This eFLYER was developed in HTML for viewing with Microsoft Internet Explorer while connected to the Internet: View Online.
To ensure delivery to your inbox, please add eFLYER@barnstormers.com to your address book or list of approved senders.
Barnstormers Logo ISSUE 580 - April 2019
Over 9,000 Total Ads Listed
1,000+ NEW Ads Per Week
  Home     Browse All Classifieds     eFLYERs     Events     Testimonials     Post Ad     Search Ads  
BARNSTORMERS eFLYER... a collective effort of the aviation community.
YOUR photos, videos, comments, reports, stories, and more...
Find Us On
Click to Subscribe Follow Us On
SUBSCRIBE TO eFLYER  •  SEND BARNSTORMERS eFLYER TO A FRIEND
North Atlantic Aviation Museum - Part II
By Kevin Moore, Contributing Editor & Photographer
Watford, Ontario, Canada
This week we return to Gander, Newfoundland to have
another look at the North Atlantic Aviation Museum.
We return to visit the North Atlantic Aviation Museum in Gander, Newfoundland to see what else they have to offer visitors. The museum isn't just about aircraft but also the history of RCAF Gander/Gander International Airport and local aviation history.
The Beech 18, known as the Expeditor in the RCAF & RAF,
served in many militaries as well in multiple civilian roles.
The Beech 18 at the museum, known as the Expeditor while in service with the RCAF & RAF, was built in 1952 and is on permanent loan from the College of the North Atlantic. Expeditors served with the RCAF from 1939 until their retirement in 1970. In their role with the RCAF they flew as light trainer bombers and as a weapons trainer. In a civilian role, they flew as corporate aircraft, passenger carrier (6 to 11 seats) and bushplane, carrying freight & passengers. Some were also used for aerial spraying, cloud seeding (using dry ice), aerial firefighting and fish seeding. They were flown on both nosewheel and tailwheel, skis and floats. There are even a few that have flown for skywriting, airmail service, ambulatory service, banner towing, aerobatics and even drug smuggling. The Beech 18 was produced for 32 years, in several variants, during which over 9,100 were built.
The CF-101 Voodoo served with the Royal Canadian Air Force
and Canadian Armed Forces from 1961 to 1984.
The only jet aircraft in the collection is a former RCAF/CAF CF-101 Voodoo built by McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. The Voodoo first flew as a redesigned aircraft in 1954. Many Voodoos served with the US Military with Canada buying used 101s in 1961, purchasing 56 aircraft and designating them the CF-101. There were 3 squadrons outfitted with RCAF Air Defence Command. The Voodoo could fly at speeds in excess of Mach 1.7 with a service ceiling of over 54,000 feet and a rate of climb in excess of 49,000ft/min. The museum's example flew with the RCAF/CAF as #101065.
The de Havilland Tiger Moth was built in several different countries
and utilised in multiple roles by many different militaries.
The last aircraft in the collection is a de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth, designed by famed aircraft designer, Geoffrey de Havilland. The Tiger Moth was first built in the UK and flew in 1931. Initially operated by the Royal Air Force as a primary trainer, it was quickly adopted by other commonwealth air forces. They also served in several other capacities including coastal/maritime surveillance, anti-invasion defence preparations, a gunnery target drone and some even being outfitted as light bombers. Canada also built the Tiger Moth which were outfitted with some variations allowing for cold weather flying and operated in both military and civilian roles. The museum's Tiger Moth is housed inside to help protect it from the elements.
There are a few different engines in the museum's collection including a Rolls-Royce Merlin, left, and a Jacobs 245hp engine, right.
Inside the museum are many other artifacts including several aircraft engines such as the famed Rolls-Royce Merlin, Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp, Jacobs 245hp and the Ranger 5-6440C. The R-1340 Wasp radial engine was a nine cylinder engine used in many different aircraft, such as the T-6 Texan, Ford Trimotor and the famous Gee Bee racer, as well as a few helicopters. The Jacobs 245hp was a 6 cylinder radial and could be found on aircraft such as the Boeing Stearman, Cessna Bobcat/Crane and the Grumman Ag Cat. Probably the most famous engine in the collection is the Rolls-Royce Merlin, a 12 cylinder, liquid cooled V12 engine. Initial Merlin engines could produce 1,000hp with later variants of the Merlin reaching over 2,000hp. There were several impressive aircraft that used the Merlin including the Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, Avro Lancaster and the de Havilland Mosquito.
Among the displays are some different airline uniforms including these two
"stewardess" uniforms from former local airline, Eastern Provincial Airways.

