Wonwings Diary-a blog with a difference.

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-The Avro Canada Arrow full scale model.

A new commemorative full-scale model of Canada's famous Avro Arrow aircraft, constructed by the Toronto Aerospace Museum, will be officially unveiled to the public at Downsview Park on Sunday, October 8, 2006 at 2:00 pm celebrating the 49th Anniversary of the rollout of the first Avro Arrow in October 1957. This full-scale version is the only museum-quality model of the Avro Arrow in existence.

The Avro CF-105 Arrow was a twin-engine supersonic interceptor aircraft designed and built in the Toronto region. It has attained legendary status as an icon of Canadian aeronautical achievement in the 1950s.

Five aircraft were produced, test flown, and successfully exceeded the RCAF requirements, until production was abruptly halted in 1959. All the

aircraft were destroyed, sparking a controversy that continues to this day. The Avro Arrow has been the subject of numerous books, songs, articles, plays, documentaries, and a television film.

The commemorative model was built over the past eight years to the exacting size and specifications of the original aircraft by 140 dedicated volunteers with the support of public donations and corporate sponsors. It will be a treasured addition to the Museum's permanent collection and will remain on display for the enjoyment and education of Museum visitors for years to come.

The public ceremony will take place on Sunday, October 8, 2006 at 2:00 pm at the Toronto Aerospace Museum. Special previews for Museum Members,

Volunteers and a Gala Fundraising Dinner will be held on days prior to the public unveiling. Admission to the Museum and public ceremony will be Pay What You Can (PWYC). The Museum will also be open on Monday, October 9, 2006 (Thanksgiving Day) from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm with PWYC admission.

Regular Museum hours are: Wednesdays 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, Thursdays to Saturdays (and Holiday Mondays) 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sundays 12:00

noon to 4:00 pm. Admission is: Adults $8.00, Seniors $6.00, Students $5.00 and Families $20.00.

The Toronto Aerospace Museum (TAM) is an exciting educational, heritage and tourist attraction in Downsview Park located in one of Canada's

oldest intact aircraft factories, established by The de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. company in 1929. Founded in 1997, the not-for-profit Museum displays a variety of aircraft and aerospace technology from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Downsview Park is a unique urban recreational green space, a safe and peaceful place, developed according to the principles of environmental,economic and social sustainability, for Canadians to enjoy in all

seasons. The Park reflects Canada's mosaic brilliance and celebrates its past, present, and future accomplishments.

The Toronto Aerospace Museum is located in Downsview Park, at 65 Carl

Hall Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3K 2E1.

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-See what it is really like to fly a CF-18

Discovery Channel to follow seven fighter pilots on "Jetstream"

Ever wondered what it was really like to fly one of the upgraded CF-18 fighter jets with all its new bells and whistles? Seven fighter pilots from 4 Wing Cold Lake are getting that chance and every hour of their

flying time is being filmed for an upcoming series on the Discovery Channel called "Jetstream."

A Vancouver production company called Paperny Films is creating eight, one-hour episodes about seven fighter pilots who were selected to fly the

upgraded CF-18 Hornet at 410 Squadron. Filmed over a period of 35 weeks, the documentary will capture every aspect of their training from their first

days in their new quarters to their highly anticipated first solo flights."We wanted to show all aspects of the Air Force, from the behind the scenes, nitty-gritty technology to the human stories. Audiences will be able to experience them all," says Cal Schumiatcher, executive producer of the series.

Viewers will be able to tune in and watch as Lieutenant Shamus Allen, Captain Mike Dunning, Captain Riel Erickson, Captain Tristan McKee, Captain Mike Lewis, Captain Tim Coffin and Captain Yannick Jobin master the military tactics and technologies required to fly the Hornet. Every episode will

conclude with the pilots flying simulated missions with each subsequent mission becoming more intense and complex.

'Jetstream' will explore the science and technology - and indeed the psychology - of what it takes to succeed in this world that few of us will ever experience," said Paul Lewis, President and General Manager of Discovery Channel.

"We wanted to show Canadians the people who dedicate their lives in service of their country, as they are so often anonymous. When you give them a face

and allow for an understanding of their passion, work ethic and dedication to their jobs, the audience will gain a new appreciation for the tireless hours that they put in," said Cal Shumiatcher.

