Commonwealth Air Training Memorial

Commonwealth Air Training Memorial

FTLComm - Winnipeg - Wednesday, April 23, 2003

On Monday afternoon we visited the Commonwealth Air Training Memorial at the main gate of CFB Winnipeg. It is a huge display with the aircraft of recent Canadian history mounted on display.

The series of displayed aircraft begins with a humble Beechcraft Muskateer. Used for years at the Portage La Prairie training base as the pilots first aircraft.
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The Muskateer had been chosen because it is an extremely rugged and durable aircraft. When aircraft were retired from service they were not sold because the aircraft had to many hours on them to be considered safe.

This is a Grumman tracker used on Canada's aircraft carriers and as a coastal patrol aircraft. It carrier sound detection equipment to drop in the water to search for submarines and torpedoes in its bay.

The Bell Jetranger was a fine civilian helicopter, this is the military version given the military designation as Kiowa.
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This is a radar unit long ago retired from the mid Canada radar line as part of NORADs defense system.
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A long view of a Canadair 601 Challenger.

This particular Challenger is the first one, the prototype, hence the "X" on its tail for "experimental". These aircraft are still in service today with the government of Canada having acquired three new versions this winter.

Looking past this relatively modern wide bodied business jet at the history of Canadian air defence.

For most of its life the CF 104 built in Canada under license from Lockheed was reported to the Canadian public as a fighter interceptor but the role of the 104 was a nuclear bomber. Able to fly at low altitude at enormous speed to a European target then pop up to deliver the bomb and then head for home.

The last jets of the Royal Canadian Air Force before Canada's military became the Canadian Armed Forces. The Avro CF 100, Canadair built North American CF 86 and the Lockheed T-33.

With untold millions flowing into the Toronto based Avro company to build the extra-ordinary Avro Arrow the Diefenbaker government mistakenly thought manned aircrafts would be replaced with missilies and scrapped the Arrow only to discover a manned interceptor was still needed and so they acquired the McDonald 101 Voodoo.

The Voodoo was to face a possible cold war threat of Soviet manned bombers and was based across the country and equipped with American controlled proximity air to air nuclear missilies, the "genie" seen on the belly of this Voodoo.

Though used by Canada long past their service life the Voodoo was always recognised by its smoke. The United States moved from the Voodoo to the bent wing F4 Phantom which was the tough guy in Vietman.

Canada entered the Jet age with the British deHaviland Vampire as it put into the air its own Avro CF 100 a truly Canadian aircraft designed to operating in all weather conditions.

Entering service during the Korean conflict the North American F 86 was a remarkable trim and exceptional handling aircraft. Canada and Britian fitted out their airforce with these cold war warriors made by Canadair under license from North American.

Giving flight was the concept behind the Commonwealth air training programme and this part is dedicated to its achievements.

Pilots rave about the wonders of this aircraft. The Canadian version was considered, because of its superior radar to be the best of the line but test pilot Chuck Yeager was known to have made a F-86 do things that on paper it was simply not able to do. This one is wearing European Cold War colours.

Entering service during the Korean conflict the Lockheed Starfighter was to become one of the most useful aircrafts designed. Canada bought them as advanced trainers then used them as liason aircraft right up until a couple of years ago. I once saw a T-33 arrive in Watson Lake with a spare tire for a Buffalo on search and rescue duty.

The T-33s long life was largely due to its simple and solid capabilities. Two seat tandem aircraft with a durable airframe and modest capabilities.

The CF-100 is a big aircraft and continued in service into the 80s as there were versions developed with special electronic warfare capabilities stationed at ThunderBay.

There is a definite Canadian look to the CF-100. The look of an aircraft meant to fly in really bad weather and be able to go up when nothing else would dare.

This silouette image of the CF-100 shows its size and low wide profile.

With the arrival of World War II Canada had to train aircrew and selected as an advanced trainer the Yale, a fixed gear machine by North American that was soon replaced by the Harvard. Designated in the United States as AT-6 or Texan. This Pratt and Whitney powered barrel of gas an hour monster was the advanced trainer in Canada right up until the arrival of the jet Canadair Tudor.

This park commemorates the Manitoba portion of the Commonwealth Air training programme and the blue markings on the Harvard distinguish it from the orange marking on the "Big 2" Moose Jaw based aircraft.

The walk ways are engraved with the names of those involved in the Commononwealth air training programme.

Every aircraft has a distinctive sound and the CF-100's engines and configuration gave it a throaty sound while the ultra high speed CF-104 had a remarkable after sound that followed it, a sort of departing murmured howl as it passed over.

This sign post shows the distances to the far ends of the Commonwealth from which people came to Manitoba for training.

The CF-86 was well known to all Canadians as in 1967 it was the aircraft of the Centennial celebration formation "The Golden Centenairs". In those formations and on this pilon the aircraft is shown with clean wings but as an operational aircraft it almost always was fitted with two wing extended range drop tanks fitted to hard points mid way down each wing.

Most of its life the T-33 in Canadian service was seen in this plain metal format however airshow viewers saw it painted black and red or totally red as the "Red Knight" solo demonstration pilot flew this aircraft. Many of these solo display aircraft and their pilots did not make return trips.

Below is a look around the site. This is a QuickTime Virtual reality image and if you do not see the picture please download QuickTime as it is free and will enhance your computer's capabilities.

