Additionally, the CH2A received the new pre-cut front spar webbing from Centerline and look forward to installing it in the upcoming weeks. Many thanks to them for their assistance. Volunteer Hours for the month=455.

March was a slower month than usual. Volunteers continued restoring pieces of equipment slated for the cockpit restoration. Many items were finished and these include the metal stand for the transmitters, the fishpond receiver, the pilot’s transceiver, H2S receiver and some other smaller radio gear.

Work also continued on the repairs for the starboard trailing edge and flap assembly. The restoration team successfully freed up the hinges and control rod assemblies on the flap. The flap assembly has been partially disassembled to deal with some minor corrosion issues. Volunteer Len has completed fabrication of the armour plate for the rear turret. Volunteer Hours for the month=398

April saw numerous student tours, which pulled some of the team away from working on the project. The team continued restoring pieces of equipment to go into the cockpit. Items for the wireless operator’s station have been acquired from several different sources. Thanks especially to Matthew Batten in Belleville and Jim Fleming who have donated most of the equipment that was missing. The re-painting and installation of these items, including another radio transmitter and receiver, two antenna loading units and new parts for the trailing antenna continued. Work also continued on the repairs for the starboard trailing edge and flap assembly. The sub-structure was cleaned and the skins that were removed due to damage and corrosion are in process of being replaced. Volunteer Hours for the month=381.

In May, numerous student tours pulled volunteers away from working on the project. Between tours, items for the wireless operator’s station have been installed. These included the antenna loading boxes, ammeter and transmitter remote. The astrograph and engineer’s panel have also been installed in the cockpit and work is nearing completion on the autopilot assembly being fabricated.

The starboard trailing edge and flap assembly are nearly ready for primer and paint and the repairs on the main outer main wing lifting points are completed. The sub-structure has all been cleaned and primed in preparation for attachment of the new skins. Volunteer Hours for the month=431.

June was an extremely busy month for school tours and many of the Lancaster CREW were called upon to assist with the programming. More items for the wireless operator’s station were installed leaving a few items to finish before this section of the cockpit is complete. Len has completed installation of the autopilot parts for the pilot’s platform and only some final paint remains to be done on the aileron control assembly under the pilot’s seat. Once this is complete, installation of the pilot’s platform can occur and work on the new Plexiglas for the cockpit canopy can begin. The starboard trailing edge and flap assembly have been primed and final paint should be done after the new skins are riveted on. Paint stripping in the rear fuselage and the area around the mid-upper turret has been primed in preparation for installation. CREW volunteer Roger P. has nearly completed the intercom boxes. These will be functional throughout the air craft in order