The production will provide high-level exposure for Air Force pilot training through a variety of media including a companion Internet site produced to

accompany the series. It will incorporate simple interactive versions of the missions flown by the pilots.

The series is expected to air on the Discovery Channel in the fall of 2007.

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-The first Special Shape model balloon.

THE FIRST SPECIAL SHAPE MODEL BALLOON TAKES TO THE SKIES.

G-GRWL is the very first Special Shape Model ballon on the British civil aircraft register,described as a minimal lift balloon this one was built by Mr 'Monty' & Mrs Thomas to the exacting shape of a bear,described as a Lilliput Type 4 the beautifully created shape is one of a series which will attend childrens charity events up and down the UK,operated by the aptly named 'Air Bears' balloon team the balloon will go to France and Germany during September and October,its all go being a celebrity bear you know says 'Monty' the Lilliput emporium are based at the Old Coach house,near Honiton ,Devon.

With thanks to Roy & Rita Boyle for bringing this piece of hot air ballooning miniatureisation to my attention.

Remember free flying model balloons require to be registered by law in order to comply with the Air Navigation order,the carrying of fire for free flying is prohibited ie meths burners etc.

[Guest]

Clever stuff. I guess the possibilities with model balloons are endless and limited only by one's imagination.

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-Trips to your local airfield.

Field trips to airfields are a good way to get up close to some of your favourite aircraft subjects,take your camera,notebook and talk to the pilots,engineers and owners,you will be surprised what you will learn,sometimes you will even be offered a flight to really make your day,here are a few pictures from my nearest local airfield.

Wellesbourne on 19-03-2006.



G-TAFC Maule M7-235B equipped with floats is seen here at Wellesbourne for maintenance during April 2006,she has made several trips down to coastal waters to practise the skills of waterplane flying.

With thanks to Dave Hines for supplying the photograph.



G-STPH R.44 Serial 1613 at Wellesbourne 06-07-2006 the latest out of its crate and awaiting trimming and test flight.



G-KELI R.44 at Wellesbourne 06-07-2006



The well known G-TRYG has now been re-registered as G-DCSG,seen here at Wellesbourne on 06-07-2006



G-BXYT PA.28RT-201 at Wellesbourne 08-07-2006,T-tailed Pipers were a fad that the company once had.



Another Robinson R.44 for a lucky customer being assembled,Serial 11286 will become G-JRED,seen here with Heliair on 08-07-2006



Serial 1606 on the left will become EI-YYY going to Ireland where these helicopters are proving popular,another newbie is G-STPH to the right.

[Guest]

Silly question. How does owners of all these aircraft keep them looking clean ?It take me all my time to keep the car clean.

[Guest]

I don't think a lot of these have been used yet.

[wonwinglo]

Quite right Richard,but most airfields these days have specialist aircraft cleaners who preen and clean for a living with portable pressure washers etc,dont forget also that aircraft fly through relatively clean skies,not like our cars which drag their way through dirty towns and awful roads,sometimes I also wonder how mechanics can work on the dirty undersides of our cars ?

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-The Father of card & paper modelling-Wallis Rigby.



In Honour of Wallis Rigby,Paper modeller designer supreme.

One important name stands out in the entire history of making models from thin card and paper,and that is the prolific work of artist and illustrator Wallis Rigby,Rigby started life as a sergeant in the British army during World War 1,this self motivated man must have produced literally thousands of card and paper models from 1939 to just after 1969 when his work for the 'Eagle' produced the 'Dan Dare book of spaceships' and the 'Presso book of Anastasia' lovingly coloured to produce real works of commercial artwork.

But the story of his beloved card creations goes back much further than that,his studio at 45 Valley Field Road,Streatham,London S.W.16 was to become a hive of activity for his overworked drawing board and poster colour paints,here he made models of contemporary fighter aircraft that nimble fingers folded and glued into rubber driven models that he flew and tested in nearby Green Park,constantly striving for a commercial outlet he demonstrated a delightful little model of Amy Johnsons Gipsy Moth G-AAAH to the Daily Mail newspaper,the result was the distribution of over half a milion copies of this small model,and thus boosted the sales of one of Britains then most popular daily newspapers.

