BILL EWING COLLECTION
No. 5959. Avro 504K (CF-CYC)
Photographed in the vicinity of Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada, November 1966

Avro 504K

11/30/2006. Remarks by Bill Ewing: "The National Aviation Collection in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada maintains the aircraft and flies it on special occasions. CF-CYC was built in 1918 by the Grahame-White Aviation Co. in the UK and delivered to the RAF with s/n D8971. The aircraft is pictured on its initial flight after restoration.

It was so cold that day that just to get the engine running we had to start it inside the hangar and taxi the plane out. So we eventually packed up the aircraft and transported it out to Patricia Bay airport at Victoria, British Columbia, Canada aboard a C-130 Hercules. The weather there was a much kinder to the aircraft and pilot. The silver colour scheme was the original one on G-CYCK. It was later changed to the NIVO Green to make to more visible. It was and flown on occasions in formation with other WW I types.

A replica 504K, marked as G-CYEI, was built in 1966-67 by technicians of the RCAF. I was involved in the restoration and building of both the aircraft and then went on the road with the aircraft through Canada's Centennial year, 1967, as part of the Gold Centennaires.

While at RCAF Station Rockcliffe in Ottawa, Ontario, the pilot, F/L Gord Brown tried a 'roller' landing in June, 1967. The original Pilot's Handbook advises against the maneuver and you can see why. The long landing gear skid snapped off at the front attachment point and dug in. It took us six weeks to rebuild it.

G-CYCK took part on the Canadian National Exhibition airshow in September 1967 and is shown here departing RCAF Dowsview in Toronto, Ontario. The three figures in the background are Cpl. Frank Doherty and myself (Airframe Riggers), and Cpl. Joe Chermishnok (Engine Fitter). The pilot is Captain Gord Brown."


Created November 30, 2006