Yesterday I spent an interesting afternoon at the Canadian Aviation Heritage Centre here in Montreal.They are a great bunch of volunteers who are interested in the preservation of aviation history,especially the local history of aviation here in the West Island of Montreal.It was here at Dorval airport that Ferry Command flew bombers overseas during WW2.In 1910, at a place just down the road from where I live ,a Bleriot XI piloted by Count Jacques de Lesseps flew out of a farmers field and over the city of Montreal at one of the first airmeets ever held in Canada(if not the 1st)Vickers operated a major seaplane factory in Lachine producing the Vickers Vedette.The Curtiss-Reid facility at Cartierville Airport built many historic airplanes.The list goes on and on.
Until yesterday I had no idea of how serious these guys are.I had heard that they were building for static display a Fairchild FC-2 (Razorback) bushplane of the 1927 era.But I had no idea that they have a replica of a Bleriot XI well on the way to being finished.This replica will be flown in 2010 for the 100th anniversary of the airmeet here on Montreals West Island.
The CAHC center is only about 10 minuites from where I live,so if anyone needs any info on this bird please let me know.I plan to do a picture taking walkaround in the near future. Cheers! John.
Their internet site is
www.cahc-ccpa.com