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Short of a miracle the 2010 “Spirit of Edmonton Bi Plane” Tour, part of the 70th anniversary of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) will be cancelled.
“It‟s heart breaking,” says Alberta Aviation Museum Executive Director Tom Hinderks. “The real shame is the loss of this piece of our history.”
The BCATP literally changed the face of Canada. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians and participants from 15 other countries built 200+ air bases across Canada to train aircrews and others from around the world. And they did it only two years; it was the largest training program ever undertaken.
The “Spirit of Edmonton Bi Plane” tour, was designed to bring awareness to the contributions made by the BCATP program, its veterans and aviation in general and is modeled on the tremendously successful “Spirit of Edmonton” Centennial of Flight celebrations and flight recreations. (program attached).
But the program has had great difficulty in raising the needed financial support.
“In spite of approaching Municipal, Provincial and Regional offices and government departments, associations and organizations across three provinces, assistance has only come from „The 418 City of Edmonton Squadron Foundation,‟ ” said Hinderks. “And we only need another $9,000!”
“We expected fundraising to be hard work, but not impossible considering a proven track record” commented Alberta Aviation Museum Executive Director Tom Hinderks.
“It is a comparatively inexpensive program, so to come up $9,000.00 short at this point is a heart breaker”, said Hinderks.
Many museums are saying they will celebrate the 75th Anniversary, but veterans and others involved in this great Canadian achievement are already in their mid to late 80s…who will be left by then?
The “Spirit of Edmonton Bi Plane”, currently undergoing repairs and servicing from last year‟s difficult flights, will be ready. But the Alberta Aviation Museum and Edmonton Aviation Heritage Society (both not for profit charities) that are spearheading the project cannot afford to dip into operational funds to make up the short fall.
“We cannot afford to run an operational deficit” states Hinderks. “We must always maintain our core operations first which is why outside support for projects like this is so important”
“We will do everything we can to make the goals” said Hinderks in his closing comment. “Yet it‟s a heartbreaking reality that we may have to cancel the program.”
While the Alberta Aviation Museum and EAHS are planning to push up to the last minute - completing repairs on the aircraft and fund raising - if they cannot make up the $9,000.00 shortfall by April 30th the program set to launch mid May will have to be cancelled.
Interested in helping hit the target, contact the Alberta Aviation Museum
780-451-1175 or e-mail
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Want to know about the 2009 “Spirit of Edmonton” program
http://www.capa-acca.com/spirit_of_edmonton.htm |
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