Red Knight soars above Woodhaven Park

By: John Kendle Posted: 10:19 AM CDT Tuesday, Jul. 9, 2019 Last Modified: 10:21 AM CDT Tuesday, Jul. 9, 2019

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/07/2019 (2471 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The RCAF T-33AN Silver Star Mark 3 that was originally gifted to the City of St. James and displayed in Woodhaven Park to commemorate Canada’s centennial in 1967 has been refurbished and remounted on its concrete pedestal, accompanied by an informational panel honouring the Red Knight aerobatic program, its pilots and the aerobatic performances of Brig.-Gen. Bill Slaughter, a Winnipeg RCAF pilot who flew a similar jet as a flight officer in 1963-64. From 1967 to 1990, the aircraft wore pre-1967 RCAF silver-finish colours. In 1990, it was repainted in the Golden Centennaires aerobatics team colours. The $180,000 restoration was funded by $100,000 from the City of Winnipeg, $50,000.00 from the Assiniboia Community Committee and $30,000.00 from the Slaughter family.

John Kendle
From 1967 to 1990 the aircraft wore pre-1967 RCAF silver-finish colours. In 1990, it was repainted in the colours of the Golden Centennaires aerobatics team. The latest restoration was initiated about six years ago by the Royal Military Institute of Manitoba, and the aircraft was refurbished and repainted in the Red Knight colour scheme. — John Kendle From 1967 to 1990 the aircraft wore pre-1967 RCAF silver-finish colours. In 1990, it was repainted in the colours of the Golden Centennaires aerobatics team. The latest restoration was initiated about six years ago by the Royal Military Institute of Manitoba, and the aircraft was refurbished and repainted in the Red Knight colour scheme.

John Kendle
The refurbished and repainted aircraft was remounted on its concrete pedestal in Woodhaven Park, accompanied by an informational panel honouring the Red Knight aerobatic program, its pilots and the aerobatic performances of Brig.-Gen. Bill Slaughter who piloted a similar jet as a flight officer in the 1963-64 season. — John Kendle The refurbished and repainted aircraft was remounted on its concrete pedestal in Woodhaven Park, accompanied by an informational panel honouring the Red Knight aerobatic program, its pilots and the aerobatic performances of Brig.-Gen. Bill Slaughter who piloted a similar jet as a flight officer in the 1963-64 season.

John Kendle
The RCAF jet that was originally gifted to the City of St. James and displayed in Woodhaven Park to commemorate Canada’s Centennial in 1967 has been restored to newfound glory, honouring the Red Knight aerobatic program, its pilots and the aerobatic performances of Brig-Gen. Bill Slaughter, a Winnipeg pilot who flew a similar jet as a flight officer in the 1963-1964 Red Knights season. — John Kendle The RCAF jet that was originally gifted to the City of St. James and displayed in Woodhaven Park to commemorate Canada’s Centennial in 1967 has been restored to newfound glory, honouring the Red Knight aerobatic program, its pilots and the aerobatic performances of Brig-Gen. Bill Slaughter, a Winnipeg pilot who flew a similar jet as a flight officer in the 1963-1964 Red Knights season.

John Kendle
The T-33AN Silver Star Mark 3 aircraft entered service with the RCAF in 1955, serving the first part of its service life in RCAF Stations Gimli and McDonald as a trainer, and later serving in Ontario and Nova Scotia. It was declared surplus in 1967 and as part of Canadian Centennial celebrations it was presented to the City of St. James to commemorate the long connection between the RCAF, the aviation industry and the City of St. James. — John Kendle The T-33AN Silver Star Mark 3 aircraft entered service with the RCAF in 1955, serving the first part of its service life in RCAF Stations Gimli and McDonald as a trainer, and later serving in Ontario and Nova Scotia. It was declared surplus in 1967 and as part of Canadian Centennial celebrations it was presented to the City of St. James to commemorate the long connection between the RCAF, the aviation industry and the City of St. James.

John Kendle
Since its 1990 restoration, the condition of the concrete pedestal, steel mounting arms, and the aircraft had deteriorated, so the recent restoration project involved:
• Using a crane to remove the approximately 3.2 tonne aircraft from its pedestal and covering it with a tarped scaffolding in a fenced area of Woodhaven Park;
• Removing the paint and corrosion on the aluminum skin with a soda-blasting process;
• Repairing the aluminum skin and steel mounting arms;
• Repainting and re-decalling the aircraft to Red Knight specifications;
• Repairing and repainting the concrete pedestal and mounting plates;
• Re-mounting the aircraft on its concrete pedestal. — John Kendle Since its 1990 restoration, the condition of the concrete pedestal, steel mounting arms, and the aircraft had deteriorated, so the recent restoration project involved: • Using a crane to remove the approximately 3.2 tonne aircraft from its pedestal and covering it with a tarped scaffolding in a fenced area of Woodhaven Park; • Removing the paint and corrosion on the aluminum skin with a soda-blasting process; • Repairing the aluminum skin and steel mounting arms; • Repainting and re-decalling the aircraft to Red Knight specifications; • Repairing and repainting the concrete pedestal and mounting plates; • Re-mounting the aircraft on its concrete pedestal.

John Kendle
Managing editor, Free Press Community Review

John Kendle is managing editor of the Free Press Community Review. Email him at: john.kendle@freepress.mb.ca

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John Kendle
Managing editor, Free Press Community Review

John Kendle is managing editor of the Free Press Community Review. Email him at: john.kendle@freepress.mb.ca

Read full biography

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

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April 14, 2026

Red Knight soars above Woodhaven Park

The Metro