Scores of people flocked to the Fairview Municipal Airport over the weekend.
Spectators line up to get a look inside the WW2 CANSO bomber on Sunday, June 18, 2017. (Photo/Peace River Broadcasting)
Spectators were able to see a newly-restored World War II CANSO Bomber PBY-5A C-FNJE fly in the air. Used primarily to attack enemy submarines, many were converted for use as water bombers after the war ended.
Fairview Mayor Gord MacLeod says the group of farmers who brought the airplane in from the Arctic back in 2008, and then restored it, did a fantastic job.
“What they did was just amazing,” MacLeod told the Trending 55 Newsroom. “The time and energy, and how everybody just came together to make this project a reality. Having the CANSO in the Heart of the Peace is a really big honour for the Town, the MD, as well as all the residents and the six farmers taking this project on.”
As well, people from neighbouring municipalities also turned out for the evening, including Municipal District (MD) of Spirit River CAO Kelly Hudson.
“It’s awesome to see the CANSO flying,” said Hudson. “A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into getting the (1943 vintage plane) flying again.
“I also spoke to one of the pilots of the CANSO,” he added. “It’s great to see they could make it here to see this moment happen. He said he had a total of 6,000 hours in this type of plane.”
This Fairview CANSO is one of just 13 left in the world that can still take to the air.
Doug Roy, the president of the Fairview Aviation Restoration Society, says they were very happy that it’s in the air after eight years of restoration.
“We only expected about 500 people to show up to this event,” Roy said. “But as it turned out, there was easily more than 1,000. So, we’re just thrilled with the response we had.”
He also took the time to tell the newsroom about a tale of one of the CANSO’s that flew during the war itself.
“A commemorative coin was released by the Royal Canadian Mint about a month ago,” said Roy. “It depicted the time when during the war, a man on board a submarine’s conning tower shot down the CANSO with a machine gun.
“The CANSOs crew were able to land onto the water,” he continued. “The seven-member crew began getting the life-rafts ready to go into the water, but one of the two life-rafts overinflated and was useless, and the other didn’t have enough air. There were only enough room for four of the seven crew, while the other three had to go into the water while hanging on to the raft.
Four Canadian Heroes. These four men served as pilots during the Second World War. Left to Right: James McRae Sr., Herb Chanin, Peter Austin-Smith and Hal Burns. (Photo/Peace River Broadcasting)
“They took turns being in the raft, and in the water, for eight hours until the crew were rescued,” Roy added. “But unfortunately, three of the crew didn’t survive. The pilot of that plane, 99-year-old James McRae out of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, was actually on hand for this very event. He was one of six we had here from that war as part of the honourary flight crew.”
McRae’s son, Jim McRae Jr., also wrote the song “Give Her Wings” to commemorate the restoration of the Fairview CANSO, which he performed just prior to the plane’s launch.
One of the other spectators at the event was Dunvegan-Central Peace-Notley MLA and Alberta Energy Minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd.
“This has been a dream that’s captured the whole community,” said McCuaig-Boyd. “It’s exciting to see so many people her. As well, I was excited to see one of my former students here who was one of the pilots flying the CANSO. He actually does this for a living with WestJet.”
Also taking the time to attend the event was Wildrose Leader Brian Jean.
“I actually did get to look inside that airplane,” said Jean. “And I was surprised by how much headroom was in there. There’s a lot more room than in the 172 that I used to fly in.”
He says the gentlemen who helped restore the plane had a lot of initiative in getting the job done.
“At first, when the engines started up, it sounded pretty interesting, and I wasn’t sure if it was going to get off the ground,” Jean continued. “But it did with ease, and it was an awesome site.”
Click Here to see the music video of the aforementioned song “Give Her Wings.”
– Posted by BET
