Where do military airplanes go once they’ve exceeded their “best before” dates? You’d be surprised by the esteem and care they are accorded. Some end up in the hands of other air forces, private individuals, museums, spare part wholesalers. The demand is encouragingly high. Their use as monuments is respectably common. This is the story of the private collection of a enthusiast whose passion kept the spirit of military flight alive but sadly passed away recently. What fate awaits these aircraft which served to keep us safe and free? AN.
For more please see here: https://www.blogto.com/city/2021/01/derelict-military-aircraft-sitting-field-toronto/
From 3528 Paul Manson:
“You might also want to refer to the universal problem of preserving military artifacts for historical purposes, especially the bigger items like airplanes. These were produced in such great quantities that, when their service comes to an end, they are usually consigned to the rubbish bin, so to speak. At the end of the Pacific War in 1945, for example, the U.S. Navy used bulldozers to shove perfectly good carrier aircraft overboard. Canada has done a reasonable job of preserving old military aircraft; many of these are mounted on pedestals in locations across the country, and our military museums do a fine job of maintaining and displaying historic military aircraft. But the cost of renovation and preserving other examples, especially those which have been consigned to outdoor storage, is very high, and few get recovered. For those who flew or serviced these historic aircraft, it is sad to see their former proud glory subjected to the ravages of time and weather.”
Even more challenging and costly is restoring them to flight. The Jet Aircraft Museum (London, ON) is the only museum in Canada solely dedicated to “finding, fixing, and flying” vintage military jets. Our centrepiece is CT133573 restored and flying as The Red Knight. Check us out on the web and on Facebook @JetAircraftMuseum
Doug Acton
10068
Class of 1975
Past President and Chair, JAM
Education Program Director, JAM
There is also the large Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, ON, whose mandate is to restore ALL warplanes, not just jets, to flight status. Superb museum that houses one of only two still-flying Lancaster bombers in the world. They have hundreds of volunteers who restore the planes to flying status. They can take passengers for rides and have a large souvenir shop? On the Board of the museum serves M0472 Barbara Maisonneuve. See: http://www.warplane.com