Last of the Sabres:
Historic Fighter Jet Returns to Display

Story and images by James Mitchell,
Marketing Specialist & Graphic Designer, The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
March 2025
Volunteers at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (RAMWC) have completed the restoration of a significant piece of aviation history - the very last Canadair Sabre fighter jet ever produced. This was no ordinary restoration project; it was the resurrection of an aircraft that embodies Canada’s Cold War legacy and highlights remarkable chapters of international aviation history.

In 1996, thanks to the generosity of Air Commodore Kamran Qureshi of the Pakistan Air Force, this historic aircraft was returned to Canada. Following its initial reassembly, it was displayed at what was then the Western Canada Aviation Museum.

Starting in 2023, Sabre #1815 underwent a major restoration thanks in part to the Join the Sabre Squadron campaign - a fundraising initiative from the RAMWC. Donations from this campaign provided the much-needed funds to see the project through to completion. In total, the restoration volunteers dedicated over 6,000 hours of meticulous work to bring this jet back to life.
Sabre #1815 on display at the Western Canada Aviation Museum in 2018.
"Much of its aluminum skin had corroded after being left outside for several years," explained Marsh Pettit, the restoration team lead. "At some point, somebody decided it was a good idea to fix over that damage with a ton of Bondo. That was the first challenge - to remove and repair that."

The team also decided to deal with the substantial crazing in the Plexiglas of the cockpit. The centre windshield had to be replaced entirely, a task made possible by a generous donation from Rock Glass.

Another unexpected challenge was recreating the NATO camouflage paint scheme. "Everybody loves a challenge," said Marsh. "You can’t just walk into a paint store and buy these colours. The grey is a particular kind of grey unique to that time. The people at Cloverdale Paint ended up helping us out with that. It took a few tries and tests, but we got it right and matched it to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) colour manual we had."
Sabre #1815 is disassembled on the Dr. D.S. Reimer Aviation Plaza outside the RAMWC in 2023 to prepare for restoration.
Marsh Pettit, Restoration Team Leader, with disassembled fuselage, the former livery was removed and damage assessed.
The restoration team painstakingly cleaned old parts, sourced accurate replacements for those that couldn’t be saved, and ultimately decided that Sabre #1815 would wear the livery of 441 Squadron. This decision honours the Sabres of No. 1 Canadian Air Division in Europe during the 1950s and '60s. The project highlighted both the challenges of preserving military aviation history and the dedication of the museum's volunteers. The restoration was intended to coincide with both the RCAF's centennial and the 50th anniversary of the RAMWC. The team's work ensures that future generations will be able to appreciate this remarkable aircraft - one that represents the pinnacle of Canada’s contributions to Cold War air power.

"With over 6,000 hours of restoration on this project, I can say there were days when I felt like I’d rather drag this thing somewhere and bury it than work on it another day," admitted Marsh. "But when the parts start coming together, and then the paint goes on, one day you step back, look at it, and realize it’s actually starting to look like a real plane again - and that the work is paying off."

For the volunteers who completed the project and the donors who made it possible, it’s more than just a restoration - it’s the preservation of a crucial chapter in Canadian aviation history, embodied in the final Sabre to leave the Canadair factory.
The completed restoration of Sabre #1815 is revealed to the public on January 22nd, 2025.
Canadair Sabre #1815 was celebrated with a party for the donors, restoration volunteers and others who helped to make this project possible on January 22nd, 2025. The aircraft is now on permanent display at the RAMWC in the Military Skies collection.