Montreal Aviation Museum completes construction/restoration of an historic aircraft
Montreal, QC – September 11, 2017 - The Montreal Aviation Museum (MAM), announces the completion of a three-year construction/restoration project of an historic biplane from the late 1920’s.
The Curtiss-Reid Rambler was a trainer airplane conceived in 1928 for the many emerging flying clubs throughout Canada, designed by Wilfrid Thomas Reid.
Reid had left Canadian Vickers in Montreal to form, in February 1928, Reid Aircraft. His first design with his new company was the Rambler, a largely conventional biplane design with fabric-covered wings being braced with Warren trusses and which could be folded back for storage. The fuselage was of steel tube construction covered in fabric with tandem seats for pilot and passenger (or student) in an open cockpit with a 120hp de Havilland Gipsy engine providing a maximum speed of 180 km/h (112 mph). The prototype (G-CAVO) was first flown on September 23, 1928.
The Rambler achieved fair success despite the depression years ahead with 36 examples being built, culminating in 1931 with the Rambler Mk III, using the more powerful Gipsy III engine. John C. Webster flew the Mk III prototype in the British King’s Cup Air Race that same year.
It was an important aircraft in the early years of Montreal’s aircraft industry and enjoyed success in both civilian and military aviation. Between 1935 and 1942, 638 student pilots were trained on Ramblers including Verdun-born WWII leading Canadian ace George Beurling.
The project began in 2014 under the leadership of Patrick Campbell, Jake Wilmink and John Duckmanton. Many other volunteers from the museum also contributed their time and efforts to have this rare aircraft finished in time for the anniversary. There are no complete original Rambler aircraft existing in the world. Included with the MAM replica however, are some original parts such as the upper wing frames, the Cirrus engine and the wheels.
Jim Killin, the Executive Director of the MAM, commented, “We are extremely proud of our volunteers who spent countless hours over three years to finish this historic aircraft in time for Montreal’s 375th anniversary and Canada’s 150th. We hope to have her on display at Montreal’s City Hall within the year.“
The Montreal Aviation Museum, formerly known as the Canadian Aviation Heritage Centre, was founded in 1998 by Godfrey Pasmore. Located on the Macdonald Campus of McGill University in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue (Montreal), QC, the MAM is a non-profit volunteer based organization dedicated to the preservation of Canada's rich aviation history with an emphasis on Quebec’s role. It is Quebec's only civil and military aviation museum. The museum includes Canada’s largest aviation art gallery, artefacts and memorabilia depicting our aviation history, flight simulators and other important aircraft including a Blériot XI, Fairchild FC-2, Fleet Canuck, Fairchild Bolingbroke (currently under restoration) and a recently acquired Noorduyn Norseman. For more information on the museum: www.mam.quebec / info@mam.quebec / 514-398-7948.
Additional information: Jim Killin, 514-398-7948
