EDMONTON — With the chance to offer aviation enthusiasts a “one-of-a-kind” attraction, the Alberta Aviation Museum wants to bring a historic wartime military plane to Edmonton.
Museum officials hope to move a Lancaster KB882 from Edmundston, NB to Edmonton, AB. Once in Edmonton, the aircraft will be restored to fully operational condition and put on display.
The Lancaster KB882 was built in 1944 at Victory Aircraft in Toronto for the Allied war efforts. It flew about a dozen missions overseas, and was returned to Canada at the end of the war.
The aircraft was put back into service by the Royal Canadian Air Force in the late-1950s, flying Cold War reconnaissance missions over the Arctic. One of its secret roles was to monitor Soviet ice stations.
The museum plans to keep the aircraft in its post-war 408 Squadron configuration, which would make it a “one-of-a-kind” attraction.
It will cost several million dollars to bring the plane to Edmonton and restore it. The museum has taken to Kickstarter in hopes of raising $88,000 to put towards the project.
“Warbird enthusiasts around the world have been watching what happens with this iconic aircraft,” said Troy Kirkby, an AAM volunteer. “Many have said they would like to make a contribution to ensure KB882’s future.”
READ MORE: Mission accomplished for volunteers at the Alberta Aviation Museum
Gordon Ross, who lives in Calgary, is excited to see the aircraft is being restored. His dad, Flight Lieutenant Allan Ross, piloted the plane during most its wartime mission.
“My father was very proud to fly a Canadian-made Mark X version of the Lancaster during WWII. KB882 deserves to be restored and honoured for her lengthy contribution to our national defense.”
The Kickstarter campaign runs until mid-December. As of Sunday afternoon, the Alberta Aviation Museum had raised just over $3,000.
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