CT-133 Restoration Update

Report and Photos by 

Colin Kunkel

SkAHS Member

Hello once again!  Well, winter seems to be upon us, but that has not stopped activities for the Saskatchewan Aviation Historical Society.

Progress continues on the repair and restoration of CT-133 Silver Star, 133526.  Over the past couple of weeks, the old wing center section was cut from the fuselage and a new wing set was installed.  With that done, the T-Bird was once again, sitting on its own landing gear.

The only major damage to the wing was a bent, left aileron, which will be replaced.  The wings came off of T-Bird 21101, and still features the older RCAF roundel on the undersides.

 

With the wings attached to the fuselage, the tail end of the aircraft was brought in and bolted onto the front half.  At this point, metal work is being done to replace a few of the smaller panels that are missing from the aft section.

In addition to the actual work on the aircraft, research into its history continues.  Through recent conversations with Turbo Tarling, a veteran T-33 pilot, with over 7,000 hours on the type, it was discovered that 526 served with #3 Advanced Flying School, RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba.  Research is still underway to trace the aircraft's history between #3 AFS and when it was struck off strength in 1982, after serving with 414 Electronic Warfare Squadron.

If anyone has any information on T-Bird 526, please contact the Saskatchewan Aviation Historical Society.