Imperial Airways
Imperial Airways was the early British commercial long-range airline, operating from 1924 to 1939 and serving parts of Europe but principally the British Empire routes to South Africa, India and the Far East, including Malaya and Hong Kong.
Imperial Airways was merged into the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) in 1939, which in turn merged with the British European Airways (BEA) in 1974 to form British Airways.
After World War 1 Britain had a surplus of warplanes that were used to jumpstart its commercial air industry. In 1924, the government gathered together the few struggling British air companies to form Imperial Airways. They not only shuttled passengers but mail all over the globe. We believe the photo shown below is of a Handley W.10, with a similar model (Handley Page W.8b) shown at the bottom. This model held 12 passengers with an open cockpit for the two pilots.
Shown in the first photo below, the seats are made of wicker and I'm not sure how securely they are anchored to the floor. Also, I found it amusing that they show a "Ripping Panel" at the top of the cabin. It reads "in case of emergency, pull ring sharply". which would open up the canvas roof for escape.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Airways for more info.
Canadian Forces CC-177 Globemaster III
I recently came across the video below on YouTube of a Royal Canadian Air Force Boeing C-17 on departure from Leeds Bradford Airport last May. I was amused by the cheerful waving of the soldier to the crowd while the aircraft is taxiing to the approach of the runway. It seems to lift very gracefully into the air for such a large aircraft.
The official Canadian designation for the aircraft is CC-177 Globemaster III.
They joined the RCAF fleet in July 2007 to perform military and humanitarian missions for which leased An-124 Ruslan aircraft from Russia had previously been used.
The aircraft featured in the video is registration #177703 which was the third of the original four ordered from Boeing. It is based at CFB Trenton. A fifth aircraft was delivered in 2015.
References:
YouTube Video of takeoff below
Boeing C-17 at Wikipedia
Canadian Forces fleet listing at rzjets.net
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From Air Canada "Horizons" magazine issue dated December 1983. Nordair bounces back into the black. |
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First of a 4 part Canadian Pacific History - Montreal versus London. Canadian Pacific Railway's Ambitions. The following illuminating article appeared in the May 1st, 1941 issue of "American Aviation." A GIGANTIC air transport development is in the making in Canada which will place this northern neighbour of the U.S. in a strategic position after the war is over as the focal point for air transportation to the Orient, to Europe, and to all of the British Commonwealth of nations. The rising new factor is the Canadian Pacific Railway, which has purchased or acquired control of eight airline companies in Canada, and which today is gaining wide experience in over-ocean flying by reason of its complete control of servicing and operation of bombers being ferried to England. There is even much reason to believe that Canadian Pacific Railway is today in the dominant control of British Overseas Airways and that Montreal will become the centre of British commercial air services when the war is over. The extent to which C.P.R. has forged its way to the top as the largest potential British airline operator has not been thoroughly recognized outside of a small circle associated with C.P.R.'s air service department. Development of an extensive air service department by C.P.R. is a new phase of the long rivalry between this company and the Government-owned Canadian National Railway, which owns Trans-Canada Air Lines. (Source: Financial Times Archives - 1941) (Part 2 in NetLetter nr 1404) |
From "Between Ourselves" magazine - Issue dated July 1943.
The Co-Pilot by Ken Murray - CCA
I am the co-pilot; I sit on the right,
It's up to me to be quick and bright.
I never talk back, for I have regrets,
But I have to remember what the Captain forgets.
I make out the flight plan and study the weather,
Pull up the gear and stand by to feather
Check the tanks, and do the reporting.
And fly the old crate while the captain is courting.
I take the readings, adjust the power,
Put on the heaters when in a shower;
Tell him where we are on the darkest night,
And do all the book work without any light.
I call for my Captain and buy him cokes,
I always laugh at his corny jokes;
And once in a while when his landings are rusty.
I always come through with “by gosh it is gusty”.
All in all I’m a general stooge, as I sit on the right of the man I call “scrooge”.
I guess you think that is past understanding, but maybe some day he will give me a landing!
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Air 500.
The Beech 18 was originally purchased new by Timmins Aviation. The founder had extensive knowledge of the emergency freight business and the operation of DC-3s, Super DC-3s and DC-4 aircraft due to his position within the inner circle at Millardair. Dennis Chadala created Air 500 Limited on a shoe string, without financing and was the first airline to receive licensing and an operating certificate at Toronto's Pearson International Airport following deregulation of the aviation industry in Canada in 1985. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_500) |
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Coastal Airways BC, flying as Royal Airlines, was established in 1931 by Richard Gosse of BC Packers,.Victoria’s Robert Pim Butchart, and J.H. Tudhope, former Commanding Officer of the RCAF Jericho Beach Station.
The service had a very short lifespan due to practical inexperience and internal dissent. (Source: www.victoriaharbourhistory.com) |