The secret of Rigbys models lay in the design and construction,tiny tabs bent at right angles ensured that the models held together,all that was neded was a pair of scissors and a tube of trusty Seccotine,tiny stones were used as nose ballast which would be inserted during construction and sealed into place with sticky paper.

The boys comic publishing industry were soon getting Rigby to design other models that could be placed within the pages of weekly comics,to this end the 'Comic Weekly' ran a series whereby the card parts of a small monoplane was included week by week,additional items needed were a pepperpot for the nose cone and a propeller fashioned from tinplate with bearings made from beads of a necklace,my father built one of these small models which were powered with a rubber band motor,it flew reasonably well.

Shredded Wheat and other cereal manufacturers commissioned subjects,some including a set of 36 models.

During World War two Rigby moved to America where he set up his New York office trading under the name of American Telasco Ltd,a new series of U.S.Army and Navy airplanes were distributed across the country to servicemen,press and radio coverage ensured excellent publicity for these projects,even contests as well,card and paper modelling was booming due to the ban on the use of non strategic materials for use on models and other commercial goods.

Over 50,000 copies of his lithographed books were produced and his job in the advertising world helped him along to produce material for other sources,if it was not selling then a card model would help it along as a premium !

Rigby returned to the UK after WW.2 and once again kept up with the times producing models of subjects of the day,large liners,locomotives and jet powered boats and aeroplanes began to appear not only as cut out books but also in kit form.

One of the rarest kits today is the Jetex Javelin card model kit produced by Rigby,one can only but imagine how many got burnt through forgetting to add silver foil inserts into the structure to try and evade the flames !

In the heyday of the comic 'Eagle' with Frank Hampsons Dan Dare,pilot of the future,Wallis Rigby set about what was to be one of his final projects,card cut out books of spaceships the ' Dan Dare book of Spaceships' quickly followed by the 'Presso book of Anastasia'

With the comeback in card modelling it is interesting to relate how one mans dream was turned into reality,from a small premises in Streatham,London emerged a thriving industry utilising one of mans most basic of materials made from wood pulp-The humble card sheet.

Wallis Rigby really is the father of card modelling.



Rigby eyes up his latest model of a Yak 3 fighter.



Poster painting the stars onto Douglas Dauntless dive bomber.



Test flying a new design indoors.



The beautiful artwork on his post war series of books published by Brockhampton.



The construction of his fighters,this one has a balsa prop.

[Guest]

going back to the cleanliness of the planes...everytime i have been gliding we have to clean the glider down afterwards and it takes a good hour to clean off all the bugs and dirt splattered across the wings!!!

...so much for nice clean air!!

[wonwinglo]

Forgotton about those little nasties Richard,hope that your glider was not painted yellow ? the bugs really settle on that colour,and yes they do make a bit of a mess.

[Guest]

lol no its was white and orange...we used to use Vikings. and when we flew props we used Grobs



grob...



i tell you they were lovely litle planes for aerobatics!!

[wonwinglo]

Very nice aircraft the Grob G.109 & G.119,the only drawback with carbon fibre construction is field repairs ae not possible,very specialised,someone ran into the leading edge of one around here,it was months before they sorted out a repair scheme for it.

[Guest]

very true!!! i much preffure gliding though. no whine of the fule pump in your ears...etc just the silent breeze lefting you up!

such a relaxing and beautiful thing!

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-A trip to the local airfield-Continued.



Mike Smiths personal helicopter G-HKHM a well equipped Hughes 369 seen here at Wellesbourne on 08-07-2006,she was recently flown to Switzerland on a business trip,seen also at the Stoneleigh showground on 03-07-2006.



G-CDTE at Wellesbourne on 08-07-2006,the type is a Technam P2002-JF



Mr Slaters Coventry based Auster J/1 G-AJRE at Wellesbourne 08-07-2006.



Evans VP-2 G-BJVC discovered in the hangar with its wings removed at Wellesbourne 08-07-2006.



A long way from home and visiting Wellesbourne on 08-07-2006 was PA.28 OO-AIF,unusual in that it had its registration on the top surface of the wings.



Maintenance hangar at Wellesbourne on 08-07-2006 with Aztec G-AYMO and Horizon receiving attention.



G-ASMV PA-17 Vagabond,a lovely aircraft at Wellesbourne on 08-07-2006.