Aviation News - May 2016

and in some cases only available from

Russia. It takes a creative mind to keep

these old machines in the air, and that is

also becoming difficult. Younger people

in aviation are used to a ‘replace rather

than repair’ frame of mind, and that is just

not possible with aircraft such as the C-46

Commando for which spares are becoming

very difficult to find. Kids these days

don’t tinker with cars like I used to – it’s a

computer/internet generation.”

During Aviation News’ visit last July he

was replacing a tailwheel assembly on DC-3

C-GPNR, the first Dakota Buffalo acquired.

Chuck revealed: “DC-3 parts are still

relatively easy to obtain. Joe keeps several

aircraft here and at the main maintenance

base at Red Deer, Alberta, run by Joe’s

other son, Rod McBryan. Engine parts

are plentiful, and the airframe is easy to

maintain.”

Curtiss Commando C-FAVO was having

some major work done on the starboard

engine under the leadership of engineer,

James Dwojak. He revealed that C-46

C-GTPO, parked on the ramp nearby, was

becoming a ‘spares queen’, due to difficulties

obtaining replacement parts for the type.

Sistership C-GTXW was busy supplying

freight to settlements in the North, departing

early each day.

The flights these old aircraft operate are

very much a lifeline for communities and

mining operations that have no road links,

especially in the winter. Readers may recall

one of the Ice Pilots NWT episodes about

32 Aviation News incorporating Classic Aircraft May 2016

Above: A rare Fleet 80, CF-DQJ, hangs from the ceiling in the Buffalo Airways hangar, above Lockheed Electra C-GXFC. The Electra is an ex-

Atlantic Airlines machine and still wears the basic livery of its former operator as well as the Union flag.

Below: Commando C-FAVO awaits its next load of freight at Yellowknife. The aircraft is used to haul large quantities of cargo to some of Canada’s

remotest settlements.

30-34_buffaloDC.mfDC.mfDC.indd 32 08/04/2016 12:25