We have welcomed 174 new subscribers so far in 2023.

We wish to thank everyone for the continuing support of our efforts.

Back issues of The NetLetter are available in both the original newsletter format and downloadable PDF format.

We invite you to visit our website at www.thenetletter.net/netletters to view our archives.

Restoration and posting of archive issues is an ongoing project. We hope to post every issue back to the beginning in 1995.

We always welcome feedback about Air Canada (including Jazz and Rouge) from our subscribers who wish to share current events, memories and photographs.

Particularly if you have stories to share from one of the legacy airlines: Trans-Canada Air Lines, Canadian Airlines, CP Air, Pacific Western, Maritime Central Airways, Eastern Provincial, Wardair, Nordair, Transair, Air BC, Time Air, Quebecair, Calm Air, NWT Air, Air Alliance, Air Nova, Air Ontario, Air Georgian and all other Canadian based airlines that once graced the Canadian skies.

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We will try to post your comments in the next issue but, if not, we will publish it as soon as we can.

Thanks!

Neil Burton shares this information -

Northwest Territories was so much in the news during the summer with its wildfires, I thought I might send you a photo of the Yellowknife passenger terminal as it was in 1972.

Believe aircraft on the ramp would be that of Northwest Territorial Airways, the business of Robert Parsons Engle.

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. 

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 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 Fin #637 CF-THS on display and I was keen to have a look.

Bob shares his photos and comments on touring the Vickers Viscount on display beginning in NetLetter #1522.

Look for more in upcoming issues. 

Lavatory sink with "As a courtesy to the next passenger may we suggest you use your towel to wipe off the wash basin" placard.

Is that a combination soap/towel dispenser?

A long look down the cabin, with 4 abreast seating. Open luggage rack and curtains on the windows.

I resisted the urge to check out the seats as I was told that they were going to restrict cabin access due to too much damage taking place. I think that they done that now.

Front row seat showing the large cabin window with a curtain. I only worked briefly on an old DC-8 that had curtains.

I like the stylized maple leaf on the wall. I wonder if they had plug in food trays for the armrests.

View from the last row looking forward. I recognize the tray latches as similar to other seat types that I worked on. The white toggle would loosen and fall off, sometimes you were fortunate to find it nearby.

Over time, there was a limited availability of replacement parts. The placard on the last row food tray indicated that in an emergency you pull the red handle above the window to facilitate your escape. I see 4 positions in total with signs mounted on the ceiling panels.

Aft Galley Containers.

Aft Galley work area. 

This South African pilot is on a mission to change the face of aviation in Africa.

Standing in a hangar at Wonderboom Airport near Pretoria, South Africa, Refilwe Ledwaba is geeking out over a slick airplane behind her.

“This is my favorite aircraft. It’s called a King Air 200. I’ve got approximately 100 hours of flying on this aircraft. I absolutely love it, it just performs,” she told CNN.

Ledwaba is a helicopter and fixed-wing pilot, a flight instructor, an advocate for women’s rights and a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation goalkeeper who made history by becoming the first black female pilot to fly for the police service in South Africa.

She is the founder of the Girls Fly Programme in Africa (GFPA) Foundation, a non-profit organization empowering young women to go into STEM.

Through their programs, GFPA provides girls access to aviation and space workshops, STEM programs, and mentorship opportunities. Refilwe is passionate about encouraging girls to get involved in aviation.

Source: www.cnn.com

Air Canada Earns Outstanding Commitment Honours and Sector Distinction Award at Employment Equity Achievement Awards

Air Canada is honoured to have been presented the Outstanding Commitment to Employment Equity award and the Sector Distinction award by The Honourable Seamus O'Regan, Federal Minister of Labour and Seniors, as part of the Employment Equity Achievement Awards announced recently.

"Air Canada is proud to be a leading employer in Canada and a role model in the aviation sector for its advancement in the workplace of women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities.

