends at the Peace River Airport for their FLY-IN BBQ, August 17, 2017. Come out and watch the Canso fly-by and enjoy a great BBQ with fellow aircraft enthusiasts.
Then later this week FARS and the Canso PBY will be flying to Villeneuve, AB to take part in the Edmonton Air Show. If you are in the area come on out to see us on display! The Edmonton Air Show runs August 19 and 20th, 2017.
Watch the skies over Fairview and area later this week as the Canso takes off or lands and gives a “tip of the wings” to all our friends below!!
PLEASE NOTE
The restoration is done and the Canso PBY is airworthy and flying beautifully but the support of our members and others interested in keeping this historic aircraft in the air to be shared with others will always been needed.
Consider getting involved
Everyone Welcome
The members of Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society (FARS) and all those who came to watch the "first flight of Canso PBY-5A, C-FNJE will long remember the day we had six WWII Veterans who flew or worked on this very Canso during the War, with us here in Fairview. They came to witness the Canso take to the skies one more time and we thank these gentlemen for being here and we most sincerely thank them for their service.
Honourary Flight Crew - Front Row (L/R): Peter Austin-Smith, RCAF Pilot (Wolfville, NS), Robert Smith, Flight Engineer (Elnora, AB), Hal Burns, Pilot, (Victoria, BC), James McRae, Pilot (Yarmouth, NS), Herb Chanin, flight engineer (Winnipeg, MB. Missing from photo: Bruce Olson, Pilot (Edmonton, AB). Bert Reynolds Photo
Flight Lieutenant Jim McRae was onboard the Canso PBY-5A Patrol Bomber 9816 when, after a successful strike on an enemy submarine, was hit by gun fire from the sub and went down in the North Atlantic. Click the link below to read his story or to listen to Mr. McRae tell, in his own words, the details of that fateful day in history and the loss of RCAF Canso 9816 and three of it's crew members.
FARS newly restored club plane, the Aeronca Chief with the Canso PBY in the background, December 17, 2017
All donations are very much appreciated and will greatly assist with the ongoing display of this historic aircraft as a flying museum, Tax Receipts will be issued for donations.
Veteran WWII RCAF pilot Hal Burns, along with FARS member Doug Roy, views artist Brian Hohner's painting depicting Canso PBY, RCAF 11094. Of special note, Burns flew this actual aircraft during the War. After countless volunteer hours the Canso has now been restored to flying condition by the Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society (FARS).
FARS started the 2018 flying year off with the unveiling of a wonderful painting of C-FNJE back in 1944-45, when she was known RCAF 11094.
This painting was commissioned by FARS member Henry Vos and painted by local artist Brian Hohner of Manning, AB. It depicts the WWII years when the RCAF fleet of PBYs flew out over the North Atlantic, protecting the allied troop and supply ships as they travelled back and forth between North America and Europe. Brian very successfully captured that moment in time when 11094 broke through the clouds to get close to the convoy.
Limited Editions Prints are available and Henry and Brian have generously offered a portion of the proceeds in support of the Save the Canso Project in its ongoing goal to share this special part of our country’s history.
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Interested in acquiring a numbered limited edition print of this historic aircraft for Dad for Christmas, his Birthday or Father's Day? Click on the envelope to the right, and we will send you information on how easily that can be arranged! Thanks.
Great day at the Father’s Day Fly-in Breakfast sponsored by COPA, FARS, MD of Fairview & Town of Fairview. Thanks to all the pilots who shared their planes with us! Special thanks to AB Forest Service for showing up with the Helicopter Attack Crew and the amazing CL-215 Water Tanker.
Always grateful to our volunteers who make this event so successful.
The only disappointment of the day was that the CANSO C-FNJE could not fly as planned. The crew went for a test flight the night before - they had a great flight but when they went to land a faulty brake was discovered, while Captain Bill Brady was able to land safely it was decided that the Canso was grounded temporarily... SAFETY FIRST.
Shared Skies - Canada Geese and
Alberta CL-215 Water Tanker at the
annual Father's Day Fly-In Breakfast
Father's Day Fly-In Breakfast 2018
Click on any photo to the left to enlarge.
The Canso hanging out with the RCAF Snowbirds!
Give Her Wings
This amazing song was written and sung by Jim McRae Jr., as a tribute to his father Veteran James McRae, and the restored Canso.
To complement Jim's music, we created the video from photos taken during the salvage and restoration.
Our Guest Book got hidden on one of the other pages for a few years, and nobody saw it - but it's here now! We would love to hear from you. Please feel free to add a comment or words of encouragement...
