Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Fifty-six year-old DC-9-15RC 

My first piece on the DC-9 fleet was in NetLetter #1342 (May 2016) and then a follow up in NetLetter # 1450 (November 2020). Of particular fascination to me has been the DC-9-15 'Rapid Change' aircraft was part of the Air Canada fleet in the 1970's. 

Ken Pickford recently came across the video, linked below, of Ameristar DC-9, registration N785TW (formerly AC CF-TOT - Fin #767), departing Paine Field (PAE) in Everett, Washington for Phoenix, Arizona (PHX) on October 27, 2023 and sent it along to me.

Remarkably, when I checked into the status of the four DC-9's in the Ameristar fleet, all four are still active at 56 years-old! 

See www.planespotters.net/airline/Ameristar 

Editor's Note by Ken:

This aircraft was Fin #767, CF-TOT (C-FTOT from 1974 when the hyphen was moved). It was originally delivered to Continental Airlines in April 1967, the 156th DC-9 built, so now in its 57th year of service with at least 10 operators. Douglas built them to last. With small U.S. cargo carrier Ameristar since 2002.

It's one of the 4 oldest DC-9's still flying and, interestingly, all 4 are from that batch of 8 aircraft acquired by AC from CO in 1972/73. The other 3, also now with Ameristar, were CF-TON/TOO/TOS at AC, the 79th, 97th and 141st DC-9's built. AC sold all 8 of those aircraft to Air Florida between 1977 and 1981 (4 in 1977 and one each in 1978/79/80/81).

Posted on YouTube by jaypainespotter

Contributed by NetLetter team member Bob Sheppard. Here is the first in a series chronicling his family visit to the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada in Winnipeg this past summer. 

Bob shares his photos and comments on touring the Vickers Viscount on display. Look for more in upcoming issues. 

A minor bucket list experience was fulfilled this past summer, partly due to a suggestion by our oldest grandson. Looking for a unique activity for our yearly holiday time with our two grandsons, aged 14 and 11, he suggested we spend a week in Winnipeg. After picking them up in Calgary, it was another two days of driving to arrive in the "Peg".

I spent 7 years working C and D checks on the B-727 from 1980 until 1987. My commute to work, a mere 7 minutes, took me past a Vickers Viscount parked alongside Inkster Boulevard. I was especially impressed with the large cabin windows. My career as a Cat 13 mechanic, responsible for maintaining cabin interiors, equipment and furnishings, safety equipment, windows and more, had me naturally wondering what the Viscount interior looked like.

I had seen some Viscounts parked at the Winnipeg airport and many coworkers had worked on the aircraft. I knew that the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada had one on display and I was keen to have a look.

On August 9th I got my first glimpse of Fin 637 CF-THS

The tail of the Vickers Viscount was too tall to fit through the Winnipeg TCA hangar door, so TCA maintenance engineers built this custom jack to raise the aircraft's nose to lower its tail.

I was immediately surprised by the rather large circular cabin entrance. A good match for the cabin windows.

Looking into the cockpit I immediately noticed the armrest covers needed to be replaced, LOL.

Part of my daily routine, on a walk through, to spot those things that were a deviation from the norm. The seat covers looked to be in good condition. The cockpit was closed off so I couldn't get a closer look at how things functioned.

You know I wanted to.

From the Rewind Canada YouTube channel comes this video of 5 decades of Air Canada television commercials.

From CP Air News - November 1978

By D. Fallwell