Skip to main content
Ingenium Logo

You are leaving IngeniumCanada.org

✖


This link leads to an external website that Ingenium does not control. Please read the third-party’s privacy policies before entering personal information or conducting a transaction on their site.

Have questions? Review our Privacy Statement

Vous quittez IngeniumCanada.org

✖


Ce lien mène à un site Web externe qu'Ingenium ne contrôle pas. Veuillez lire les politiques de confidentialité des tiers avant de partager des renseignements personnels ou d'effectuer une transaction sur leur site.

Questions? Consultez notre Énoncé de confidentialité

Ingenium The Channel

Langue

  • Français
Search Toggle

Menu des liens rapides

  • Ingenium Locations
  • Shop
  • Donate
  • Join
Menu

Main Navigation

  • Browse
    • Categories
    • Media Types
    • Boards
    • Featured Stories
  • About
    • About The Channel
    • Content Partners

Adventures with G-AKDN - Chapter 15

Share
Aug 19, 2016
Categories
Aviation
Media
Article
Profile picture for user Canada Aviation and Space Museum
By: Canada Aviation and Space Museum
KDN on display in the Bombardier Delivery Hangar.
KDN on display in the Bombardier Delivery Hangar.

It is the best of times. It is the worst of times.

I am flying KDN home across the beautiful Canada north, with a very heavy heart. James is not with me. He has died after a courageous battle with cancer.

KDN had been proudly on display in the Bombardier delivery Hangar for two years. Customers for the Bombardier aircraft love seeing it tucked under the wing of the latest aircraft off the production line. We continued to keep the annual inspections current with Graham’s help, as well as fly inspection test flights and on occasion, give familiarisation flights to KDN enthusiasts. We realised the museum at Downsview would not be re-opening, and we decided to return KDN to Saskatoon. I just never dreamed I would be doing the flight without James.

James and I had discussed KDN’s future at length. The time we spent together with KDN was special and with him gone, it isn’t the same. I think the best thing for KDN is to return her to the UK and find a new owner who will continue to operate and maintain her as we did. The pilots in the UK hold the Chipmunk near and dear to their hearts and KDN is a recognised and respected part of the Chipmunk community there. I make plans to ship KDN back to the UK for the summer of 2016, which just happens to be the Chipmunk’s 70th anniversary. The planning gets off to a good start. While flying to Saskatoon via the north shore of Lake Superior, I get a call from the Farnborough Airshow requesting KDN’s presence at their Airshow, to celebrate the Chipmunk anniversary! It took about a second to think about, and the commitment was made to be there. 

Karen, Dave, William (James’s younger son) and Graham with KDN successfully loaded and ready for her 3rd trip across the Atlantic Ocean.

It took a lot of organising. Graham arrived to help dismantle and load KDN in a 40’container to ship back to Bagby. That process went extremely smooth and KDN arrived safe and sound without a scratch. At the same time I was contacted out of the blue, by a host of other special events, requesting KDN ‘s presence. Even more important, the most beautiful home, hangar, runway became available for KDN, Karen and I to be based at for 5 months! Located perfectly centered in the middle of all the special events we plan on attending with KDN.

Karen and I arrive in May 2016, and Graham informs me that, not only is KDN all back together and ready to fly, but he has a long time friend who wants to be the new custodian of KDN.

You wouldn’t believe all the things, that just fell into place, that allowed us to bring KDN to the UK, to be able fly at all the famous events, at the most perfect time in her history. I believe it is all James’s doing. He would have just loved to be here experiencing all this. It has been a perfect summer, but for one thing- James isn’t here.

I miss him terribly.

to be continued...

KDN, James and Dave outside the Brandon Museum during our flight delivering the Back to Baddeck bag. Who knows how long we have on this earth.

Author(s)
Profile picture for user Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Follow

More Stories by

Profile picture for user Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Three young women sit in the cockpit of an aircraft; they are all looking back at the camera and smiling.

Finding the wings to fly: Aviation opens its doors for Nunavik youth

A small plane drops presents over a snowy field full of people.

A sweet finale: Bush pilot Johnny May leaves an inspiring legacy

Illustration of a biplane, the Nintendo Switch™ logo and text over image: Skies of Fury DX

Skies of Fury DX for Nintendo Switch™

Avro Arrow

Newsroom: Canada Aviation and Space Museum joins national partners on search-and-recovery of free-flight Avro Arrow models from Lake Ontario

Space Frontiers: Dawn of Mars

Space Frontiers: Dawn of Mars

Ace Academy: Skies of Fury

Ace Academy: Skies of Fury

Enlist in the Ace Academy: Black Flight, the Museum’s Mobile Game

Enlist in the Ace Academy: Black Flight, the Museum’s mobile game.

Ace Academy

Ace Academy

Wings on My Sleeve - David H. Tate, Captain (N) / Colonel CAF

Wings on My Sleeve - David H. Tate, Captain (Navy) / Colonel CAF

Related Stories

The wreckage of the Hoffar H-2 flying boat after its crash on the roof of the house of an ear, eye and nose doctor, Vancouver, British Columbia. Anon., “From Hantsport to Vancouver.” Canadian Courier, 28 September 1918, 12.

