Celebrate Blatchford November 25th to 30th

[Tom H]

Celebrating Blatchford Field at the Alberta Aviation Museum

November 25th to 30th, 2013

Come celebrate the History of Blatchford Field/Edmonton City Centre Airport.
As the Aviation History of Canada’s oldest licensed airport comes to a close this is your chance to learn about all it has brought to Edmonton over the more than 87 years it has served the City, the Region, the Province as well as Canada and the World.

Speakers programs for November 25th to 29th, 2013 Admission by donation

November 25th at 7:00pm Join Author and Historian John Chalmers
Before Blatchford Field
(Slide Show & Presentation)

From the first flight in Edmonton to the first landings (1927) and operations at Blatchford Field presenter John Chalmers will guide you through the history in this presentation of the beginnings of Edmonton as an aviation leader

November 26th join Executive Director Tom Hinderks
Walking tours of the Alberta Aviaiton Museum collection with a short presentation of Edmonton’s History along the way.

hourly starting at 7:00pm Tuesday night

November 27th at 7:00pm Join Curator Lech Lebiedowski as he presents
Building the Gateway to the North (1927 to 1938)
(Slide Show & Presentation)

Discover how Edmonton grew from the Bush Pilots to the Airlines building into Canada’s Air Cargo and Aerospace Centre of the 1930s and beyond.

November 28th at 7:00pm Professor of History and Author Dr. Rod Macleod presents
Blatchford Field in the Second World War (1939 / 1945)
(Slide Show & Presentation)

Blatchford field during the Second World War became a major training base, repair centre as well as the start of the North West Staging Route connecting the United States and the Soviet Union supplying thousands of aircraft to the War effort…and much more.



November 29th at 7:00pm Join Executive Director Tom Hinderks to as we became…
Gateway to the North and Crossroads of the World (Post War to the 80s)
(Slide Show and presentation)

This evening presentation covers a time of change and growth in Edmonton, the Airlines and the Aviation Industry. How Edmonton became know as the Cross Roads of the World and evolved towards today.

What happened (1980s to today)
(a short discussion)

What happened will look at the changes that brought Edmonton from it’s peaks to the decision to close Blatchford Field in 2009.

November 30th is a day long celebration of the Past and Future of: Blatchford Field

10:00am: The Alberta Aviation Museum opens, admission by donation.

10:00am to Last Plane out:
- Open house of the Alberta Aviation Museum exhibits and collection
- Free Vintage Aviation Posters for children 12 and under while they last
- Final Aircraft Departure (weather dependant)
Speakers programs through the day

10:00am: What if there had never been a Blatchford Field? By Tom Hinderks
(Slide Show & Presentation)

What would Edmonton be today?

12:00 Noon: What will Blatchford Field be tomorrow? By Mark Hall Blatchford Dev.
(Slide Show and Presentation)

Blatchford Development presentation a look ahead

Thomas Hinderks
Executive Director
Alberta Aviation Museum Association

PS

We are hoping for some special departures and will announce as they are confirmed

[1000 HP]

Hi Tom,
Is the air-field closing on the 30th or the 1st? I'd fly in weather permitting on the 30th. If it snows while I am there, they might have to keep it open an extra day, or let me take off on the street

[Tom H]

Hi Tom,
Is the air-field closing on the 30th or the 1st? I'd fly in weather permitting on the 30th. If it snows while I am there, they might have to keep it open an extra day, or let me take off on the street

The airfield will close at 4:49pm (Civil Twilight) on November 30th.

While I personally would love to see you fly in I would not recommend it.

It is my understanding that NOTAMS will be issued cutting off arrivals much earlier (will advise as I find out) and all departures to be completed (except ceremonial aircraft) by mid afternoon.

I would also be very concerned that if the weather goes sideways or you have a minor mechanical your aircraft would be trapped.

The closure is a HARD date, no exceptions. Which is why I am currently sweating bullets and not sleeping due to our 737.

Tom

[Skydrvr7]

Hi Tom,

I am hoping you are getting some traction in getting the Boeing flown out of there. Has there been any news coverage of this situation? I wrote to a friend in TV news up there to inquire about it also. I will lend whatever help I can to helping make sure this story gets as much press as possible with the ever tightening deadline looming.

[Flybabe]

This is so disheartening.

[1000 HP]

Well I might fly in for a few hours in the morning if the weather is perfect. I don't want to donate my airplane just yet so it would have to be clear skies

[Tom H]

Be great to see you...

I'll be here

Update

There will be CF-18s doing a flypast and landing at 1:00pm November 30th

Tom

[EPR]

I feel like picketing and blocking the equipment that will be doing the dismantling of the airport!
Just so choked!

[boxcut]

There goes a good alternate for YEG.

[kiloindiapapa]

I would like to fly in early morning today. Is there any problem with this? weather is supposed to close in but I will be out by noon.

[ditar]

What about the controllers and the airport maintenance staff, etc? Did they get offered jobs at YEG?

[kiloindiapapa]

I called in all the numbers in the NOTAM. NO landings after 12:00 and no departures after 14:00.

Fuel available all day at the Aeroshell

[Cessna driver]

What about the controllers and the airport maintenance staff, etc? Did they get offered jobs at YEG?

Controllers - many retired and the remaining controllers got offered jobs around western canada

Maint. Staff - i believe most went to eg or zvl.

[ditar]

Controllers - many retired and the remaining controllers got offered jobs around western canada

If any of them are lurking on here I want to say thanks for your service, for putting up with me as a student pilot years ago, and that it's been a pleasure flying in and out all these years. Best wishes.

[slowstream]

Controllers - many retired and the remaining controllers got offered jobs around western canada

If any of them are lurking on here I want to say thanks for your service, for putting up with me as a student pilot years ago, and that it's been a pleasure flying in and out all these years. Best wishes.

+1!

Twenty years of flying in and out of CYXD, thanks guys for all of your wonderful service over the years!

You'll be missed