In last week's eFlyer (eFlyer #80) we brought you the first of two stories about some folks who have made efforts to save aircraft from the scrap dealer’s crusher so that other airplanes may continue to fly. This is Part 2.

Not more than about 15 minutes from O’Con-Aircraft Supplies is a ‘neighbour’ and friend of Vince O’Connor, Allan Ruben. Al is a former Photo Tech of the RCAF and became an airplane collector. In 1985 he formed an aircraft restoration company and eventually founded the Canadian Air Land and Sea Museum. Currently, Al is the founder of “Wings of Flight” and is a collector and restorer registered corporation in Ontario, Canada and New York State. He is also part owner of the Markham Airport (CNU8) in Markham, Ontario and has a little collection of his own sitting amongst the privately owned Cessna’s and Pipers.

Making your way up to the airport you follow a narrow, unassuming, pothole-pitted gravel driveway, eventually coming upon a bit of a ram-shackled building that is the flying club. After you park your car and walk past the clubhouse you are greeted by 4 jet fighter aircraft: A Canadair T-33 Silver Star (in the USA, it’s known as a Shooting Star); two Canadair CF-5 Freedom Fighters; and a former RCAF CF-104 Starfighter (painted in the livery of the Turkish Air Force); and all sitting in front of 3 or 4 portable buildings used as offices for Al’s business.

Entering Al’s office one is greeted by a row of assorted ejection seats, a large assortment of aviation including 16mm jet fighter cameras, a 70mm Hulcher, 9 ½” film format type and more. You’ll also find aviation photographs, model airplanes, certificates, flight suits, paintings, and more. Al’s office chair is a former Argus crew seat, mounted to a wooden platform on wheels. He’s proud to show off his wares and explain their history to you. A few short steps from his office is a small wood-framed hangar. In it sits the sad remains of a once beautiful DH Vampire, the nose section and Goblin engine showing the damage sustained in an emergency landing at Rochester airport that didn’t go as one would have liked. A once stunning flying example, thought to have been the oldest flying jet aircraft in the world, now rests in pieces around the airport, possibly anticipating a rescue and rebuild. Not 10 feet away is a vintage Willy’s Jeep painted in USN colours, used for touring various airshows. Behind it, sits a Rolls-Royce DH Mosquito engine, a nose section CF-114 Tutor simulator, and crates of CF-5 tail-fins.

Several hundred yards down the side of the runway sit 8 CF-5, almost complete fuselages, that Al would like to find homes for by making trades with American or Canadian museums. Their wing and tail sections stored in trailers along one side of the property with the fuselages missing only the O2 regulators and the stand-by compass. He also has a restorable to flying condition RCAF (CL-13) F-86 Sabre and a Beech 18 (RCAF Expeditor) that he’d like to get back in the air some time down the road. Other airplanes and parts sit around the airport waiting for a home, an opportunity to be refitted to an airframe that they may fly again, including 2 CF-104 Starfighter ‘hulks’ and a T-33 wing and tail-section.

If you’re in the market for an airplane project or you have an airplane project on the go and you’re looking for a part you might just find what you are looking for in South-Eastern Ontario. After all, no airplane is truly scrap until it’s heating up your dinner on the stove!

To contact Al Rubin at “Wings of Flight” email Al at arwings1@rogers.com
or call 905-640-0500.

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