Mosquito Bytes

The official eNewsletter of the CALGARY MOSQUITO SOCIETY
Retain, Restore, Honour and Educate

May 28, 2009

Report on Public Consultation - Airplanes
2009 January


Results

• 250 people attended the Open House sessions;
• 217 people responded to the questionnaire from Open House and mail-in;
• 5 aviation museums or societies responded to the questionnaire; and
• Two Aldermen attended one or both nights.
  

  Findings

• 88% of the respondents indicated that if funds were available in the next 2 to 3 years, both the Hurricane and the Mosquito should be restored as opposed ot another use;
• 66% indicated that restoration should be a 'static display' condition, and 20% indicated the planes should be restored to 'flying' condition;
• When forced to chose between limited options, 59% indicated the Hurricane should be restored and the Mosquito donated to another Canadian Museum, and 41% indicated the Mosquito should be restored and the Hurricane donated to another Canadian Museum;
• When asked if no funds were available to restore either plane, 32% indicated the Hurricane should be sold to restore the Mosquito, 35% indicated the Mosquito should be sold to restore the Hurricane, 6% indicated both should be sold to restore other planes in the future, and 27% indicated both should be donated to another Museum;
• When asked about the time horizon for any restoration, 31% of respondents indicated that it was important to restore within the next 5 years, and 69% indicated that speed of restoration was not important as long as the planes were restored eventually;
• The order of priority for Council consideration in deciding the future of the planes was that location (Calgary, Region, Canada) was most important; public ownership was rated as the second most important factor; level of restoration was identified as the third most important consideration; and the City's budget was identified as least important of the factors presented;
• 70% of the respondents indicated they had no restoration experience.
  

  Written comments were also summarized as working notes. Written comments vary to some degree, but they consistently speak to the historical and cultural value of both airplanes, with a prevalent desire to find ways and means to restore both planes. A few people indicated that the technical and funding challenges to restoring the Mosquito could make any restoration attempt futile.
  

  Conclusions

• Restoration of both planes is valued above all other considerations;
• Donating one or both plane to another Canadian Museum was deemed as acceptable as selling one to restore the other;
• Respondents almost evenly split in their regard for the two airplanes. While the Hurricane may be deemed by some to have a more direct historical link to Calgary, the emotional link to either plane is roughly equal. In their own right, both planes are deemed to be able to tell an important but different story about Canada;
• Restoration to 'static display' condition is by far the preferred option, best facilitating public access and enjoyment. Restoration to flying condition, while representing economic and social enjoyment potential, represents too high an initial cost and too high a risk of total loss ('it would be lost forever' if it had an accident); and
• Restoration is desired, regardless of how long it takes.