New whirlybird for North Saanich air museum

The British Columbia Aviation Museum got a new addition to its collection — an Aeropatiale Alouette III helicopter.

Rod Peel with Industrial Machine Transport, from left, Dave Peters with the British Columbia Aviation Museum and Mike Ingram with Victoria Air Maintenance. Behind them is the B.C. Aviation Museum’s latest addition —a vintage search and rescue helicopter.

Rod Peel with Industrial Machine Transport, from left, Dave Peters with the British Columbia Aviation Museum and Mike Ingram with Victoria Air Maintenance. Behind them is the B.C. Aviation Museum’s latest addition —a vintage search and rescue helicopter.

The British Columbia Aviation Museum got a new addition to its collection — an Aeropatiale Alouette III helicopter.

The vintage helicopter was based at Pat Bay from 1966 to 1987, serving as a Coast Guard aircraft. It was also stationed at Parksville for many years.

The helicopter later went to the B.C. Institute of Technology in Burnaby where it served as a teaching aid. It was later donated to Steveston London Secondary School.

The move back to its home base was initiated by Steveston’s Technology Education Instructor, Dan Steward, who approached the Museum regarding the historic addition.

The aircraft was transported from Steveston to North Saanich by a division of Industrial Machine Transport and unloaded by Victoria Air Maintenance.

The Alouette will undergo minor restoration and will be on display for the public to view during regular Museum hours.

 

— with files form the BC Aviation Museum

Peninsula News Review