Avro Arrow to spread wings in new museum - comments by Harrison Ford
As scrapped technological wonder hits milestone, reno at Downsview site will give replica more room
Feb 21, 2009 04:30 AM Jason Miller
Newton Mills was speechless when, 50 years ago, he got the heart-wrenching news that plans to complete the world's most technologically advanced supersonic interceptor aircraft were coming to an abrupt end.
But yesterday Mills, now 86, gazed in adoration at the massive replica of the CF-105 Avro Arrow at the opening of the new Canadian Air and Space Museum – formerly the Toronto Aerospace Museum – 50 years after he worked in the pipe shop during the Arrow's production. He was joined by several other air and space enthusiasts to celebrate the museum's relaunch and the Arrow's 50th anniversary since it was grounded in 1959 by political forces.
"What a waste of ingenuity," Mills said about the decision to scrap the Arrow, which cost some 40,000 jobs and put paid to one of the most advanced planes of its era and one considered decades ahead of its time.
But now, Mills said, the museum's expansion and revitalization plans will preserve memories of the legendary aircraft so fans can relive its history in a more engaging setting.
The only full-scale Arrow replica in existence, it sits in a cluttered environment, jammed up next to parts of a soon-to-be assembled Lancaster bomber.
Housed in the former de Havilland aircraft factory at Downsview Park, the museum is home now to 12 vintage aircraft of various sizes that fight to coexist in the limited exhibition space.
Claude Sherwood, the museum's CEO and former Avro employee, said a lack of space to properly showcase exhibits is one of the museum's major drawbacks as it struggles to serve the more than the 20,000 visitors who now pass through the doors each year. He says the museum is struggling to get funding to grow, and wants to occupy a vacant building adjoining the de Havilland heritage building – if they can scrape the rent together.
"The Arrow won't be jammed into this space," he said. "It will have a space available so people can have a good viewing of it and appreciate it better.
"The displays," he added, "need to be more professional, because up to now we've been working on a shoestring budget."
Lieutenant Governor David Onley said that could all change with the museum's $2 million campaign to fund the much-needed expansion.
Onley added that it's only fitting that the museum's launch tied in with the centennial national celebration of the first powered aircraft flight, by Douglas McCurdy, when he flew the Silver Dart in Baddeck, N.S., back on Feb. 23, 1909.
"The prime expansion of the museum from a Toronto focus to a national theme will also mean that both the Arrow and the ongoing Lancaster bomber refurbishment will finally have a permanent home that all Canadians can be proud of," he said.
The expansion received a thumbs up from actor and pilot Harrison Ford, who sent a congratulatory message by video. Ford is an avid pilot and owner of a de Havilland Beaver aircraft, the world's first successful short-takeoff-and-landing airplane.
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