Ray Lank
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Some of you will recall that Colin Clark, Toronto member and artist, built a full scale replica of the Silver Dart aircraft for a TD credit card commercial in the mid to late 1970's. When the commercial stopped being aired and TD didn't want to store it, it was arranged for the replica to be donated to the Toronto Chapter. On display for many years in one of the CNE's buildings hanging from the roof, it provided an eye catcher for the CAHS display booth during the annual Exhibition. When the CNE wanted it removed to fix the roof, Ray arranged to donate it to the Great War Flying Museum in Brampton as he was their President. That plan was rejected by the Museum Directors as they didn't have the space and Ray arranged for it to be stored until such time as it could be displayed to the public.
With the 75th Anniversary of the Silver Dart's first flight on the horizon, Ray arranged to have a RCAF C-130 Hercules carry it to Halifax. After several months there, a C-130 carried it to Montreal. Then the idea of displaying it at Expo 86 in Vancouver came to mind. Ray pulled the strings again and had Air Canada take it west in one of their planes and it would share space in their booth at Expo 86. When it left the west coast, it came back to Toronto for display near the Toronto International Airport. His final arrangement was to donate the replica to the Bushplane Heritage Museum in Sault Ste Marie where it now resides. Ray was also instrumental in obtaining financial support from a number of corporations to repair, move, and store the replica after each public display.
Follow this link for a more comprehensive biography of Ray.
An obituary for Ray has been published here…
With the 75th Anniversary of the Silver Dart's first flight on the horizon, Ray arranged to have a RCAF C-130 Hercules carry it to Halifax. After several months there, a C-130 carried it to Montreal. Then the idea of displaying it at Expo 86 in Vancouver came to mind. Ray pulled the strings again and had Air Canada take it west in one of their planes and it would share space in their booth at Expo 86. When it left the west coast, it came back to Toronto for display near the Toronto International Airport. His final arrangement was to donate the replica to the Bushplane Heritage Museum in Sault Ste Marie where it now resides. Ray was also instrumental in obtaining financial support from a number of corporations to repair, move, and store the replica after each public display.
Follow this link for a more comprehensive biography of Ray.
An obituary for Ray has been published here…
Restored Lockheed 10A, CF-TCC, being flown by Ray Lank over southern Ontario
Jack McNulty photo (via Gord McNulty)
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Another photo of CF-TCC being flown by Ray Lank on a flight in southern Ontario.
Jack McNulty photo (via Gord McNulty)
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