It won’t be the Friday night traffic typically seen in north Edmonton but drivers will get a rare chance to watch as a Cold War-era fighter jet travels down Kingsway Avenue Friday night.
The CF104 Starfighter is being taken to an autbody shop for restoration before being put on display at the Alberta Aviation Museum this summer.
Thomas Hinderks with the Alberta Aviation Museum says the jet, which was the fastest jet ever operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force or the Canadian Armed Forces, is a big part of Edmonton history.
“They were operated in northern Alberta. In Cold Lake, a lot of Edmontonians flew them, but the big story is the Canadian Starfighter were all overhauled on city centre airports industry – which is now Northgate Trailer,” Hinderks said.
“Right here in the centre of Edmonton we had one of the largest aerospace companies in the world, employing thousands, that were overhauling the most exotic fighter of the day.”
The CF104 Starfighter will leave the Alberta Aviation Museum on its own wheels, with a tow vehicle and escorts, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
It will travel west down Kingsway Avenue, north onto 121 Street and Yellowhead to Chris’ Auto Body shop located at 125 Avenue and 125 Street.
Hinderks doesn’t anticipate there will be too many traffic delays during the tow.
He says it’s a rare opportunity for Edmontonians to see the jet.
"There’s not that many Starfighters left out there in world,” he said.
The jet will get its paint and primers removed and return to bare aluminum.
Hinderks hopes it will be ready for display at the Alberta Aviation Museum by the end of June.
