Effort to restore plane at Sugarbowl taking flight

A symbol of Fort Erie’s rich aviation history will soon be restored as part of an effort that has recently taken flight.

Stan Grabstas, lead on the project, spent 32 years in the military and served as a pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), before working as a pilot and engineer with the United Nations (UN).

He was chief of air operations for the UN during the war in Afghanistan, he told Fort Erie Radio in an interview.

The focus of the effort is the T-33 Red Knight that sits atop a pedestal at Sugarbowl Park along Central Avenue.

It was erected in 2001 and underwent some minor touchups in 2007 when decals were added, but nothing has taken place since then.

Through the RCAF Association, as well as Royal Canadian Legion Branch 71, plans are being made on an overhaul of the vessel, which will include new paint, clear coat, and decals, as well as anything that needs to be repaired inside the cockpit.

The work will “protect it for hopefully another 20 years,” said Grabstas.

He said the T-33 Red Knight was in production from 1945 to 1959. There were 6,500 of them built, and 656 were manufactured by Canadair in Montreal.

They were not used in combat by RCAF, but for training purposes like targeting and radar calibration, as well as for aerobatics and demonstration.

His research shows that they were only flown between 1958 and 1969.

When the plane was installed close to 25 years ago, Grabstas said Fleet and Beam Excavating were “instrumental” in the project, adding that organizers of the current restoration plan are hopeful there will be more support.

“We’re going to approach a number of local industries and see if they can help,” he said.

Grabstas estimates the work will cost about $20,000, which will have to be fundraised.

Fort Erie’s rich heritage is something that gets a lot of attention from residents, said Grabstas, who moved to town about a year ago.

“They take it very serious, and it’s important to them,” said Grabstas, adding he expects work to begin in the summer.

There will be a fundraising event on May 31 at Branch 71. Tickets are $15.

A silent auction will take place between 2 and 6 p.m., and dinner will be from 4 to 6 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased by calling Lesley Kinghorn at (289) 321-0876.

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