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Biplane (re)makes history with flight to Edson
By Victoria Carnaghan, The Edson Leader 
They call it the curse of the Kelly-D. Though the 1920s-style “Spirit of Edmonton” Kelly-D Biplane that famously flew from Edmonton in pursuit of a criminal headed towards Edson nearly a century ago made it to town without incident on Aug. 29, the curse of bad weather prevailed.
Pilot Tom Hinderks and navigator Chris Barbar were put two hours behind after the pair encountered heavy fog flying over Wildwood that morning, about halfway between their takeoff and landing points. While dozens of onlookers gathered near the Edson Airport to wait for the aircraft, which was imitating a police chase from 1918, Hinderks and Barbar held their pattern over Wildwood, waiting for the dense fog to clear. Eventually, the plane had to stop in Drayton Valley to refuel. It landed at the Edson airport that afternoon to a warm reception.
Hinderks is the executive director of the Alberta Aviation Museum Association and Barbar is a Staff Sergeant With Edmonton Police.
Three Kelly-D flights have been cancelled over the past year due to bad weather, prompting the birth of the so- called “curse,” explained Aviation Museum board member John Chalmers. Two historic recreation flights were delayed or cancelled last winter because of cold temperatures and snow, and in June windy and rainy conditions prevented the plane from making its way back from the Peace River air show.
Trying to fly the plane is like trying to “fly a plastic bag,” Hinderks likes to say.
Chalmers noted that although the plane, which was built in the 1980s to imitate the biplanes of the 1920s era, is often used for historical flights, officials don’t like to take chances.
“Tom [Hinderks] has two rules for flying,” Chalmers said with a laugh. “Tom doesn’t get hurt and Tom doesn’t get hurt.”
However, the museum loves to get the plane up and out because it always draws enthusiastic crowds and raises the profile of historic flights.
Despite the delay, local officials called the event a success.
On the ground, the plane was followed by a 25-car caravan comprised of classic cars, four Edmonton Police Service cruisers and two police “ghost” cars that led the group through intersections. Edmonton’s Air 1 police helicopter also helped escort the plane out of Edmonton. According to Chalmers, Terry Kalaman played the “fugitive” and led the way in his 1918 Dodge roadster, the oldest car in the chase.
He was followed by Constable Dan Hunter of the EPS in the force’s 1964 Chevelle police cruiser.
When the procession reached Niton Junction, Edson RCMP Sgt. Jim Desautels, driving a retro-painted blue RCMP cruiser on loan from Jasper, took over the lead and escorted the pack into Edson.
Chalmers was especially impressed with car enthusiast Ken Katarynchuk, who lives near Edson but headed to Edmonton early Saturday morning to meet up with the motorcade in his green 1970 Dodge Coronet and joined the group for the ride.
The pilot and navigator presented Edson Mayor Greg Pasychny with an aviation print. Katarynchuk presented the fliers with commemorative plaques. The flight back to Edmonton was blessed with clear skies and took only about an hour and 45 minutes, Chalmers said. Perhaps a trip to Edson was all that was needed to break the curse.
By Victoria Carnaghan leadernews@telusplanet.net
