DC-4
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The ex RCAF North Star at the Canadian Aviation Museum, located in Ottawa is being restored by a bunch of volenters, many ex RCAF/TCA/Air Canada, as its a government building they can not work weekends which is slowing things up a bit, but real progress is being made.The project was the brain child of Robert Holgrim , ex TCA/AC, Robert passed away recently, the finished aircraft will be a fine tribute to both him and all who went before.
Good Morning All:
Thanks to Clunkdriver for mentioning the work we do at the Canada Aviation Space Museum.
Since 2004 our membership has put over 25,000 man hours in the Northstar aka C-54GM, DC-4M1, DC-4M2 etc. This aircraft series was built under licence from Douglas Aircraft in Cartierville Quebec (outside of Montreal near the Dorval Airport)
To date the number one engine (Rolls Royce Merlin 622 series) which took a little over 3 years of work was torn down cleaned and put back on to the wing. With knowledge learned from the first engine we have now disassembled number 2 engine and are starting the build up of this engine in just seven months.
The restoration/preservation work is quite a challenge as the aircraft spent close to 40 years in the Canadian outdoors before the storage hangar was built around five years ago. One can imagine the interior as birds were nesting inside and prior to work inside clean up crews in full biohazardous suits had to remove asbestos as well as the 40 years of bird's nests.
The work is meticulous as parts which would normally be thrown out are cleaned, glass beaded when corrosion is found, painted than catalogued to prior to installation.
All electronics such as radios flight instrumentation navigators' equipment look so new you would think the only thing missing is a green tag to return to service.
In the summer time the aircraft is pulled outdoors so cleaning with chemicals, paint stripping and painting can be done as the storage hangar has no ventilation, fire suppression etc.
In spite of this our work progresses and the estimate for completion is over ten years away to display condition only.
We need help in the following our groups demographic is in the 70's with the oldest at 86! These people have very special skills such machine tooling an art to itself.
One of our biggest financial hurdle our the de-icing boots which are just shy of $90,000:00 Canadian along with only one manufacturer left and not too many active DC-4 aircraft flying.
We also need any manuals for this aircraft especially in the maintenance side of things.
If the readership of this forum would like to help us in this restoration please visit our web site for membership, donations and any other way you can help as this will be appreciated.
With thanks to Clunkdriver Per ardua ad astra
http://www.projectnorthstar.ca/
Thanks to Clunkdriver for mentioning the work we do at the Canada Aviation Space Museum.
Since 2004 our membership has put over 25,000 man hours in the Northstar aka C-54GM, DC-4M1, DC-4M2 etc. This aircraft series was built under licence from Douglas Aircraft in Cartierville Quebec (outside of Montreal near the Dorval Airport)
To date the number one engine (Rolls Royce Merlin 622 series) which took a little over 3 years of work was torn down cleaned and put back on to the wing. With knowledge learned from the first engine we have now disassembled number 2 engine and are starting the build up of this engine in just seven months.
The restoration/preservation work is quite a challenge as the aircraft spent close to 40 years in the Canadian outdoors before the storage hangar was built around five years ago. One can imagine the interior as birds were nesting inside and prior to work inside clean up crews in full biohazardous suits had to remove asbestos as well as the 40 years of bird's nests.
The work is meticulous as parts which would normally be thrown out are cleaned, glass beaded when corrosion is found, painted than catalogued to prior to installation.
All electronics such as radios flight instrumentation navigators' equipment look so new you would think the only thing missing is a green tag to return to service.
In the summer time the aircraft is pulled outdoors so cleaning with chemicals, paint stripping and painting can be done as the storage hangar has no ventilation, fire suppression etc.
In spite of this our work progresses and the estimate for completion is over ten years away to display condition only.
We need help in the following our groups demographic is in the 70's with the oldest at 86! These people have very special skills such machine tooling an art to itself.
One of our biggest financial hurdle our the de-icing boots which are just shy of $90,000:00 Canadian along with only one manufacturer left and not too many active DC-4 aircraft flying.
We also need any manuals for this aircraft especially in the maintenance side of things.
If the readership of this forum would like to help us in this restoration please visit our web site for membership, donations and any other way you can help as this will be appreciated.
With thanks to Clunkdriver Per ardua ad astra
http://www.projectnorthstar.ca/
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: london
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just for the record
The DC4 was also in service with KLM and in 1947 they had one on
experimental service into Croydon Airport - This at the time when Junkers 52s were lined up on Croydons apron in the livery of Swissair Air France
Sabene - but they did not did not repeat the operation - probably due to Croydons uphill grass runway and its substantial dip in the centre of the field. The KLM DC4 fleet included PH TCE PH DBE (also
possibly PH FPL as referred to by 411A)
...
The DC4 was also in service with KLM and in 1947 they had one on
experimental service into Croydon Airport - This at the time when Junkers 52s were lined up on Croydons apron in the livery of Swissair Air France
Sabene - but they did not did not repeat the operation - probably due to Croydons uphill grass runway and its substantial dip in the centre of the field. The KLM DC4 fleet included PH TCE PH DBE (also
possibly PH FPL as referred to by 411A)
...
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Wiltshire
Age: 83
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BOAC Argonauts
If it is of any use, I am currently involved in putting up a few hundred photos that I took in the mid to late 50's, they include BOAC Argonauts, a Starways DC4 and a number of other DC4's. There is no charge to view them & if anyone needs a copy for a valid reason, I would be happy to arrange that.
Go to the Air Britain site abpics.co.uk, once in, enter search, then enter Brian Doherty as Photographer and search.
Hope this helps, and once again stress that there are no charges involved.
Cheers
Go to the Air Britain site abpics.co.uk, once in, enter search, then enter Brian Doherty as Photographer and search.
Hope this helps, and once again stress that there are no charges involved.
Cheers
Last edited by Entaxei; 14th Oct 2010 at 16:18.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Langley
Age: 82
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks PT - proves that alzhiemers and dislexier rule ko! Unfortunately I did not log which DC4 was that I flew in. What I do vividly remember was that it was 10-10ths all the way and when we got to approach we could not land through the murk and was held over St Austel. After a few minutes in the hold the guy in the next seat summoned the stewardess and demanded to know if the pilot had got us lost!!
