It has taken Alberta Aviation Museum less than a month to raise the $70,000 needed to purchase, deliver and repaint its next attraction.
A 2-seat, F-104 Starfighter was found in Europe. It's not considered air worthy, but complete in every other respect.
Half of the money was donated by the public and the Museum's Executive Director, Tom Hinderks, says the rest is on its way.
"Basically, the word's out that Lynn Hamilton, Don Hamilton of Air Spray's daughter and president of Air Spray, the aerial fire suppression company, has stepped up to back-stop the 104," remarked Hinderks. "And its official, as of today (Saturday December 10) their foundation got a hold of me."
Don Hamilton passed away a short time ago as a member of the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame and the family foundation supports causes that fit the mandate of his company and wishes.
Hinderks says it's another great tribute to Don.
It will take about four months to get the historic Cold War era fighter jet to Edmonton and about two months to get it into its final configuration for display.
Number 763 was one of 200 Canadair Starfighters flown by the RCAF and the Canadian Forces and served with 417 Strike/Reconnaissance Operational Training Squadron out of CFB Cold Lake, Alberta. The Starfighter here is in the blue, white and red scheme adopted for the Colours presentation and close-out of the squadron in 1983, by which time over 750 pilots had been trained and some 140,000 hours had been logged in the air by the 104s of 417 Squadron.
Photo Source: Canadian Department of Defence
Gravity always wins!