Ed gets an historic pair

Air Classics, Jan 2004 by O'Leary, Michael

Canadian collector acquires Hurricane and Bf 109E

During October, Canadian Warbird enthusiast Ed Russell purchased the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109E from David Price. During November, the aircraft were disassembled and shipped to their new home, a museum currently in the planning and construction state on the Niagara peninsula. The Messerschmitt Bf 109E was hangared at Bruce Lockwood's Mojave Airport facility while the Hurricane was in the Commemorative Air Force facility at Camarillo, California. The two very rare aircraft will make a significant addition to the new museum.

Russell, an Ontario architect, had won a multi-million dollar settlement from the Walt Disney Co. in September 2002. A dispute had arisen as to whether Disney had stolen Russell's design for its Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World. A jury apparently agreed and was going to award the architect and his partner $240-million but Disney reached an out of court settlement.

The funding gave Russell the means to fulfill a dream -- owning and flying Warbirds. He traveled to Duxford and purchased a beautifully restored Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IX and a T-6 and both these aircraft have been shipped to Canada, assembled and test flown. Also obtaining a de Havilland Chipmunk, Russell is in the process of learning to fly. Unlike some of the newer collectors, Mr. Russell appears to be quite willing to share his growing collection with fellow enthusiasts and we look forward to reporting on his museum - which will be a major boost for the Canadian Warbird movement.