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JensenPark

3. Danger Dogz
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Posts posted by JensenPark

  13. For You Uk'ers: New Bank Of England Head...

    in Jim's Place

    Posted

    you'll also note that a Canadian runs the Royal Mail, Canary Wharf, Selfridges, Heathrow Airport, Vue Entertainment and HSBC Holdings.

    And here you thought all of us Canucks coming over during the war was to help.

    We were there to set up a beach head. We are just not in that much of a hurry to take over.

    You can try to escape our control by a ticket for the National Lottery or taking the high-speed rail line to France, but Cdn companies own those.

    Bwu ha ha.

    (and as soon as we can find a spare 5 quid note, we're buying Painless as well).

  17. For You Uk'ers: New Bank Of England Head...

    in Jim's Place

    Posted

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/11/26/pol-finance-minister-flaherty-ppp.html

    The colonials are coming to help out the Mother country again.

    You are very fortunate...Mark Carney is an absolute brain. If anyone can help drag you out of recession and keep you out it it is him. He'll stay out of politics and run the bank for the betterment of the UK as a whole...and for the long term.

    And, btw, he grew up and went to school here in Edmonton close to where I live.

  22. Time For A Holiday To Nz Me Thinks......

    in Jim's Place

    Posted

    this from a newsletter of the Vancouver Island Aircrew Assc newsletter (the group of retired RCAF and RAF flyers).

    A Mossie getting rebuilt in my old hometown of Victoria (near Vancouver and Seattle for the geographically challenged).

    So one more Mossie in the air soon.

    Our gracious host, Mel Johnstone, who is in charge of the restoration of this aircraft, owned by Mr. Bob Jens, of Vancouver, was kept busy answering many questions about the work that has been done and how much more needs to be done before the aircraft will be airworthy. We had 15 of our members along with some friends, plying Mel with questions – and Mel is a fountain of knowledge about the aircraft.

    This particular aircraft was built in England for the RAF, by the Airspeed Aviation Company. After being decommissioned by the Air Ministry, it was purchased, together with some others, by Spartan Air Surveys of Canada, in order to do aerial surveying, photography and mapping of northern parts of our country. This operation

    took place in the late 1950’s and early 60’s. I remember

    seeing four of the aircraft at Vancouver Airport in about 1961. After finishing the task for which they were brought to Canada, I believe that one or two of them were sent to Mexico and South America, for more mapping.

    When Spartan Air Surveys had no further use for the aircraft, they were sold to various individuals and groups who wanted to restore and show them. This aircraft

    changed hands two or three times before ending up in Victoria. After restoration, it will, presumably, be flown back to Vancouver to reside in Bob Jen’s hangar beside his immaculate Mk. XV Spitfire.

    A tremendous amount of skilled work has been done to renew fuel, hydraulic, and pneumatic lines as well as electrical wiring, and many other “bits and pieces.”

    The Mk B35 was equipped with an extra large bomb bay – capable of carrying a 4,000 lb bomb. These aircraft were employed on a regular run to Berlin with the same sized bomb load as the B17 Flying Fortress, but with a crew of only two.

    I seem to remember one or two rather disparaging songs that compared the “Mossie’s” bomb carrying capabilities to those of the “Flying Fortress” that left no doubt in the minds of listeners that the Mossie was indeed superior.

    It has, however, been decided to alter the size of the bomb bay to give the aircraft a slimmer appearance. New bomb bay doors were ordered from New Zealand and have been fitted with new operating jacks to compensate for the change in size.

    The Rolls Royce engines have been completely overhauled in California, and test run for over five hours. They are now back in place in the aircraft. The radiators have been rebuilt in the UK, and will be installed as soon as they are returned. Fuselage and wing surfaces have been sanded ready for painting. That is nearly the last step in the refit, and will take upwards of a month to complete.

    After that will come plenty of testing plus a strict examination before a Certificate of Airworthiness is given. It is probable that the aircraft will not be flying until next spring. I hope that I will be able to hear the good old Merlins do their usual coughing and spitting before settling down to a steady rhythm. Then we will watch the “Old Girl” take to the air once more.

  23. Time For A Holiday To Nz Me Thinks......

    in Jim's Place

    Posted

    Funny story on this Mossie. It is the last surviving war-time Mosquito and was used by the RCAF.

    From what I was told by our local aviation museum curator, It was taken from Canada quite illegally as it is considered by Heritage Canada as a significant heritage article.

    they were denied permission to remove it from the country and did so anyway (it is apparently owned by a wealthy Virginian...where it will end up soon).

    One day we will sneak down to the US and steal it and fly it back...one day.

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