Big moves at The Greenwood Aviation Museum

This small aviation museum situated at the entrance of 14 Wing Greenwood, is growing in leaps and bounds in an effort to represent one of each types of aircraft that were associated with the base since its opening in 1942.

Or as we volunteers that work on these aircraft like to say: Holy shit another one? We are running out of room to work! :-)

These three recent additions were stored on the Wing for a little while awaiting their transport to the museum. The Challenger was flown in, the Hercules retired from service, replaced by a new J model, and the Arcturus were taken out of service a few years back. That airframe, No 119 was used as a training aid at the training Sqn 404 (my last unit)

This week it finally happened, all three aircraft's, the Challenger, the Hercules and the Arcturus were moved out thru the front gate of the base.
In preparation, the front gate and fencing around it were removed, some electrical cables temporally moved and the three planes made it out the base being towed to their new locations in the Air park outside the museum and Canex.

Of course, even with the additional room made for them, they had to be slightly altered to make it thru: Part of wings removed on both the Arcturus and Herc,

The following pics of aircraft's in movement by my friend Norm Hutchings, used with permission.

Challenger, in one piece,  on its way. Thigh fit but it went thru...

CP140A Arcturus, sans the wing tips...

CC130H, minus most of its wings...

I was going to go see them moved, had a notification from the museum staff about the event, but all week I have been privileged to received visitors from away; Alberta, Ontario.

In between visitors, last nite I took Rudy see the planes in the airpark.

This is now where they resides, awaiting being put back together. This will have to take place soonest before birds and critters make a home in them.

At time like this, it is very beneficial to have the full support of the Wing resources to make these things happened. The crews that moved these planes were military.

The following pics are all mine

The Arcturus resting besides the Neptune and Lancaster in the background

Hercules engines with props, the wing in the foreground is for the Herc

The Challenger made it in one piece.

It made its last flight here from Ottawa

The Herc horizontal stab look almost bigger than the stub wings :-)

Yes, an engine and the remainder of the wing is missing on each side

During our visit to the air park grounds I ran into a couple of old friends  I haven't seen in a while. Sat on the grass and catch up on our life stories.

Rudy got to meet yet more of my friends, were ever we go :-)

Here he is trying to impress Pat and Gary with is impression of low level nap of the earth flying. Gary is a plane owner and pilot, he can recognize a good doggy flyer when he sees one :-)

Or it could have been his version of commando crawl, im not sure... :-)

All in all this has been a great week. I have reconnected and catch up with old friends from around and away. Rudy must have practically worn out his sniffer by now :-)

And in a few weeks it will be my turn to go visit friends away...
Life is good and slowly returning to normal

Bob, who get by with a little help from his friends (Beatles)

Happenings

Today was the Change of Command parade for 14 Wing Greenwood.
Col Huddelston relinquish command of the Wing to Col Thauberger.

My last Squadron on parade, VP404.

The reviewing Officer Major-General Wheeler Cmdt 1 Cdn Air Division Norad, passing the Wing fanion from the former Cmdt to the new one.

The official signing of power transfer.

Col Thauberger giving the General salute to the reviewing officer.

With a CP140 giving a fly over. 

Col, then LCol, Thauberger was my last CO when I retired, from 404 Long Range Patrol & Training Squadron. I always wanted to retired on my own term when I was still enjoying myself along a good command team. At the Squadron I was the Technical Standards Master Warrant Officer and the Senior Aircraft Maintenance Superintendent (SAMS). I truly enjoyed my job and wanted to retired on a high note.

Taking down the flag that I raised on the Wing the morning prior

Some of my personnel folding my flag

My CO LCol Thauberger, presenting me with the flag that flew on the Wing in honor of my 35 plus years service, with Heather looking on.

Later on, during my Depart With Dignity formal ceremony,

 the Sqn CO and Sqn Chief WO making some presentations.

Then in the afternoon I went to help a friend re-shingled his camp roof at Waterloo lake on a small island.

Only access is by boat. The materials have been previously brought.

Striping the roof on one side. The door was previously replaced, 

windows would be next, someday :-).

Almost done... 

In the evening the LOML (Heather) and I went over the plans to relocate the laundry room.
My first sub task would be to relocate the current office area too make room for the laundry room. That would kick us off line temporarily while I re established the connection...

Quick update and a video

Back from the base, saw bench has its sides on, and a quick plane down.
And talking of planes, until my next post, please enjoy this other kind of planes.
Pretty neat video.

The Royal Canadian Air Forces  Snowbirds 431 Air Demonstration Sqn

Bob, 37- 1/2 years RCAF veteran