Commonwealth Air Training Memorial


FTLComm - Winnipeg - Wednesday, April 23, 2003
On Monday afternoon we visited the Commonwealth Air Training Memorial at the main gate of CFB Winnipeg. It is a huge display with the aircraft of recent Canadian history mounted on display.

The series of displayed aircraft begins with a humble Beechcraft Muskateer. Used for years at the Portage La Prairie training base as the pilots first aircraft. . . .	The Muskateer had been chosen because it is an extremely rugged and durable aircraft. When aircraft were retired from service they were not sold because the aircraft had to many hours on them to be considered safe.	This is a Grumman tracker used on Canada's aircraft carriers and as a coastal patrol aircraft. It carrier sound detection equipment to drop in the water to search for submarines and torpedoes in its bay.	The Bell Jetranger was a fine civilian helicopter, this is the military version given the military designation as Kiowa. . . . . .	This is a radar unit long ago retired from the mid Canada radar line as part of NORADs defense system. . . . . .

A long view of a Canadair 601 Challenger.	This particular Challenger is the first one, the prototype, hence the "X" on its tail for "experimental". These aircraft are still in service today with the government of Canada having acquired three new versions this winter.	Looking past this relatively modern wide bodied business jet at the history of Canadian air defence.	For most of its life the CF 104 built in Canada under license from Lockheed was reported to the Canadian public as a fighter interceptor but the role of the 104 was a nuclear bomber. Able to fly at low altitude at enormous speed to a European target then pop up to deliver the bomb and then head for home.	The last jets of the Royal Canadian Air Force before Canada's military became the Canadian Armed Forces. The Avro CF 100, Canadair built North American CF 86 and the Lockheed T-33.

With untold millions flowing into the Toronto based Avro company to build the extra-ordinary Avro Arrow the Diefenbaker government mistakenly thought manned aircrafts would be replaced with missilies and scrapped the Arrow only to discover a manned interceptor was still needed and so they acquired the McDonald 101 Voodoo.	The Voodoo was to face a possible cold war threat of Soviet manned bombers and was based across the country and equipped with American controlled proximity air to air nuclear missilies, the "genie" seen on the belly of this Voodoo.	Though used by Canada long past their service life the Voodoo was always recognised by its smoke. The United States moved from the Voodoo to the bent wing F4 Phantom which was the tough guy in Vietman.	Canada entered the Jet age with the British deHaviland Vampire as it put into the air its own Avro CF 100 a truly Canadian aircraft designed to operating in all weather conditions.	Entering service during the Korean conflict the North American F 86 was a remarkable trim and exceptional handling aircraft. Canada and Britian fitted out their airforce with these cold war warriors made by Canadair under license from North American.

Giving flight was the concept behind the Commonwealth air training programme and this part is dedicated to its achievements.	Pilots rave about the wonders of this aircraft. The Canadian version was considered, because of its superior radar to be the best of the line but test pilot Chuck Yeager was known to have made a F-86 do things that on paper it was simply not able to do. This one is wearing European Cold War colours.	Entering service during the Korean conflict the Lockheed Starfighter was to become one of the most useful aircrafts designed. Canada bought them as advanced trainers then used them as liason aircraft right up until a couple of years ago. I once saw a T-33 arrive in Watson Lake with a spare tire for a Buffalo on search and rescue duty.	The T-33s long life was largely due to its simple and solid capabilities. Two seat tandem aircraft with a durable airframe and modest capabilities.	The CF-100 is a big aircraft and continued in service into the 80s as there were versions developed with special electronic warfare capabilities stationed at ThunderBay.

There is a definite Canadian look to the CF-100. The look of an aircraft meant to fly in really bad weather and be able to go up when nothing else would dare.	This silouette image of the CF-100 shows its size and low wide profile.	With the arrival of World War II Canada had to train aircrew and selected as an advanced trainer the Yale, a fixed gear machine by North American that was soon replaced by the Harvard. Designated in the United States as AT-6 or Texan. This Pratt and Whitney powered barrel of gas an hour monster was the advanced trainer in Canada right up until the arrival of the jet Canadair Tudor.	This park commemorates the Manitoba portion of the Commonwealth Air training programme and the blue markings on the Harvard distinguish it from the orange marking on the "Big 2" Moose Jaw based aircraft.	The walk ways are engraved with the names of those involved in the Commononwealth air training programme.

Every aircraft has a distinctive sound and the CF-100's engines and configuration gave it a throaty sound while the ultra high speed CF-104 had a remarkable after sound that followed it, a sort of departing murmured howl as it passed over.	This sign post shows the distances to the far ends of the Commonwealth from which people came to Manitoba for training.	The CF-86 was well known to all Canadians as in 1967 it was the aircraft of the Centennial celebration formation "The Golden Centenairs". In those formations and on this pilon the aircraft is shown with clean wings but as an operational aircraft it almost always was fitted with two wing extended range drop tanks fitted to hard points mid way down each wing.	Most of its life the T-33 in Canadian service was seen in this plain metal format however airshow viewers saw it painted black and red or totally red as the "Red Knight" solo demonstration pilot flew this aircraft. Many of these solo display aircraft and their pilots did not make return trips.
Below is a look around the site. This is a QuickTime Virtual reality image and if you do not see the picture please download QuickTime as it is free and will enhance your computer's capabilities.