Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Replica biplanes unveiled to be used to mark 100th anniversary of Vimy battle

Replica biplanes unveiled to be used to mark 100th anniversary of Vimy battle | iNFOnews.ca
A flight museum in Langley, B.C., unveiled a replica of a First World War fighter plane on Friday June 17, 2016, with plans for it to soar over Vimy Ridge on the infamous battle's 100th anniversary. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tamsyn Burgmann

LANGLEY, B.C. – A flight museum in Langley, B.C., has unveiled a replica of a First World War fighter plane with plans for it to soar over Vimy Ridge on the infamous battle's 100th anniversary.

The Canadian Museum of Flight has been gifted the fully functioning replica 1916 Sopwith Pup biplane as one of two being built for a legacy project.

Next April, a squadron of former Canadian military pilots is planning to use the biplanes in a flyover of the Vimy Memorial in France to commemorate Canada's heroism and loss in a battle that saw more than 10,000 Canadians killed or wounded.

About 20 adults and six teenaged Royal Canadian Air Cadets helped build the Pup, while learning what it took to make biplanes a century ago.

Tim Joyce, president of Sound Venture Productions, says building historical biplanes from scratch was an unprecedented undertaking with tight deadlines.

The project has been under construction since last summer as part of an initiative known as Wings of Courage and was funded in part by the federal Department of Canadian Heritage.

News from © iNFOnews.ca, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

Howard Alexander

Assistant Editor Howard Alexander comes to iNFOnews.ca from the broadcasting side of the media business.

Howard has been a reporter, news anchor, talk show host and news director, first in Saskatchewan and then the Okanagan.

He moved his family to Vernon in the 90s and is proud to call the Okanagan home.

If you have an event to share contact Howard at 250-309-5343or email halexander@infonews.ca.

Related Articles