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

Welcome to Volume 8 (February 16, 2009)

OPEN HOUSE: MORE PROBLEMS on the incorporation front. Not serious: just really annoying. Signatures on the two documents of incorporation, the bylaws and application, did not match after we had to redo the name search back in December, so they kicked it back for another 'do over'. That was after the nice lady from the incorporation office told me she had been on vacation for the month of January. I mailed the newly signed an matching documents today. That delays our first official meeting and our capacity to open a bank account. I beg your patience and indulgence at this point.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? At the November 5th meeting of the committee of city council, it was decided that in addition to seeking public input (hence the 'Open House' event in January) that the city would issue a Request for Proposal on the Mosquito. Any person or organization with an interest in the airplane could respond by submitting a proposal; all of which are to be handed over to the committee of council no later than this coming November. This Request had not yet been issued. When it is, we must, along with any other interested parties, offer a formal proposal. Some of the competing proposals are likely to be as simple as a cheque with a lot of zeros on it. It will be our job to convince the decision makers (Calgary City Council) that our proposal is the best plan for the future of the City and for the airplane. I am open to all suggestions on this issue.

OUR THANKS to Eric Dumigan for providing some more photos of Spartan Mosquitos (check the website), Betty Campbell for a newly edited version of her Powerpoint DVD on the early days of Aerial Survey in Canada and to Bob Zeiman, former camera operator for Spartan, for additional information and especially for some great colour photos of our beloved CF-HMS after it suffered a rather catastrophic engine failure.

FIELDING CALLS FROM people and organizations with an interest in what we are doing, including Canada's largest flying warbird operator, the Canadian Warplane Heritage. Mostly touching base and exchanging information. And yes, they would like to see the airplane there.

Also had a call from Victoria Air Maintenance looking for access to 'HMS to assist in completing Bob Jens's Mosquito, CF-HML, to flying status. If all went according to plan, HML made the water trip from Vancouver to Victoria on the 10th of Feb. According to Victoria Air Maintenance, the plan at the moment is to have HML painted as 'F for Freddie' in tribute to WWII's most accomplished bomber.

WHAT DOES IT REALLY COST to restore a Mosquito? Parties supporting the overseas sale of 'HMS have made absurdly exaggerated claims about the cost of restoring Calgary's Mosquito in an attempt to frighten citizens and council members into going along with the sale. Alderman Lowe has told the media that he knows of one in New Zealand that is going to cost "at least $15 million".

A couple of weeks ago, I spoke to the man who is having his Mosquito restored in New Zealand. Jerry Yagen had a new Mosquito airframe built by Glyn Powell in NZ. Avspecs is doing the rest of the rebuild. Jerry has been following our progress and the 'ridiculous speculation' around costs. He called and said "I'm the only guy the world writing checks to restore and fly a Canadian Mosquito and I'll tell you what I paid for every part of the job". We had a nice chat.

Ten years ago the Alberta Aviation Museum, under the guidance of Ross Grady, restored former Spartan Mossie CF-HMQ as a wartime FB. VI model in tribute to 418 Squadron. According to Ross they invested over 5000 volunteer hours and just $43,000. Rightly or wrongly, they have been criticised for both the quality of the restoration and for its non authentic conversion.

Bottom line for a new flying Mossie? $3.5M U.S., according to the man writing the cheques. Jerry Yagen's estimation to do a museum quality, static display restoration on 'HMS with paid staff and facility costs (rent, utilities, etc) is $500,000. Get the space donated and use volunteers and we are down in the $200,000 to $300,000 range: Which is exactly what we have been telling City Council all along! A summary of Jerry Yagen's actual costs will be going to each City Council member this month.

Lets fight fear with facts. And even if the cost were to double, so what? We will do whatever it takes.

UNRELATED BY INTERESTING: For those in or near YYC, please join the Calgary chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society on Thursday, February 19, for a presentation produced by Carl Mills about the Silver Dart to celebrate the 100th anniversary of powered flight in Canada. Presented by the always dynamic Stephane Guevremont at the Art Smith Aero Center of SAIT, 1916 McCall Landing NE, 7 p.m. All airplane talk. No fees. All welcome. No politics.

As always, my thanks for your support and patience. Meeting to be scheduled as soon as we are legal. Until then, all input and suggestions concerning these upcoming issues welcome. Thank you.

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