Great War Flying Museum

The Great War Flying Museum is an aviation museum located at the Brampton Airport (CNC3) in Caledon, Ontario Canada. The museum builds and maintains flying replicas of World War I aircraft. Paying members and volunteers help build and maintain the authentic replicas.

All aircraft are kept in airworthy condition by donations, air show and members' fees. The museum is a non-profit organization.

Replica aircraft in flying condition

 * Fokker Dr.I (overall red, Manfred von Richthofen) - C-GFJK 
 * Fokker Dr.I (green and blue, Leutnant Paul Bäumer) - C-GDRI
 * Fokker D.VII (blue, red and white, Hauptmann Rudolf Berthold) - C-GWWI
 * Nieuport 28 (American Air Service markings, Eddie Rickenbacker) - C-FEWL
 * Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a (80% scale) (Royal Flying Corps markings, James McCudden) - CF-QGM
 * Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a (Royal Flying Corp markings, Canadian ace Billy Bishop) - C-GRJC
 * Sopwith 1½ Strutter (Royal Naval Air Service, Flight Sub-Lieutenant Redpath) - C-FSOP

Replica aircraft under construction

 * Sopwith F.1 Camel
 * Airco DH-2

Aircraft details
The aircraft flown by the Great War Flying Museum were constructed in such a way as to balance historical accuracy with ease of maintenance and airframe longevity. As far as possible, attention has been paid to historical detail, but in some instances necessity has dictated various changes.

Due to various long distance trips undertaken by the aircraft to participate in airshows and events, the engines are more modern than those in the original aircraft types. The original wooden tailskids have been replaced with tailwheels in order to operate from paved runways, and the main wheels have been equipped with modern disc brakes. In addition, modern radio equipment and flight instruments have been installed in each aircraft.

Fokker Dr.I

 * Registration: C-GFJK
 * Paint Scheme: Overall red, Manfred von Richthofen
 * Year Completed: 1982
 * First Flight: 30 May 1982
 * Plan set used: Combination Sands/Redfern
 * Engine Type: Warner Super Scarab 165 hp
 * Major rebuilds in: 2005, 1993


 * For most of its life this aircraft was painted to represent an all red triplane as flown by Manfred von Richthofen, also known as the Red Baron, although it incorrectly bore the serial Fok. Dr I 103/17. In the winter of 2005, the aircraft was given all new fabric and repainted in more authentic colours to represent Fok. Dr I 477/17. Some controversy surrounds the question of particular serial numbers on the Baron's all red triplanes. That being said, the museum decided to attempt to replicate the aircraft shown in the famous photographs at Lechelle with the propeller wrapped in a tarpaulin.

Fokker Dr.I

 * Registration: C-GDRI
 * Paint Scheme: Green and blue, Leutnant Paul Bäumer
 * Year Completed: 1996
 * First Flight: 14 July 1996
 * Plan set used: Redfern
 * Engine Type: Jacobs L4Mb


 * This aircraft represented a long time project for its builder, who died not long after its completion. It was purchased by the GWFM as a flying aircraft although it has required on-going work in order to bring it up to museum standards. It is painted in the colours of Vzfw Paul Baumer, Fok. Dr I 204.17 as worn with Jasta Boelcke. When acquired, this aircraft was painted light blue overall with the exception of its markings and looked rather strange. The application of the green streaking to the upper surfaces went a long way to making it look more correct, although the oversized nose is a clear sign of its large, non-standard engine.

Fokker D.VII

 * Registration: C-GWWI
 * Paint Scheme: Blue, red and white, Hauptmann Rudolf Berthold
 * Year Completed: 1977
 * First Flight: 5 November 1977
 * Plan set used: Rousseau Aviation
 * Engine Type: Fairchild Ranger 6-440-C5 (inverted)
 * Major rebuilds in: 2003, 1991


 * The Fokker DVII was the first aircraft built completely in-house at the Great War Flying Museum. It was constructed using the same plan set as the replicas built for the film The Blue Max, but powered by an inverted Ranger engine rather than the Gypsy Queen. It was originally painted in the all white colours of Fok. D.VII 5125/18 as flown by Oblt Hermann Göering while in Jagdgeschwader I. In 1991, the aircraft was repainted complete with lozenge pattern to represent Hptm Rudolf Berthold's aircraft from Jadgdeschwader II bearing his winged sword insignia. This was briefly over-painted in the fall of 2003 while on the set of the film The Aviator (2004) so as to represent an all red D.VII from the film Hell's Angels (1930). Once the temporary paint was removed, the aircraft was returned to its red and blue Berthold colours. Unfortunately, in the summer of 2007, the D.VII was involved in a serious accident. While the pilot was uninjured, the aircraft sustained serious structural damage. Reconstruction is now well under way, and it has been decided that a new paint scheme will adorn this aircraft.

