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Another sad departure!

Posted By: Ric Peterson · 5/8/2012 6:50:00 AM

The last Boeing 720 in operation around the world will take off for the last time today from the Saint-Hubert airport and land in Trenton, Ontario.  After that you'll have to drive down the 401 to Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario to see an important part of our aviation history.  The 154th and final Boeing 720 built won't be displayed here where the bulk of Canada's avaition history, achievments and industry resides,  instead the Pratt & Whitney Canada aircraft will be loaned to the National Museum of the Canadian Air Force in Trenton "for an indefinite period of time,".   Launched in 1959 by Boeing, the 720 version is medium range and lower capacity than the Boeing 707, one of the airliners most successful 20th century. Pratt and Whitney used the jet to test their engine designs.  Montreal needs an Air and Space museum, a world class place that would attract tourists and inspire our kids to reach for the sky if not the stars.

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  1. John Masselos posted on 05/08/2012 01:26 PM
    Thank-you for sharing this story. I worked in flight operations specifically during the modification and first flight of the 720. There is a list of planes that were used on flight testing that were all retired and subsequently sent "away" . The Vickers 757 Viscount, the CF-100 Mark 5, (which was on the pedestal in front of the St. Hubert base) Learjet 36 etc. The government was approached to open a museum at the St. Hubert base when it was decommissioned. It eventually went to a film studio.
  2. Marty posted on 05/08/2012 10:35 PM
    Ric,
    I listened to your commentary today with great interest and read your blog entry.
    My son, Carl, is a member of the Air Cadets and has just been granted a coveted flight scholarship. He plans on heading off to RMC in 2012 and has every intention of flying fast jets (eventually) for the RCAF. It's something he has been planning since seeing his first active military aircraft at Fort Knox, KY at the age of three. Knowing his grit and determination, I do believe he will achieve his goal.
    Since that time, we have visited numerous aviation museums multiple times including the Smithsonian, Ottawa, the USS Intrepid and Wright-Patterson AFB, just to name a few. In fact, we're heading off to the Hamilton Air Show for Father's Day weekend. We have always lamented the fact that Montreal has nothing at all. I agree with you and believe that our local corporate aerospace entities should be the financial sponsors of such a museum. It would be an opportunity for them to present their numerous technical and financial successes to the public and put something back into a society that has contributed much - by way of tax dollars - to such success.
    Keep up the great work!
    Regards,
    Marty
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