A tale of air, water, and fire: A peek at the aeronautical activities of Hoffar Motor Boat Company of Vancouver, British Columbia, 1915-27, part 1

Wilfrid Thomas Reid. Anon., “Specification and description of the Reid Rambler.” Canadian Air Review, November 1928, 30.

It was born a rambling plane, trying to make a living and doing the best it could: The fascinating story of the Reid / Curtiss-Reid Rambler, Canada’s first light / private plane, part 2

A pair of bare metal ejection seats with no cushions or padding are mounted on a plywood base, placed beside a few cardboard boxes. Behind the seats, a camouflage-green helicopter is partially visible.

How a pair of ejection seats from the Avro CF-105 Arrow survived

An advertisement of Curtiss-Reid Aircraft Company Limited of Montréal / Cartierville, Québec, showing its Curtiss-Reid Rambler light / private plane. Anon., “Curtiss-Reid Aircraft Company Limited.” Canadian Air Review, May 1929, 23.

It was born a rambling plane, trying to make a living and doing the best it could: The fascinating story of the Reid / Curtiss-Reid Rambler, Canada’s first light / private plane, part 1

The SAGEM CU-161 Sperwer of the Canada Aviation and Space Museum after one of its uneventful landings in Afghanistan. David Pugliese, “Faulty drones risk lives: troops.” Ottawa Citizen, 29 August 2007, 10.

Canada’s introduction to a deadly game of drones: An all too brief look at the Canadian career of the SAGEM Sperwer tactical unpiloted aerial vehicle, part 3

The first SAGEM CU-161 Sperwer tactical unpiloted aerial vehicle operated by the Canadian Forces, near Kabul, Afghanistan, November 2003. Anon., “Drones canadiens utilisés en Afghanistan.” La Presse, 19 mars 2006, A 5.

Canada’s introduction to a deadly game of drones: An all too brief look at the Canadian career of the SAGEM Sperwer tactical unpiloted aerial vehicle, part 2

A view of a generic / typical SAGEM Sperwer tactical unpiloted aerial vehicle. Chris Wattie, “Army buys spy drones for Afghan mission.” National Post, 8 August 2003, 4.

Canada’s introduction to a deadly game of drones: An all too brief look at the Canadian career of the SAGEM Sperwer tactical unpiloted aerial vehicle, part 1

André-Georges Lafitte’s arrival in Dijon, France, June 1990. A.-G. Lafitte, “Un membre de l’I.F.N. traverse l’Atlantique Nord en U.L.M.” Navigation, October 1991, 559.

The Pélican brief: The fascinating history of one of the founding pillars of the Québec ultralight aircraft industry, Ultravia Aéro Incorporée, Part 2

A typical Ultravia Pélican ultralight aircraft on floats. The absence of a registration is worth noting. Anon., “Amateurs – ULM ou avions?” Aviation magazine international, 1 August 1983, 37.

The Pélican brief: The fascinating history of one of the founding pillars of the Québec ultralight aircraft industry, Ultravia Aéro Incorporée, Part 1

The aerostatic railway / balloon railway proposed by Friedrich Volderauer. Salvatore Pannizzi, “Mountain Railways.” The Wide World Magazine, July 1898, 304.

The world’s most scenic railway journeys, hosted by you know who – Season 7, Episode 7 – The Aerostatischen Bahn / Luftballon-Eisenbahn of Friedrich Volderauer

The Tupolev Tu-104 jet-powered airliner operated by Aeroflot which took part in British Columbia’s Centennial air show, Uplands Airport, Ontario. Don Brown, “Aerial Display Ready.” The Ottawa Citizen, 13 June 1958, 39.

“It taxis along the ground with all the ease of an arthritic stork,” Or, A brief look at the brief presence at British Columbia’s Centennial air show of an Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-104 jet-powered airliner, part 2

The Tupolev Tu-104 jet-powered airliner operated by Aeroflot which took part in British Columbia’s Centennial air show, held at Vancouver International Airport, Richmond, British Columbia. Anon., “–.” The Sunday Sun, 14 June 1958, 25.

“It taxis along the ground with all the ease of an arthritic stork,” Or, A brief look at the brief presence at British Columbia’s Centennial air show of an Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-104 jet-powered airliner, part 1

Footer

About The Channel

The Channel

Contact Us

Ingenium
P.O. Box 9724, Station T
Ottawa ON K1G 5A3
Canada

613-991-3044
1-866-442-4416
contact@IngeniumCanada.org
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Channel

    • Channel Home
    • About the Channel
    • Content Partners
  • Visit

    • Online Resources for Science at Home
    • Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
    • Canada Aviation and Space Museum
    • Canada Science and Technology Museum
    • Ingenium Centre
  • Ingenium

    • Ingenium Home
    • About Ingenium
    • The Foundation
  • For Media

    • Newsroom
    • Awards

Connect with us

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest Ingenium news straight to your inbox!

Sign Up

Legal Bits

Ingenium Privacy Statement

© 2023 Ingenium

Symbol of the Government of Canada
  • Browse
    • Categories
    • Media Types
    • Boards
    • Featured Stories
  • About
    • About The Channel
    • Content Partners