Air Force association swoops in to help preserve Sabre prototype

As Edmontonians gathered Sunday to celebrate living in Canada in the present, the local air force association is working to ensure a spotlight remains on the country’s aviation past.

Edmonton’s 700 Wing Royal Canadian Air Force Association had donated $10,000 to restore the prototype Canadair Sabre fighter jet housed at the Alberta Aviation Museum.

“It used to be one of the favourites for guests to sit in,” said 700 Wing board chairman David Jackson. “It’s time to do a little refreshing update to that and to talk about some prominent Edmontonians who have flown in that aircraft.”

With the donation, the museum will create a “story island” focusing on local connections to the F-86 Sabre.

This includes former Lt.-Col Jim Gillespie and City Centre Airport manager Bob Morgan, who flew the plane in the air force during the Cold War, Jackson said. Morgan died this past April at the age of 85.

About 1,000 Canadair CL-13 Sabre jets flew over Europe during the Cold War and were also used during the Korean War.

Designed by Montreal-based Canadair Ltd., the Sabres served with 12 squadrons and were so successful that the United States Air Force bought 60 in the late stages of the Korean War.

In total, about 1,815 Canadair Sabres were built after the Canadian government decided to replace the country’s first fighter jet in 1948.

The aircraft on display at the Edmonton museum is the only prototype built by Canadair to test design changes for five future versions, which included the removal of wing slats. The prototype was declared surplus in 1965 and served as a monument for 700 Wing before being donated to the museum in the 1990s.

“Having been the original donor of the F-86 aircraft, we thought it was important to ensure the sponsorship continued,” Jackson said.