Mosquito Bytes
The official eNewsletter of the CALGARY MOSQUITO SOCIETY
Retain, Restore, Honour and Educate

Welcome to Volume 4 (December 5, 2008)

GOOD NEWS and.... (Which you do want first?)

INCORPORATION. Okay, its not all THAT bad. More annoying than anything, I suppose. Although provincial registries cleared the use of the name, "Calgary Mosquito Society", the branch that looks after incorporation won't allow the use of the name because according to them it is "too general". They want a more descriptive word or two added and the whole name and incorporation process has to be restarted. And paid for. Again. Suggestions welcome. (about the name, not what to do with civil servants).

A consequence of this delay is that cheques cannot be deposited yet because without incorporation the bank won't open an account. Sigh.... Patience please.

WEB NEWS. Ongoing thanks and congrats to Trevor McTavish. We now have our own domain name, calgarymosquitosociety.com and a handsome and rapidly growing site. As a result, more and more people are becoming aware, offering support and taking an interest. I received our very first membership today from someone who downloaded the membership form. Thank you for that R.F., and great work Trevor!

MEMBERSHIP. Last week we gained 16 new paid members thanks in large part to Stephane Guevremont taking a minute to let one of his classes know of our organization and its purpose. Membership now stands at 72. Special welcome to new member Andy Dawson in the UK, founder of mossie.org, the best all around Mossie site on the web!

FIRST POWERPOINT PRESENTATION about our organization and its purpose was at the RED DEER FLYING CLUB on November 17. A special thanks to Bert Lougheed for the invite, to the Club for its interest and to the 7 people from the club who signed up to support our efforts. A big THANK YOU. It was also very useful to find out what people were picking up from the media reports about the Mosquito and then to be able to fill in the blanks in person.

Next presentation is in January for a local car club, which promises a big turn out. If you are a member of an organization that would like to hear about what we are doing and why, let me know.

CITY HALL/MUSEUM DOINGS. In accordance with motions passed at the last committee meeting of Calgary City Hall, city staff have now contacted the national umbrella organization for aviation museums in Canada, the Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association, to ask them to sit in on the process of examining options for what to do with the city owned Mosquito and Hurricane over the next year. It is essential that the city get informed, neutral input in this process.

DECLARE YOUR INTENTION AND THEN LET THE UNIVERSE SUPPORT YOU. Whether you believe in this concept or not, it is certainly happening for our society. Two seperate parties have recently come forward with some of the most spectacular photos of Spartan Mosquitos. Most have never been published. At the Red Deer Flying Club, one of their members brought a maintenance manual for a B. Mk. 35 Mosquito. Never seen one before. Another big thanks to Norm Malayney who sent me copies of his numerous articles on Spartan, Canadian and post war Mosquito operations. I've had the pleasure of corresponding with Norm for over 20 years and never knew he had done so much great work in this area. Also thanks to Robert Stitt for his ongoing support and expertise in Spartan and Canadian Mosquito history. Also big THANKS to Dennis Mockford for his sizeable and generous cash donation to our society: our largest to date.

OTHER MOSSIE DOINGS. Exciting news about the sister ship to our Mosquito. Most of you will know of Bob Jens's restoration to flying condition of ex-Spartan Mossie CF-HML out in Vancouver. This long term project just got a major shot in the arm toward completion. Bob had the Mossie shrink wrapped for shipping across the straits to Victoria Air Maintenance on Vancouver Island where a deal has been struck for them to complete the restoration. Although this will speed its completion, it is likely that Gerry Yagen's Mosquito, being rebuilt in New Zealand, will be the first Mosquito to take to the air since 1996. Unofficially there is talk of it flying at their big warbird show at Wanaka in April, 2009. Seems optimistic, but lets wish them well.

AND FINALLLY. We'll need to do a 'face-to-face' meeting early in the new year to elect a board and pass resolutions that will allow us to open bank accounts, etc., once we clear the incorporation hurdles. Stay tuned. Until then, THANK YOU: for your interest, support, input and belief in what we stand and work for. Couldn't do it without you.

Richard de Boer
Prez (pro tem), CMS
403-235-1350