London’s Jet Aircraft Museum (JAM) has found a way to bring home a key piece of Canadian Aviation History. The facility located at London International Airport is fundraising to acquire two CF-104 Starfighters. Open since 2009, JAM is home to multiple flying and static vintage aircraft. Among its collection are a rare Second World War Japanese rocket plane and other vintage aircraft from various countries. But the museum’s primary mission remains obtaining all available RCAF jet aircraft. Its current stable already includes T-33s and CF-101 Voodoo. However, the Canadian-built Starfighter has long been missing. “So, what we’re trying to acquire are two CF-104 starfighters. They’re currently in another country,” explained Scott Ellinor, president of London’s Jet Aircraft Museum. That country is Greece. Unlike most other nations that purchased the Starfighters, Greece never dismantled them or sold them for scrap. Now the nation is prepared to sell two to the museum. A fundraising campaign is underway. Ellinor hopes the public and potentially the federal government will help. “We believe about $60,000 Canadian will move them, take them apart, put them in containers in Greece and ship them to the port.” “And then once they get here, then that’s when we start working on them,” added Ed Pillion, a volunteer. “So, it could be a couple of years before we start seeing them out on the static display.” Once assembled, one plane will be painted in the colours of Greece, while the other will wear RCAF badges. It is unlikely the pair will ever fly again, but as this is a flying museum, the potential for take off is never ruled out, said Ellinor. “We don’t think being as these aircraft would do over Mach 2, that the Canadian government will say, sure, a private owner can restore these and make them fly. But, if we can, we will.”
