The iconic CF-101 Voodoo fighter-interceptor jet that has greeted visitors to Abbotsford International Airport for years has been relocated to its new resting place at the grand entrance to the terminal.
The move took place last Saturday and was challenging. A 200-tonne capacity crane from Eaglewest was used. The aircraft needed to be hoisted from its previous location, lifted over a light pole and a flagpole, then placed on a flat-deck trailer. The trailer needed to have its width augmented with I-beams and steel plates to accommodate the wide landing gear of the Voodoo.
The relocation was part of the ongoing terminal renovations and upgrades occurring at the airport.
Jim Reith, president of the Abbotsford Airshow Society and Brodie Templeton, a member of both the airshow society and the Abbotsford Flying club were RCAF aircrew members who flew the Voodoo in service in the 1970s when it was a front-line fighter-interceptor as part of the NORAD system.
Templeton actually flew in this actual airframe (035) a number of times.
“We are very happy to see the Voodoo in its new place of honour,” said Reith. “It took over six hours to move the aircraft, but the move went flawlessly thanks to the crew and staff at the airport.”