Thanks from the Canso Crew
Thanks to the Fairview and District Lions Club the crew of the Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society (FARS) and the Canso Patrol Bomber (PBY) will again have much improved air-to-ground communications. A recent donation of $3,000 for the purchase of a new aircraft radio will help immensely to keep this historic aircraft safely in the air.
Fairview Lions Club has helped many groups in the area over it’s almost 50 years of community service and is once again doing so by helping keep our Canadian history alive as this World War II patrol bomber, repurposed as a wildfire water bomber, now tours around the country as a “Flying Museum”.
Unfortunately, the Lion’s Club had to cancel its annual Old Time Music Festival this year as did the FARS group have to cancel its annual Father’s Day Fly-In Breakfast. Both events are excellent fundraisers, drawing many out-of-town visitors to Fairview and area and it’s hoped by all that things will return to normal next year.
Left to right, LIONS Members, Don Murray, Ed Luken, Mary Rombs, Frank Rombs; FARS Members, Mel Magnusson, Gregg Bartlett and Don Wieben, missing from photo is Lions member, Dora Luken Photo by Doug Roy
Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society (FARS) and its historic aircraft, the Canso PBY, got a helping hand this week from a former summer jobs program student, James Waugh, who return to Fairview to help install a communications radio that has recently been donated by the Fairview and District Lions club. The new radio will significantly improve safety for the Canso when it is once again able to attend Airshow and provide school children tours, through the county. When Waugh first was with FARS in 2014 he was a first-year aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) student at SAIT, in Calgary. He has since finished that course and met all the requirements to become a licensed AME and he continues to work in the aviation industry. It was FARS’s good fortune that James chose to volunteer his time and return to Fairview to make this highly technical installation. Don Weiben, supervisor of maintenance with FARS, says it is wonderful to get the radio installed but it is also very rewarding to see so many of the summer job program student have staying in the industry and now have very meaningful aviation jobs.
Former Summer Jobs Program student returns to Fairview
The Canso on it's way to Saskatoon, SK to be part of the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum's Aviation Days, August 28 & 29th, 2021. If you are in the area, stop and see us! Should be great fun..
Well, finally the secret is out!
It's official - the Canso PBY has a new career – as a movie star!
That's right, at least a movie prop!!!
In September 2021 the Canso was flown to Boundary Bay, B,C., under contract to Warner Bros.
for use in an upcoming tv production.
Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society (FARS) had successfully negotiated a short term agreement,
featuring our Canso to be repainted and depicted as a US Airforce Catalina PBY, circa 1944.
The Canso returned to Fairview, mid October, 2021, in the same as before condition.
The episode DC's Legends of Tomorrow "A woman's Place in the War Effort" aired November 24, 2021 and is
now available on demand on Crave TV! Stay tuned, Canso Fans
84 Pages of photos and stories
SAVING THE CANSO, the book, is finally here!
The story of a small group of volunteers who salvaged and restored a WWII Canso PBY Patrol Bomber that was later repurposed as a wild-fire water bomber.
Copies available for $20.00 from local members or by mail. For postage and handling please add:
Canada - $5 total $25.00 CDN
USA - $7 total $27.00 CDN
UK and rest of Europe please add $12 for postage - total $32 CDN
Coming soon...please watch for details regarding availability of the E-Book and pdf versions, ships electronically.
Great fun at the Yellow School Bus Historical Aircraft Tours!
Thanks to all the kids and teachers for the many June visits to the Canso
Save the Canso
This is a video of an old interview of Don Wieben and WWII Pilot James McRae, by CBC Host Kevin Sylvester, in 2008, just after the Canso PBY aircraft was rescued from the frozen shores of Sitidgi Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada.
Flight Lieutenant Jim McRae was onboard the Canso PBY-5A Patrol Bomber 9816 when, after a successful strike on an enemy submarine, was hit by gun fire from the sub and went down in the North Atlantic. Click the link below to read his story or to listen to Mr. McRae tell, in his own words, the details of that fateful day in history and the loss of RCAF Canso 9816 and three of it's crew members.
2023 Flying Season is over for the Canso Crew! Stay tuned for announcements in 2024 regarding Air Show Events, School Field Trip Tours, the annual Father's Day Fly-In Breakfast and other opportunities to tour the historic former WWII Patrol Bomber/Wild-Fire Water Bomber, the 1943 Canso C-FNJE
FARS recently had the pleasure of being visited by a wonderful photographer, András Mihalik, who is full time air traffic controller, spare time commercial pilot and an aviation photographer from Budapest, Hungary.
András captured this beautiful aircraft during air-to-air shoots from a Cessna 172, expertly handled by local pilot, Amanda Wieben.
