The Fairview Flying Club and the Tiger Moth CF-CJO
In the spring of 1947, a soon-to-be Fairview man, fresh out of the Navy, obtained his private pilot’s licence from the Edmonton Flying Club. One of the aircraft he trained in was a Tiger Moth biplane licensed CF-CJO. “It was my favorite plane,” notes D. Neil Macdonald.
He wanted to impress his special friend Phoebe Wilkinson with his newly-acquired skill. So, it was a fateful day when she agreed to take her first plane ride with Neil in his favorite plane Tiger Moth CF-CJO. As a result, Phoebe became his wife, a marriage that lasted more than half a century.
By the time Neil and Phoebe moved to Fairview, the Town had bought three-quarters of uncultivated land for what would become the Fairview Airport. The task of preparing the land fell to local contractor Bud Ross. A Fairview Flying Club ensued and an aircraft – Tiger Moth CF-CJO was acquired from the Edmonton Flying Club through the efforts of Neil and his former Air Force pilot brother, Ken. The duo flew their new acquisition the 400 miles northwest. Along the way at Lesser Slave Lake, they needed to land for fuel. While their plane was fueled, a Mrs. Menzies prepared a takealong lunch for them.
But, when they went to continue their journey CF-CJO’s engine had other plans. Afraid of flooding the engine they accepted the help of some onlookers, who seemed amused at their plight. One of the men offered the use of his saddle horse to pull the plane. “That did it! We pulled full choke and the motor started. I hit the throttle and blew that Indian’s hat into the bush,” writes Neil.
On arriving at Fairview, the brothers landed in a pasture on their father’s (R. H. Macdonald) farm. “CJO had done a great job!”
CJO not only provided entertainment, locally, but also was pressed in to service. One such time was when there had been much rain leaving the dirt roads in poor shape. A neighbor, Doug Shearer, unable to get tractor repair parts to his farm, called on the Macdonald’s and their aircraft. Ken and Doug loaded the necessary items into the plane and flew to Doug’s farm. “Ken put CJO into a shallow dive, aiming at a fresh plowed field. As he pulled out of the dive, Doug threw the parts over the side. His hired man repaired the tractor and the work went on.”
Because of restrictions, regulations and the waning public interest, the original Flying School plan was stalled resulting in the return of CJO, the first aircraft to touch down at the Fairview Airport, to the Edmonton Flying Club.
On her return to Edmonton, carrying Neil and former Air Force mechanic Sid Hughes, she touched down on a rough, wet, farm pasture to refuel. The bumpy landing resulted in damage to the tail wheel. It was repaired in town and the men resumed their flight 100 miles due south.
“What a wonderful sight it was as we entered the landing circuit and were signaled to land (no radios in those days). After a normal landing, we were taxiing when all of a sudden CJO made a sharp right turn. Sid jumped out to find the tail wheel had veered to one side. He kicked it straight – jumped on the wing and we taxied on – only to have CJO veer off the other way. Sid repeated his efforts until we finally arrived at the Edmonton Flying Club. That was the last time I saw CJO.”
From the Edmonton Flying Club at the Municipal Airport, CJO went to the Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin. From there, she went to the Aero Space Museum in Calgary. Some very dedicated workers restored her “and the great aircraft looks brand new, again. You are now safe and sound my old friend – have a great future.”
Neil Macdonald died in 2007 at the age of 80.
(Compiled from notes of D. Neil Macdonald provided by his brother Ian Macdonald of Fairview and information from various aviation Web sites. Part of Neil MacDonald’s notes were published in the magazine Navigator)
