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New life is being breathed into one of the most iconic landmarks in Sarnia, Ont., thanks to the efforts of a volunteer team of aeronautic enthusiasts.
When its restoration is completed later this year, the mighty Sarnia F-86 Sabre Mk V Golden Hawk will resume its place on a pedestal near Germain Park and be rededicated.
The Golden Hawk Sabre jet was removed its pedestal last fall to undergo an extensive restoration process that will return it to its former glory. The dedicated restoration group comprises members of the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association – COPA Flight 7 – as well as local enthusiasts.
Mark Seibutis, president of COPA Flight 7 and coordinator of the restoration project, says the overall operations are guided and co-ordinated by the COPA 7 group with final oversight by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Association’s 403 Wing, located in Sarnia, and its president, Lieutenant-Colonel (retired) John Stewart. The all-volunteer restoration team, many of whom handle regular day jobs in addition to their work on the Golden Hawk Sabre, work several days a week on this historically-significant labour of love.
By mid-July 2014, the forward fuselage and tail section had been painted, and the wings had been brought into the shop for overhaul and painting. Graphics will be painted onto the aircraft, and new weight trays, hidden inside the aircraft, will be installed to give the Golden Hawk Perfect balance on her mount.
The Sabre was originally installed 40 years ago as a monument to honour the airmen who died in the Battle of Britain. But before the initial installation, the Sabre came close to being destroyed entirely.
“She was almost burned beyond repair in 1970, while in storage,” said Seibutis, “She was restored in 1971 by the 403 Wing and put up on the mount over the Royal Canadian Air Force Memorial in Germain Park.”
When it is reinstalled, the Sabre will perpetuate the memory of all of the Air Force pilots and personnel who have died for their country, past and present. It will also honour the Golden Hawks aerobatic team, including the pilots, crew chiefs, and ground personnel.
“Everyone realized this was the best way to support our veterans,” said Seibutis, who is a firefighter when not working on the Sabre. “They were noticing the deterioration of the aircraft and were worried about what was going to happen to it. When they approached people to see how much it would cost to have it refurbished, the cost was astronomical.” Once COPA 7 members found out their comrades in 403 Wing were concerned about the condition of the Golden Hawk Sabre, they took action.
“COPA 7 . . . approached the 403 Wing to ask if we could look at it,” Seibutis continued. The inspection was carried out with the help of a Sarnia Fire Department ladder truck, and the COPA team decided to take on the repair job. They knew most of the team members could bring the appropriate skills to the project. “Ninety per cent have built, flown, or maintained their own aircraft, with the rest contributing to the project using their own general skills.”
Members of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets 44 Sarnia Imperial Squadron were quick to make contact when they heard about the project. “[The cadet leaders] wanted to do something to help get the kids involved with aviation,” he said. “We got a request from squadron [commanding officer] Janet Ericson asking if there was something the cadets could do.”
The cadets helped paint the inside of the repaired fuselage and received permission to include their squadron symbol as part of the paint job.
“They worked hard and didn’t have a problem doing whatever they were asked to do,” said Seibutis. “We had a good time with them; they’re great kids and the Air Force Cadets is just a tremendous program.”
One of the biggest challenges came when the team began to dismantle the jet. Another denizen of the skies had contributed heavily to the poor condition of the jet’s fuselage.
“We pulled out hundreds of pounds of bird and animal droppings and bird nests that filled every fuselage bay.” The acidic nature of this organic material caused severe corrosion that led to the complete replacement of much of the jet’s outer skin. All openings leading to the airplane’s interior are being thoroughly sealed to prevent a repeat of this problem.
This aircraft isn’t just painted to look like a Golden Hawk aircraft – it really is one of the original Canadian F-86 Sabre jets that formed the world-renowned Canadian Air Force Golden Hawks aerobatic team. The team, forerunners of today’s Snowbirds aerobatic team, thrilled audiences from 1959 to 1963.
“Support for the project continues to grow,” said Seibutis. “When Squadron Leader (retired) Fern Villeneuve, a former Golden Hawk member, whose call sign was “Hawk 1″, got wind of this project…he asked if the team and 403 Wing would consider making this plane an official tribute to the Golden Hawks and ground personnel.”
The Sarnia Sabre jet’s most notable Golden Hawk pilot, Flight Lieutenant Jim McCombe, is being honoured by having his name – as well as those of his crew chief, Leading Aircraftman Harnum and assistant crew chief Leading Aircraftman Campbell – inscribed beneath the canopy trim. Flight Lieutenant McCombe became commanding officer of the team after Squadron Leader Villeneuve moved on to other duties. Although Flight Lieutenant McCombe has since passed away, his family has given permission for his name to be honoured in this way. Substantial local business support for the project is being contributed in the form of “in kind” donations of appropriate materials and services such as sand blasting; machining; crane work; compressors; many specialized tools; aluminum for the new outer skin; and paint in the exact gold tone used on the original Golden Hawk Sabres.
Seibutis says the official markings will also be reproduced. “The Hawk decal and official team decals will be produced partially by Vintage Wings of Canada [home to a fully operational Sabre painted in the Golden Hawk colours] in Gatineau, Quebec, and in conjunction with one of the local sign shops, as well as aircraft technicians at Canada’s Air Force base in Cold Lake, Alberta.”