On board the Canso were Captain Oliver Evans of Vancouver, a Captain with AirCanada and Co-Pilot Gary Wieben of Calgary, Captain for WestJet.
Canso Flight crew that day were Jim Allan of Berwyn and Gregg Bartlett of Fairview.
András provided FARS with so many amazing photos and below are samples of his work! Thank you so much, András
(please click on any photo, right, to enlarge)
PLEASE NOTE
The restoration is complete and the Canso is airworthy and flying beautifully but the support of our members and others interested in keeping this historic aircraft in the air to be shared with others, will always be needed.
Consider getting involved
Everyone Welcome
All donations will be very much appreciated and will greatly assist with the ongoing display of this historic aircraft as a
"flying museum",
Tax Receipts will be issued for donations.
Happy 106th Birthday to James McRae and 100th Birthday to Herb Chanin 2017 Photo B. Reynolds
James Herb
The Canso, then registered as
RCAF 11094, while stationed
in Iceland, Circa 1944.
The Canso Across Canada Tour 2024 is over!
The aircraft departed Fairview, AB on June 18th and returned July 22, 2024.
Preliminary route, just to show the concept!
Join or Follow the Canso Across Canada Tour 2024
On June 20, 2024, the Canso landed in Yarmouth, NS to take part in the celebration of life of F/L James McRae, who lived to be 106 years old and was one of our Honourary Flight Crew at the First Flight of the restored Canso in Fairview, AB in 2017.
The service place took place at 10:15 AM June 21st, 2024 at the
Yarmouth Airport.
F/L James McRae DFC
Canso arriving in Yarmouth, NS
June 20th, 2024
(click on any photo to enlarge)
Memorial Service for our friend,
F/L James McRae
Veterans Place Residents, Yarmouth, NS
Our visit to Yarmouth, NS was amazing! Wonderful celebration of the life of RCAF F/L James McRae, former pilot of Canso 11094. (details below) Now its off to PEI, Charlottetown and Summerside for the next few days.
Follow this link to an Edmonton Journal newspaper article about the First Flight of the Canso after restoration in 2017 in Fairview, AB
Wonderful to see these two old Canso warbirds together on the tarmac at the
Quinte International Air Show in Trenton, Ontario!
On the Left: C-FNJE, RCAF 11094 dressed in her post war Wild-Fire Fighting Water Bombing configuration and the other, on the right: Mary K, RCAF 11084 in the original War Year colours.
C-FNJE, Formerly RCAF 11094 Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society (FARS)
C-FPQL, Formerly RCAF 11084 Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
Photo credits: Richard Moos
Wonderful CANADA DAY at Muskoka, July 1, 2024, good weather,
great crowd waiting in line for hours to take a look inside the Canso!
Great time at the Quinte International Air Show, Trenton, ON.
The Canso Across Canada Tour 2024 was in Thunder Bay, Ontario!
Check out to see a great interview with the Canso Crew.
Photo at right taken air to air, by our friends aboard the Hamilton Canso near Trenton, Ontario.
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The Canso was in Winnipeg, Manitoba, at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada!
If you were in the area we hope you got to see this amazing historic aircraft.
Our plans had been to reunite with our old friend Herb Chanin, who was an AME (mechanic) on the Canso during WWII in Iceland and he was part of our Honourary Flight Crew in 2017. Sadly, Herb passed a few weeks before we got there, at 100 year of age, but we know he was there with us in spirit!
Happy 106th Birthday to James McRae and 100th Birthday to Herb Chanin 2017 Photo B. Reynolds
James Herb
Birthday Card sent to Herb, 100 and James McRae, 106 earlier this year..
Our Sponsor Board to show our "Thanks" to all those that helped with the Canso Across Canada Tour 2024. If we missed your name, for whatever reason, please know that you are very much appreciated!
Your support really helps.
Wow! Saskatoon, what a show that was down at the Saskatoon Aviation Museum! Thanks to the many volunteers who made this day fabulous!!
It was a pleasure to meet Harry Shermet a former pilot of FNJE
when the Canso was with Buffalo Airways!
We were all treated to seeing the Avro Lancaster come in for a fuel stop and short tour!!!
Click on any image to enlarge photo.
The Canso is now home in Fairview!
However, because of bad weather and smoke, unfortunately, we had to miss the Grande Prairie Regional Airshow, July 27 & 28, 2024.
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The Christmas Season is near and if you are still looking for something special for the aviation or history enthusiast in your family, how about a copy of the book about Saving the Canso? The chronicles of a small group of local volunteers who salvage and stored a WWII Patrol Bomber and now travel around the country as a "FLYING MUSEUM"
91 Pages of photos and stories
