Air Force Heritage Park, PEI

Search and Rescue Cairn Dedication 2015

Dedication Service 2014

Stone Updates

Memorial Wall and New Plaque

2013 Website Update

Air Cadet Stones

2012 Web Site Update

Aviation Society Honoured

The Aviation Society of Prince Edward Island pose for a picture with Lt-Gov Frank Lewis Tuesday night at the PEI Museum and Heritgae Foundation awards in the Eptek Art and Culture Centre in Summerside. The society won an award for their work in developing the Summerside Aviation Park in Slemon Park. Back from left, George Sheculski, Barry Rowan, George Dalton, Shawn McArville, Dave Sudsbury. Front row, Al Poiier, Lt-gov Frank Lewis, Archie Johnstone, Lowell Heustis and Bob Steele
Ryan Quigley/Journal Pioneer

Dec. 2011 Update

Opening Ceremonies

• Introduction of MC and the President of the Air Force Heritage Society of PEI
• President’s Welcome
• “O Canada”
• Invocation
• 1511 OR 3:11 pm - Flag Raising and Aircraft Fly-Past
• Short History of the Aviation Heritage Society & the Park
• Special VIP’s messages from their organizations:

• Reading of a poem
• Dedication of the Commemorative Stones
• The “Queen”
• Administrative Announcements

Phase 2 Report Update

Work has been going apace these past weeks despite some wet weather. The Sponsors Gate is in place as are the two rest area structures that will soon look like real pergolas.

Our three stalwart Society members, Errol Laughlin, Lowell Huestis and Archie Johnstone make regular checks of the progress.

Our Roundel is taking shape, a red metal Maple Leaf surrounded by white stone and the outer ring blue will be provided by a blue Juniper ground cover. The Red Oak landscapers have done an excellent job of shrub and flower selection.

Hopefulluy all will be in place for our Opening Ceremony, Friday, 26 August 2011 at 3:00 PM SHARP!

PER ARDUA AD ASTRA!

Phase 2 — Progress Report

By the end of Phase 1, the Red Oaks crew had completed the brick walkway around the 3 aircraft. We can attest to their excellence as the entire walkway survived the winter weather with nary a brick out of place.

Phase 2 got underway in May and the crew from Red Oaks, under the supervision of Kevin Smith,  has been busy beavering away getting all the landscaping details underway.

L-R: Lyle Badger, Tim Bowness, Bill Arsenault, Kevin Smith, Adam Palmer, Quinn Stright, Mathew Rogers.

23 June: Although we experienced a cold,windy, wet spring, the crew has make excellent progess preparing flower beds, planting trees & shrubs installing the main wall and pouring cement forms. We are all looking forward to the finished product.

07 July: We are now half-way through Phase 2 and the results have been Excellent. After much nashing of teeth the main wall lettering was put into place and looks wonderful. People now can plainly see what we are constructing.

The Red Oak Gang has been going full tilt these past few weeks with the good weather we are experiencing. They have begun the laying of the Commemorative Stones. The first four Commemorative Stones were provided by the Aviation Heritage Society (PEI) in honour of four men who dedicated their time to first establish and maintain the static aircraft display and then to support the current Air Force Heritage Park (PEI). They are Tom Capstick, Lowell Huestis, Archie Johnstone (WWII RCAF) and Errol Laughlin (WWII RCAF).

We haven’t forgotten the aircraft! They suffered some wear & tear from the winter weather and the spring nesting instincts of birds.  Paul Arsenault is been back to ensure the aircraft are in top shape.

Although construction began in 1940, RCAF Station Summerside began its first Training Course in 1941 so we are celebrating the 70^th Anniversary of the base’s first participation in the British Commonwealth Training Plan (BCATP).

Restoration Project Underway

Phase 1 — Progress Report

Phase 1 got into full swing 26 July when the six crew, under the direction of Paul Arsenault, set up the staging and began sanding the Argus in preparation for painting.

Progress has been very good and by the middle of Aug, sanding of the Argus was nearly complete, minor repair work had begun. Fortunately, the weather has cooperated very well to date.
   

By the 20^th of Aug, some of the crew were shifted to work on the Tracker and progress has been good.    

The Argus requires new pilot's front and side windows so work began to remove and replace them. This is a very time consuming task given all the screws around the frames that need to be removed. We did not get the windows in before Hurricane Earl arrived on 4 Sept. and the wind ripped off our covers so we had a little water ingress. Installation was completed the next week. Paint for the Argus was shipped from the supplier and was expected to arrive by Sep. 1st and painting will commence forthwith.

10 Sept. — Unfortunately, our paint was delayed another two weeks and the crew moved on to sand and make repairs to the Voodoo. This was accomplished in short order. Our paint finally arrived however, the weather decided not to cooperate and the next two weeks was almost a washout.
   

22 Sept. — With uncooperative weather the crew proceeded to make minor repairs to the Argus and the engine nacelles were polished. On the few good days, primer was applied where necessary in preparation for the new paint job. The aircraft really look like ugly ducklings now. We are forced to hope for an early, warm and long “Indian Summer”.    

1 Oct — Repairs are going well and finally the weather has begun to cooperate a bit. The crew began applying primer to the Argus which is now almost complete. They also completed priming the Tracker and have begun initial painting of the final colours of the Argus. Weather has still plagued us, although 2–3 days of above average temperatures has helped.

06 Oct. — With the weather cooperating, work on the Argus has progressed well. The tail section has been painted white and is ready for decals. White paint is also going on the upper sections and taping for the lightning stripe will follow. The crew have begun to paint the underside of the wings and body with the original naval green colour. Decals have been applied to the upper tail area on both sides. All is in order for a visit by Federal and Provincial Ministers Friday 08 Oct.

For the past two weeks, in addition to our aircraft crew, Red Oaks Landscaping crew have begun to lay out the basics of the park walkways and flower beds. Removal of the sod and preparation of the walkway beds is in progress.

20 Oct. — Painting has continued despite frequent delays due weather. The Committee approved manufacture of after-burner cans for the Voodoo and the cans arrived quickly, much to the delight of our President Lowell Huestis. The Argus is progressing well and the walkway brick has been installed.

28 Oct. — Painting of the Tracker began on Monday, however, the weather turned bad quickly and we experienced 2 ½ days of heavy rain with disastrous results to our newest paintwork. With warm temperatures forecast for the next few days, we hope we can recover quickly.

17 Nov. Despite wind, cold weather, rain and/or snow progress is being made slowly. The Tracker and Argus are almost complete and are looking very good.

30 Nov. The weather has really been uncooperative of late so we have begun to close in the Voodoo. When the weather is suitable however, painting and preparation goes on so that we accomplish as much as possible in good conditions. With only 3 weeks left in the program we will be hard pressed to complete the full refinishing project this year. We expect to do the finishing touches next summer when the weather is more cooperative.

22 Dec. With storms hitting us every Monday in December, things have not gone all that smoothly. However, our aircraft refinishing crew has been wonderful, sticking with us to the end despite the adverse weather (we lost one member of the team to a job offer in Alberta). The crew endured the hot days of summer and the cold days of the winter. Throughout it all they put up with frequent delays due to the wind and rain yet their perseverence has seen the refinishing of the aircraft 99% complete. We can't thank them enough for all their hard work and look forward to seeing them again at the Opening Ceremonies. "Per Ardue Ad Astra".

The Red Oak Landscaping crew was also busy installing more stonework and some of the aircraft description signage. Unfortunately, weather has precluded taking any meaningful end-result photos so that will have to wait until spring.

Links

Aviation/Aerospace Museums

Aviation History

Heritage Sites

Organizations

Reunions