There are other displays such as those of airline pilots and stewardesses, as they were referred to at one time. There's an ATC (Air Traffic Control) panel, aircraft models of aircraft that had operated from or in and out of Gander including the Avro Lancaster, de Havilland Mosquito and the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Despite the museums small size, it is abundant in history and well worth the read of panels and placards.

A quilt of remembrance donated by the Michigan Quilt Network
honouring Canadians lost during the attacks of 9/11.
One of the more unique displays has to do with one of the most tragic events to ever hit the North American continent. 9/11. Most Americans had likely never heard of Gander, Newfoundland before the tragic events of September 11, 2001 when 2 jet airliners were deliberately crashed into the World Trade Centers in New York City as well as one airliner that hit part of the Pentagon and the airliner that crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after airline passengers attempted to take control back from the terrorists.
Hundreds of letters of thanks, left, were sent to the people of Gander for their kindness, generosity and hospitality to those stranded from around the world as well as those who witnessed the tragedy on tv, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. There were even airline pilots who donated uniforms, right, they wore while stranded after the attacks.
All air traffic was grounded over the United States almost immediately. There were 200 aircraft that were flying from places like Europe that needed a place to land with the only option of Canadian airports, including those coming across to the North American continent, and Gander was one of those places. There were 42 aircraft (38 civilian and 4 military) sent to Gander with over 6,700 passengers and crews. At the time, Gander had a population of some 10,000 people. Regardless, in the true spirit that is Newfoundlanders, passengers who were now stranded were accepted with open arms. People opened their homes, their pantries and their wallets, with no concern over repayment, to help those stranded by the events in New York and Pennsylvania. The people of Newfoundland treated "the plane people," as they became affectionately referred to as, like they were friends and neighbours.

There were letters from passengers, airline crews, family members of those stranded, companies and others, all in thanks to the people of Gander for all they did, including this one from a member of British Airways to the Mayor of Gander.

Many were overwhelmed with the kindness and generosity they were given. After airspace was opened again, and the passengers could finally fly to their destinations, there were many tributes written to thank the people of Gander, and area, for their thoughtfulness. Some of the words expressed such as "... we were overwhelmed by the warmth and camaraderie of the people of Gander" and "....we were shown a wealth of human kindness and generosity..." They came from vacationers, mayors, business people, military personnel, people from all walks of life. Most were American but there were many from other countries as well, including Ireland, England, France, Germany and more.
A steel beam from the fallen World Trade Center towers offered to Gander as a tribute, left. There were hundreds of letters sent to the people of Gander, many of which are posted to a board or in binders, right, for people read.

In 2011, Gander received the International Community Resilience Award during the 9/11 Commemoration Summit in Washing D.C. On an information placard at the museum the tribute reads "At the ceremony, this partial steel beam, cut from one of the fallen Twin Towers, is given as a significant symbol of thanks to the people of Gander for their selfless role after the terrorist attacks." The steel beam sits in a display case and is a treasured honour to the people of Gander and a memorial to all those who perished in the terrorist attacks.

An original menu from the inaugural flight of the Boeing 707 "Clipper" across the Atlantic, New York - Gander - Paris on October 26, 1958.

The North Atlantic Aviation Museum is a small but mighty museum. It honours, not only the legacy of pilots and crews of both civilian and military aircraft, but also the people of Gander and Newfoundland. It's well worth the visit to Gander and to Newfoundland. A place where the beauty is not only in the landscape but in the people. Visit soon!

Another look at the Lockheed Hudson IIIA.

 

The museum even has a little store to help cover costs
such as maintaining the aircraft and artifacts.

Visit the museum online at: northatlanticaviationmuseum.com

Canadian built Vickers PBY-5A Canso water bomber.

 
The tail of the DC-3 sticks out above the entry doors, left, to the museum.
The R-1340 Wasp radial engine, right.

The cockpit and left wing & engine of the Beech 18 Expeditor.


By Kevin Moore, Contributing Editor & Photographer
kevinwmoorephotography@hotmail.ca
Return to eFLYER
 
Visit www.barnstormers.com - post an ad to be viewed by more than 1,000,000 visitors per month.
Over 20 years bringing more online buyers and sellers together than any other aviation marketplace.
Don't just advertise. Get RESULTS with Barnstormers.com. Check out the Testimonials