By Wayne Bailey
March 2009

Once again, the GMAM's DC3 #655B has "TAKEN FLIGHT". Well part of it has anyway.

On February the 17th the restoration crew, with the assistance of three members of the MSE Section raised the center sections of the mainplanes, up and away from the skid and braces, that had been fashioned in Hay River N.W.T. to enable the whole unit to be loaded and trucked to Greenwood. This is one of the main components that hold the engine nacelles and main undercarriage to the lower fuselage and to which the wings are attached.

We had done a great deal of repair work while it sat inverted on the skid, and now it was time to lift it, rotate it 180 degrees and place it right side up, wheels on the ground, and close to where we will match it up with the fuselage. Sounded easy and reasonable straight forward, but it wasn't quite what you would call, a piece of cake.

This 3000 lb. / 1360 kilogram piece is not round, or square, or flat and wasn't a project that needed typical rigging and lifting devices. With the expert assistance and advice of CPL Shawn Roberts, CPL Harold Arsenault, and Mr. Baxter Evens from the M.S.E. Transport section, conferences among our restoration crew, and some trail and error, we finally managed to get the reluctant beast to lay down where we wanted and needed it. And without more significant damage. We are not done with this piece of the puzzle by any means, but the flap well, flaps and other damaged areas are now accessible from the Hanger floor and progress will be a bit easier to access.

Many thanks to CPL's Roberts and Arsenault and Mr. Evens of MSE for their expertise and equipment. We couldn't have done it without you, you are the experts.

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