Nieuport 28

 * Registration: C-FEWL
 * Paint Scheme: American Air Service markings, Eddie Rickenbacker
 * Year Completed: 1995
 * First Flight: 14 September 1995
 * Plan set used: unknown
 * Engine Type: Continental R670
 * Major rebuilds in: 1996


 * This N28 replica is constructed of a welded steel fuselage with wood wings, and powered by a Continental R670 radial. Acquired as an unfinished project the museum completed the aircraft and painted it in the colours of the 94th Aero Squadron. These "Hat in the Ring" colours represent the serial 6139 as flown by Eddie Rickenbacker.

Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a (80% scale)

 * Registration: CF-QGM
 * Paint Scheme: Royal Flying Corps markings, James McCudden
 * Year Completed: 1970
 * First Flight: 30 June 1970
 * Plan set used: Prototype Scale SE5a based on Currie-Watt homebuilt.
 * Engine Type: Continental C85-12
 * Engine replaced with: Lycoming O-235-C
 * Engine replaced in: July 1999
 * Major rebuilds in: 1987, 1998


 * This replica SE5a is of interest because it is one of two prototypes for this scale plan set. It is the 'sister' airplane of C-FQGL, which is still flying with the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, British Columbia. For much of its life with the GWFM, this aircraft wore the colourful (if short lived) paint scheme of A 8936 with No. 60 Sqn. RFC, wearing a blue nose and wheel covers. William Avery Bishop, VC, wore this scheme briefly before an official scheme was handed down for the SE5, forcing it to be painted in more conventional British colours. Following its more recent rebuild, QGM was repainted to represent B4863, as flown by James McCudden, VC, while serving with No. 56 Sqn. RFC.

Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a

 * Registration: C-GRJC
 * Paint Scheme: Royal Flying Corps markings, Canadian Ace Billy Bishop
 * Year Completed: 1991
 * First Flight: 1 August 1991
 * Plan set used: Original RAF plans for wings and external dimensions of fuselage, adapted Starduster Too steel structure for fuselage.
 * Engine Type: Ford V6 with Blanton PSRU. Engine replaced with Ranger 6-440-C5
 * Engine replaced in: Winter 1996
 * Major rebuilds in: 1996, 2006


 * The full scale SE5 is the second aircraft built completely in house at the GWFM. Externally it was built to correspond to original Royal Aircraft Factory drawings, yet the fuselage is actually of welded steel construction. Originally powered by a Ford truck engine running a propeller speed reduction unit, this was abandoned in favour of a Ranger aircraft engine. Only one paint scheme has been worn on this aircraft, namely C1904 as flown by William Avery Bishop, VC. It wore these colours and can be distinguished clearly in The Aviator by the large 'Z' on the fuselage.

Sopwith 1½ Strutter

 * Registration: C-FSOP
 * Paint Scheme: Royal Naval Air Service, Flight Sub-Lieutenant Redpath
 * Year Completed: 2004
 * First Flight: Spring 2005
 * Plan set used: Replicraft Plans - Modified Steel Fuselage
 * Engine Type: Continental W670 9A


 * This aircraft is somewhat of a rarity amongst World War I replicas in that it represents a two-seat fighter/observation aircraft. It is interesting that the main role of aircraft in the Great War was for observation, and yet the vast majority of replicas built today represent single seat fighters. The Strutter is constructed with a steel fuselage, but externally conforms to original dimensions. The standard position for the rear seat is facing rearward so as to allow the gunner to operate the Scarff ring mounted Lewis gun, but can also be turned around to allow for a more conventional forward-facing seating position. Already popular for film work due to its second seat this aircraft significantly increases the ability of the museum to replicate scenes from World War I. It is currently painted to represent the colours of Strutter 9739 as flown by Flight Sub-Lt. R.F. Redpath of the Royal Naval Air Service.

Aircraft movie/television appearances

 * The museum's Sopwith 1½ Strutter has appeared in the Galafilms miniseries The Great War broadcast in April 2006 on the CBC.
 * The museum's Sopwith 1½ Strutter appeared in the CBC production The Greatest Canadian when it carried Paul Gross in the episode arguing for Lester B. Pearson.
 * The museum's SE5a and Fokker D.VII appeared in the 2004 Academy Award winning film The Aviator, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
 * Various museum aircraft made appearances in the 2003 documentary A Hero to Me about the life of Canadian Victoria Cross recipient Billy Bishop.
 * The museum's full size and scale SE5a aircraft appeared in the 2006 CBC production, Hockey, A People's History.
 * The museums red Fokker Dr.I was seen in the 2003 documentary Who shot the Red Baron?