We are honoured to be recognized with these awards, which reflect our strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion across all sectors of our airline," said Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Public Affairs at Air Canada.

Source: media.aircanada.com

• 1947 - July 1 -- Trans-Canada Air Lines began new DC-3 services with stops at Sault Ste. Marie and Port Arthur/Fort William, with a new service to Medicine Hat and Swift Current.
  • Also, a new TCA route linked Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Edmonton.
• 1949 - A control tower was opened at the Saskatoon airport. Shortly thereafter, Trans-Canada Air Lines began east-west service to Saskatoon.
  • Source: CAHS Regina district
• 1993 - November - Service Vancouver - London - New Delhi introduced.
• 1996 - Air Canada was the first North American airline to introduce the Airbus A340-300.

Found in 'Horizons' magazine

Issue dated February 1994

We shoot, we score!

Especially in the ad hoc charter business.

Air Canada’s ad hoc charter operation (charters other than regular scheduled charters) is growing so rapidly that business has doubled in 1993 over 1992.

Among group ad hoc charters, professional sports teams are the most lucrative. They generate the most charter revenue for Air Canada. The airline does not advertise its ad hoc charter business, so representatives from the Area Sales offices drum up business, explains Maxine Sansom, ad hoc Charters Coordinator. 

“So far, 1994 is on its way to meet and exceed the ‘93 revenues,” says Sansom. Business is booming when sports teams like the Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Eskimos (now Elks) choose Air Canada.

Editors' Note: This service has evolved into Air Canada Jetz and has expanded to various charters including corporations and entertainers.

Let them eat cake.

It was a two-cake celebration for Los Angeles Customer Service Agent Micheline Adam (centre) who celebrated 25 years of service with the company.

Micheline also brought her own cake ("I made it! 25") to share with Customer Service Agents Adrienne Everakes and Bethe Sullivan; Customer Service Manager David Burke and Customer Service Agents Christine Monette and Audrine Marshall.

"Air Canada officially opened its first cargo facility in New Jersey on December 15, 1993 and initial shipments received at our new cargo terminal have exceeded expectations", says Eugene Gonsalves, Cargo Sales & Service Manager - Northeast U.S.A.

"We anticipate rapid future growth in the volume of shipments from the new terminal. We are prepared to expand our facilities and increase our staff when circumstances demand it."

Air Canada is leasing office and storage space from Instant Air Freight, located at 225 North Avenue East in Elizabeth, New Jersey, adjacent to Newark International Airport.

The staff show off a plaque commemorating the opening of the airline's first Newark cargo facility.

From left to right: Eugene Gonsalves, Cargo Sales & Service Manager Northeast U.S.A.; Louis Girard, General Manager, Cargo Sales - Americas; Cargo Customer Service Agents
Al Pierre, Manita Bailey and Lead Cargo Agent Frank Cangialosi.

Fundraising Western Style.

Winnipeg-based flight attendants pulled out all the stops to raise money for the purchase of a wheelchair-equipped van for Flight Attendant Libby Norman's eight-year old son.

"It was unbelievable," says Flight Attendant Linda Meckling. "With the proceeds from the western night, a raffle, and numerous donations (not to mention the largest garage sale in Winnipeg's history), we were able to pay off the entire purchase price."

From left to right: Flight attendants Paulette Couture, Joey Bernes, Sylvia Phelan, Lorraine Jensen and Lynn Kuziw whooped it up at the airline's fundraising dance.

From the "CP Air News" magazine.

Issue dated October 1977 

Four-day conference of company accountants from overseas bases was held at Vancouver in late September 1977. Work specification, solving of mutual problems, treasury matters and briefing on plans for development at the new finance division computer system highlighted the meeting.

Shown during a break in discussions are left to right, front row: G. M. Smith, Santiago; Marie Graves, Sydney, Australia; R. J. Boendgen, Frankfurt; Margarita Valerga, Lima; