The Busy
(Centennial of Flight) Year at the GMAM
By Wayne Bailey
 The
100th anniversary of powered flight in Canada made for an active
year at the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum. There were various
programs that kept the Staff and Volunteers involved, and brought 22,362
visitors old and young alike to the Museum to take part in many
activities and to view the displays, memorabilia and artifacts found at
the ever growing facilities. On January 14th 2009 the first of 10 Valley
Middle Schools arrived to take part in the Flight Ed. Program and by
Wednesday April 15th, over 450 students from the participating schools
had toured the Museum and in 1 ½ to 2 hour sessions, learned about the
Air Force Life, History and Aviation from 26 enthusiastic Volunteers
Instructors. One group of valley students from the Kings County Academy
were the lucky recipients of a surprise they should remember for many
years--a visit and short address with a question and answer session with
Astronaut and Silver Dart Pilot, Bjarni Tryggvason. It was a thrilling
and eye opening experience for the young folks from the Kentville Middle
School. The first school visit for the 2010 Flight Ed Programs, begins
on January 13th, and at present 9 Valley schools are expected to take
part in the 8th year of the program.
On March 2009 the 115th
Air Cadet Squadron presented a Zenair Aircraft to Wing Commander Col DW
Joyce CD. The aircraft was donated to the Air Cadets by valley resident
Pearl Chambers whose husband Bill Chambers had begun the home built
construction. After his passing, the Air Cadets started work in the
summer of 2007, and rebuilt the complete aircraft from the ground up.
The Zenair is now an interactive display at the Museum for all to see.
During July and August 569 Air Cadets from all over the Maritime
Provinces, attending the summer camp at 14 Wing, toured the Museum in
three groups, and once again the museum volunteers guided and tutored
the Cadets on all facets of the Museum.
The completion of the
Anson, #7135, and subsequent handover on May 20th, during Future Flyers
Day, to Wing Commander DW Joyce CD, was one of the major events
involving Museum personnel and was the culmination of 5 ½ years and
16,528 hours of dedicated effort by 12 members of the restoration team
that was led, from start to finish, buy Project Officer Colin Ainsworth.
Many of those who attended the March 31th Mess Dinner viewed the
completed Anson next to the replica of the Silver Dart, and described
entering 14 hanger and seeing the two aircraft on display and in special
lighting as a jaw dropping and memorable experience.
Other restoration
projects include the continuing work on the Dak/C47, in 10 Hanger, with
a crew of seven, led by Eric Welin; the arrival, on Monday the 26th of
October, and startup of the Bolingbroke rebuild with a dozen volunteers
under Project Officer Major Bob Johnson; and the recent arrival of
Labrador Helicopter #11308, soon to be displayed in the Museum Airpark,
are keeping the restoration folks busy on more than one front. Other
events throughout the year that kept everyone involved with the Museum
busy, were the festivities at Baddeck, N.S., Young Folks night at the
Museum, the Aircraft Model contest, and the many activities associated
with the #14 Wing Centennial of Flight Committee. The final plans and
presentation and dedication of the C. of F. Commemorative Monument on
February 23/2010, at the Museum Airpark, will cap off a busy and
successful year. At this time, the Staff and Volunteers involved with
the Museum would like to take this opportunity, to wish everyone a safe,
happy, and prosperous 2010. For more information on the activities at
the Museum, go to www.gmam.ca
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