Airplane enthusiasts say a council committee’s decision yesterday to recommend funding the restoration of two of Calgary’s vintage aircrafts was a welcome surprise.
After years of ongoing debate, committee members made some headway in the decision to keep the City of Calgary’s Hawker Hurricane and de Havilland Mosquito.
“We need to do something, we can’t just keep putting it off, so I’m feeling that we have to involve the volunteer sector,” said Ald. Jim Stevenson, who put forward a motion to fund up to $800,000 of the restoration and have the rest matched by volunteer groups.
Committee members adopted the idea and it will now be brought to council for approval.
“This is an absolute bonus,” said Richard De Boer, founder of the Calgary Mosquito Aircraft Society. “We were completely prepared to go this alone financially.”
Lucile Edwards, CEO of the Aerospace Museum, said she was initially for the sale of the Mosquito but is pleased the planes will stay in Calgary.
“They’re great airplanes … having a Mosquito, a Hurricane and a Lancaster bomber is a great story.”
