Kitchener Aero Avionics (KAAV) has announced the completion and delivery of a unique cockpit/avionics update to a very special Canadian aircraft– the Vintage Wings of Canada museum’s (VWoC) Canadair Sabre 5 (F86 Saber), aka the Discovery Air “Hawk One”. This aircraft is a tribute to the very special men and women of our nation’s armed forces past, present, and future and brings back many memories for all who see it.
KAAV has just completed an extensive upgrade of the cockpit of this unique and valuable piece of Canadian aviation history. This centerpiece of the installation is a Garmin G500 Integrated Flight Display System. The modification program was started in February 2011 and took six weeks to complete.
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| Before Mod Cockpit |
Even though this aircraft has been operational for many years, the avionics package was extremely dated and becoming increasingly unreliable. As the aircraft has become such an important part of aviation events across the country it became clear to the operators that an update to the avionics systems would be beneficial and a worthwhile investment.
“When first approached by Vintage Wings regarding the upgrade, one of my first calls was to Garmin” said Barry Aylward. “I spoke with Jim Alpiser, Director of Aviation Aftermarket Sales at Garmin, and they knew of this particular aircraft and agreed that the G500 would be a great compliment to aid in modernizing the avionics. They immediately expressed an interest in working with us to make this project happen”.
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| Post Mod Cockpit w/Garmin G500 - work by KAAV |
The heart of Hawk One’s new avionics suite is the Garmin G-500 Flight Display System – a significant part of the “glass cockpit” revolution. It offers most of the advantages and features of this revolutionary glass technology – like SVT™ Synthetic Vision. The G500 System includes digital AHRS attitude/heading reference & AirData capability, replacing the old Gyro Systems.
In Hawk One the installation of the Garmin G500 Integrated Flight Display System includes a Garmin radio package featuring a GNS 430W Nav/Com/GPS. In all 28 older avionics items plus wiring and support structure were removed from the aircraft in the nose, main panel and avionics bay. The new package is smaller, lighter, and more reliable, and has far more features and capability.
“It was becoming increasing frustrating to operate Hawk One with antique avionics package” explained VWoC’s President Rob Fleck. “Dispatch reliability is key to any aviation operation and we needed to improve Hawk One’s”. When the decision was finally made to upgrade Hawk One’s avionics systems, the team turned to KAAV. “I have been working with Kitchener Aero for more than 25 years and it was clear that they had the knowledge and the passion to complete this very unusual project. There was no one else we would trust with our jet”. Further, the installation of modern avionics has permitted VWoC to work with Nav Canada to develop a programme that will permit more efficient flight profiles when transiting Hawk One from show to show, yielding significant fuel savings.
KAAV President Barry Aylward concluded his comments by stating “We are privileged to have had the opportunity work with VWoC and Garmin on an upgrade to this wonderful aircraft. It was an honour, and we are all thrilled with the result”.
Dan Dempsey, a former Snowbird Team Lead and a Hawk One pilot and the Team Historian in 2009 has now assumed leadership of the team for 2011. Dan has been extremely busy securing sponsorship, setting up the flying schedule and training a new set of Sabre demonstration pilots. Working with another former Snowbird Team Lead, Rob “Scatch” Mitchell, the two Hawk pilots have created a stunning flying display for 2011 that will honour Sabre pilots of the past and will inspire today’s youth to pursue their dreams.
Dan Dempsey who also flies for Top Aces, which owned and operated by Discovery Air, provides valuable information about the uniqueness of this aircraft. The company proudly features Dan’s historical recount of the aircraft on their website.
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| Sabre 23314 (far right) while on station in France, 1956 |
“The F-86 Sabre that was destined to become Hawk One has a distinguished history. It was the 1,104th Sabre to come off the Canadair assembly line in August 1954, bearing the RCAF serial number 23314. Built as a Sabre 5, it was one of 1,183 Canadian-built Sabres that were delivered to the RCAF between 1951 and 1957 to equip 12 squadrons in Europe as Canada’s aerial commitment to the defense of Europe in the early days of the Cold War.
The jet served in Europe with 441 (F) Sqn following the move of RCAF 1 (F) Wing from North Luffenham, England to Marville, France. Upon repatriation to Canada, it served in a number of locations, most appropriately as one of the training aircraft for the Golden Hawks at RCAF Stn Trenton during the workups for the 1963 airshow season. Sabre 23314 flew its last RCAF sortie on December 31st, 1968. Following the removal of its six 50 caliber machine guns and several years in storage, 23314 was sold to private interests in the United States where it remained for some 35 years. Following its sale to VWoC in September 2007, it winged its way home to Canada to begin a long restoration process.”
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| Don Syms (right) in 1956. |
While Hawk One was at KAAV, a reunion took place between the old fighter and one of its past pilots. Don Syms, now a resident of the Kitchener area, earned his first set of wings through the Air Cadets in Ottawa 1950. He enlisted in the RCAF in April 1952 and followed the usual format of the day - trained on Harvards and T-33's - earning his Air Force wings in December 1954. He then did his conversion training for the Sabre in 1955 followed by active duty at Marville France with RCAF 441 (F) Sqn. He flew with them from 1955 to 1958. This was the same time that Sabre, 23314 (aka Hawk One) was on squadron strength with 441. Known as the Checkerboard squadron, Don flew 23314 as part of his regular squadron duties. He flew the Sabre for the last time on a practice mission on July 12,1956. The two did not meet again March 2011 at KAAV. Don was quite impressed to see a part of his past and spent some time visiting while the aircraft was being finished up. On its departure back to VWoC, Don had one interesting comment – “Funny it was never that loud in the cockpit!”
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| Maj. (R) Don Syms in March, 2011 |
Syms retired with the rank of Major from the military in 1981. He then ventured into civilian corporate/charter aviation. When officially retired from flying in 1990 he had accumulated over 12,000 hours on 24 different aircraft types. As is the case with all former Sabre pilots, the fighter seems to hold the most special and vivid of memories for him.
The continued operation of Hawk One beyond the centennial of flight year has been made possible through various corporate sponsorships. As the “presenting” sponsor of the aircraft, Discovery Air has led the way in teaming up with Vintage Wings of Canada, the Canadian Forces, Magellan Aerospace’s Orenda Engine division, West Jet, Nav Canada and a number of like minded corporate sponsors to highlight Canada’s proud aviation heritage. There is one distinctive change to the paint scheme on the aircraft since its centennial of flight tour – the addition of the Discovery Air logo to the side of the aircraft as a salute to that corporation’s vision and leadership.
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