Muir, Fraser Alexander - June 27, 1924 - July 7, 2016
We are saddened to inform you of the passing of Fraser Muir at 92 years of age. Fraser was a frequent contributor to the NetLetter as well as the subject of many interesting articles and news items that covered his involvement in his numerous interests.
He joined the RCAF at the age of 18 and served as a mid upper gunner on the Lancaster completing 36 sorties with 50 Squadron in Bomber Command. Hired by TCA (Air Canada) in Halifax, he spent the bulk of his 30 year career in Montreal living in Rosemere, QC retiring in January, 1983. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, the Royal Canadian Legion, RCAF Wing 441, and served on countless committees and executive bodies of community and church organizations, including the Air Canada Pionairs National Executive for several years. He was Pionair's President from 1995 to 1997.
Visitation to be held at Carruthers & Davidson Funeral Home, 509 River Road West, Wasaga Beach, ON on July 11 between 2 - 4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. Funeral Mass to be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Noel Chabanel Catholic Church, 133 Dunkerron Avenue, Wasaga Beach.
For complete obituary please visit this link.
Fraser Muir 1944 and 2009
British Airways - Building the 787-9 Dreamliner
(Submitted by: Terry Baker )
British Airways welcomed the arrival of their first 787-9 Dreamliner last year. This time-lapse video takes you behind the scenes at Boeing's factory where the aircraft was expertly built.
The 787-9 is 20ft longer than its 787-8 predecessor, making room for their new painstakingly designed eight seat First cabin. The 787-9 started flying to Delhi in October 2015, followed by Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Kuala Lumpur and Austin.
Airbus A340 - Forgotten Fleet
The Airbus A340 entered service in June 1995 with the arrival of Fins 981 & 982 leased from International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC). Deliveries direct from Airbus began in November 1996. They had been ordered to replace the B747-400 and L1011 fleets on international destinations.
I refer to them as the “Forgotten Fleet’ because they arrived with great anticipation but left with almost no interest and do not seem to be missed.
Although a sleek and comfortable aircraft on long range routes; it was underpowered with the 4 CFM56-5C4 engines adding considerable flying time to those routes and were gradually replaced by the faster and more fuel efficient twin engine A330 and B777.
Their time within the fleet was relatively short spanning only 13 years, 1995 to 2008.
I can account for 15 aircraft that flew in AC livery between 1995 and 2008. There were thirteen -300 series and two -500 series. Orders were placed for the -600 series but deliveries were deferred twice and finally cancelled. Five of the originals still show active including Fin# 908 which appears to be in VIP service for the Iranian government. Click here to view my list of the current aircraft status.
I will write about my own personal connection to this fleet in our next issue.
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Bernie McCormack has sent us some information and photos relative to his retirement.
The photo is one of the best in-flight pictures of the 747-400 I have seen. ( F/O Zeke Zabolotniuk and I were undoubtedly in that photo on the flight deck.) He then superimposed the flight-deck picture over the clouds above the fuselage of the in-flight photo. The clouds were cumulus forming over the North Shore mountains but there were none on our approach or runway. The photo minus my "mug" was sold to several retiring flight crew members afterwards. |
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I have enclosed a photo (left) of the remaining pilots (retired) from my original course (20 February '56 ) taken in Toronto the day before my return trip (28 August '95) and of the flight attendants the next day (right). |
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The last flight pairing was outbound YVR-LHR 23 August. In London 24 August the crew surprised Sheila and me with a party in the hotel (left) with 14 Vancouver Flight attendants attending. (unfortunately I do not have the names). LHR-YVR 25 August with crew pictures (right). |
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Overnighted in YVR and then flew YVR-YYZ 26 August. Pictures below wrer taken 27August at the hotel in Toronto visiting with Don and Mabel McLeod (check Captain retired) (left) and Jean Cadorel (Montreal Captain) (right). |
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I had been in an air force mid air collision (T-33) 38 years earlier which played out in the press in Vancouver for several days. That was why they had an interest in covering my retirement. I have not ever put all of this in one essay before and now I see it all at one sitting I am humbled and very pleasured by the affection extended to me by my crews, friends and family. Bernie McCormack |
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 This cartoon by Dave Mathias was in the "Between Ourselves" magazine issued June 1967. |
