Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

From Jim McCall - AC Cargo PIK

This coming July 23 is the 80th anniversary of the first Canadian Government Trans-Atlantic Air Service (CGTAS) landing in Prestwick (PIK) from Montreal (YUL), having departed on July 22, 1943.

The enclosed photograph is not, to the best of my knowledge, one that may be in the company archive albeit we did use it at the 50th anniversary celebrations held in PIK and Scotland in 1993 on local publicity.

It was taken by a local PIK photographer and gifted to me for use at the time. Is there anything being done to commemorate this anniversary or is 80 just not one of the memorable '0' birthdays? It is just a thought because unfortunately there are only a very few left of the AC PIK crew and it would be nice for them to see something in the news about that anniversary. 

Sent on the off chance that we might generate another mention of PIK .... the first 'AC' TransAt destination, and although we never 'rub it in', that was a full 3 years before they found London! 

My very best regards,

Jim 

CP Air B-747-200 (C-FCRE)

Of the numerous aircraft preserved around the world the vast majority are stored (and restored) and various museums. Some have been turned into restaurants or hotels, some are used for training purposes and some are submerged for the final resting places.

A rather unusual preservation story seems to be for one of the original four CP Air Boeing 747-200's. 

Registration C-FCRE was delivered to CP in December 1974 and named 'Empress of Italy' (later renamed 'Empress of Australia').

It was part of the exchange with Pakistan International Airlines for DC-10's in December 1985 (the registration was then transferred to the DC-10, fin # 911, which sported employee signatures on the fuselage).

It served PIA (registration, AP-BCL) for just over 20 years until 2006 when it was acquired by Orange Air of Sierra Leone. It was then acquired by Grandmax Group Ltd (briefly leased to Orient Thai Airlines) and stored at Rayong U-Tapao International Airport until broken up in December 2014.

Photo by Dean Morley @ www.flickr.com

However, it was re-assembled in January 2021 and is now on display at a Street Food Plaza in Pattaya! It may be worth the trip just to sit at one of those tables and enjoy a bowl of noodle soup with the massive aircraft in the background. 

Click the photo below to view a series of photos of the re-assembly and transport by freelance photojournalist, Dirk Grothe. Used by permission (and our thanks).

N899TH preserved at Pattaya, Thailand,
displayed at a Street Food Plaza.

From Larry Milberry -

Here’ is CANAV’s Summer/Fall 2023 booklist. You’ll find some important new aviation titles great for summer reading or make the ideal gift for an aviation pal.

Thanks as usual and all the best ... Larry Milberry

The Canav library consists of several titles by various authors on the history (and remarkable pioneers) of Aviation in Canada 

Larry Milberry & Hugh A. Halliday.

Honours Canada’s WWI airmen & aircraft. Covers training, then the deadly skies overseas.

The famous scouts (Nieuport, Camel, D.VII, etc.) & 2-seaters and how they fared; then the amazing airmen. Many harrowing deeds dredged from combat reports, letters, diaries, etc.

Air Canada Cargo recently completed its first equine transport, and it wasn’t just any horse.

This one was destined for a King, King Charles III, that is.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police gifted the horse, named Noble, to the King ahead of his coronation ceremony. Air Canada Cargo made use of its new equine shipping expertise with its freighter aircraft to transport the mare from Canada to her new home in royal style.

Accompanied by an equine attendant, this magnificent animal flew in a specifically designed, state-of-the-art stall used by Air Canada Cargo to provide the best level of animal welfare and groom safety possible.

Source: www.Aviacionline.com

Air Canada is developing a new Boeing 787, 777 business class.

The airline’s flagship international Signature Class is headed for an upgrade.

Air Canada is preparing a second-generation business class for its Boeing 787 and 777 jets, with the Star Alliance member mindful of refits to the current fleet as well as adding the suites to as-yet-undelivered aircraft.

“We’re working on the future of our wide-body product, because we're going to have to start retrofitting aircraft (soon),” Mark Nasr, Air Canada’s Executive Vice President Marketing and Digital, tells Executive Traveller.

“We took delivery of our first 787s nearly 10 years ago, so in the not-too-distant future they’ll be due for heavy maintenance and a retrofit…so that provides us the opportunity, whether it's on those aircraft or potentially at some point on new wide-bodies, to introduce a new long-haul product as well.”

Source: www.executivetraveller.com