This is what it was like to fly in the 1940s (we did the 1930's last issue)
(Submitted by: David Bellamy)
If the 1930s built the bones of the industry, the 1940s were when aviation truly began to flex its muscles, soaring higher, farther and faster than ever before. Here is what it was like to fly in the 1940s.
Pressure! Pushing down on me, pushing down on you. After a decade of air sickness bowls and oxygen tanks on hand for the inevitable altitude sickness that came with flying, Boeing introduced the Stratoliner, the world’s first commercial airplane with a pressurized cabin. Finally, pilots could take their craft up to 20,000 feet, an altitude that the industry marketed as “above the weather.” And while that catchy slang wasn’t entirely true, a smoother flight, and constant, breathable air were made possible at these new heights thanks to pressurization.
Wardair Boeing 727 - CF-FUN - "Cy Becker"
This month’s TCA/AC People Galley features a photo of the first Boeing 727 which was delivered to Air Canada on September 25, 1974. I thought that this would be an appropriate time to do some research on this fleet’s place in Canadian Aviation History. I happened across a particular aircraft that has had a long and colourful career.
The first B-727 to enter service in Canada was registration CF-FUN delivered to Wardair in April 1966. Named for WW1 veteran and bush pilot "Cy Becker", it was the first jet operated by Wardair and was deployed on Trans Atlantic charter service with refueling stopovers required at Gander, Newfoundland. The airline later acquired B707’s with the capacity to offer non stop service to Europe and CF-FUN was moved to a Sun Destination service to California and Mexico.
The aircraft remained in the Wardair fleet, with two short term leases to National Airlines (as N4509 in 1966) and Braniff (as N302BN in 1969), until 1973 when it was acquired by Cruzeiro do Sul of Brazil and registered as PP-CJI where it continued in passenger service for another twenty years.
In 1993 it was acquired by Avesca (later Aerocar) of Columbia and re-registered HK3770 and converted to cargo configuration. Here is where some intrigue begins. It seems that it may have been used for some illegal activities and was seized by the Columbian government and deployed in the Satena (owned by Columbian Air Force) fleet in 1995.
It was withdrawn from service at Bogata in 1997 where is was painted in Aviation de Ejercito livery and converted to a restaurant at the Columbian Army Base. I cannot confirm that the aircraft is still being utilized as a restaurant today. Does anyone have any further information?
Photograph taken at London – Gatwick June 21, 1970 and used by permission of Mr. R.A. Scholefield from his collection at Airliners.net . It is also featured in this issues NetLetter banner.
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Following the photo of CF-TCC in NetLetter nr 1333, Jim Bruce has sent us more photos of CF-TCC at Air Canada, Maintenance & Overhaul Base, Dorval 1962. They’re all from the M&O Base at Dorval (inside and outside the huge hangar) and tie in with Alan Hunt being in charge of the restoration of the Lockheed 10A CF-TCC. Interesting to note that he rudder pedals shown in the instrument panel photo are labeled Cessna! The ship looks so small in this vast hangar used to housing DC-8s, Super Connies, and Vanguards. In the view from behind TCC looking towards the open door, you can see a Vanguard tail in he background. In the exterior shot of TCC, the a/c in the background is of course a DC-8 both in front of the hangar. |
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Ken Starnes sent us a copy of the booklet Air Canada Maintenance Base at Dorval, and here we have a photo from it.
Starting from the left: Del Bougeois, Instructor; with Bob Cofell, Bud Sansom, Bud Clinch JR, and Urbino Francisco. I believe they were all junior CAT 1 Mechanics at the time, I knew all these people. Ken Starnes |
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Heard on the air waves.
Frankfurt Control: 'AF1733, You are on an eight mile final for 27R. You have a UH-1 three miles ahead of you on final; reduce speed to 130 knots.'
Pilot: 'Roger, Frankfurt. We're bringing this big bird back to 130 fer ya.'
Control: (a few moments later): 'AF33, helicopter traffic at 90 knots now 11/2 miles ahead of you; reduce speed further to 110 knots.'
Pilot: 'AF 33 reining this here bird back further to 110 knots.'
Control: 'AF33, you are three miles to touchdown, helicopter traffic now one mile ahead of you; reduce speed to 90 knots'
Pilot (miffed): 'Sir, do you know what the stall speed of this here C-130 is?'
Control: 'No, but if you ask your co-pilot, he can probably tell you.
March 12 - 13, 2016Pilot's passion is to see women take to the skies.
In 2015, 1,700 females took their first flights at the annual "The Sky's No Limit - Girl's Fly Too" event. Each year this event is held at the Abbotsford International Airport and this year 15,000 people are expected to descend at the airport on March 12th and 13th, 2016 for the world’s largest aviation outreach show of its kind. There are 1,300 female professional pilots in Canada, as compared to 23,000 male pilots. Kirsten is hoping to change that ratio. Visit www.girlsfly2.ca for more information. |
April 30, and May 1-2, 2016 |
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Annual Pionairs Conference and Annual General Meeting |
