Three decades after its final flight, one of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s most important Cold War fighter jets will be honoured at its new London home.
The Jet Aircraft Museum (JAM) is holding the Last Flight of the Voodoo on Sunday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo 006's final flight.
The Voodoo 006 last took to the sky on April 9, 1987, flying from CFB Chatham to CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia. During its glory days, the Voodoo acted as an interceptor aircraft, protecting Canada from the threat of invasion during the Cold War.
"It was a very fast aircraft. It has two engines both with reheat, which means it could accelerate very quickly. It would climb to altitude to intercept radar contacts of aircrafts coming in. Mostly they were airliners that had strayed off route but often they were Soviet bomber aircraft just testing the North American defence," said Simon Pont, director of events at JAM. "So typically what would happen is the Voodoos would climb to altitude, they would come along the Soviet aircraft, both parties would wave at each other and the Soviets would turn around and go home without a shot being fired."
Mike Kyne, the Electronic Warfare Officer who flew in the back seat of the Voodoo on its final flight, will be in attendance during the commemoration event. He and former pilots will share a few anecdotes about their time with the aircraft, following a presentation about Voodoo's role in Canadian Aviation history.
"It's one thing to have the artifacts and have the exhibit for people to look at. It's another thing and a step beyond for us to be able to have living history and have people who can talk about the aircraft in its time in the air," said Pont.
JAM acquired the Voodoo from the Cornwallis Military Museum in Nova Scotia after it closed in 2013. A crew of mechanics and volunteers have been working to restore the aircraft ever since.
"It is not ever going to fly, lets be clear about that. We're never going to be able to restore it to flying condition. What we want to be able to do is restore it to good, visible museum conditions, so that people can come see it in all its glory," said Pont. "When people come out on Sunday, what they will see is an aircraft where the tail has been restored and it's nice because it provides a very good contrast of what we have achieved and what we hope to achieve."
Roughly $10,000 has been spent restoring the Voodoo, a price tag that would be much higher if not for the support and generosity of local businesses.
"One company, called Bell-Camp Manufacturing, have helped us media blast the panels down and repaint them. We can't do it without the support of local companies. Money gets us part of the way but those type of voluntary contributions is what our museum is all about," said Pont.
Admission to the Last Flight of the Voodoo, which runs 1pm to 5pm, is $5 per person. Children 12 and under will be allowed in for free.
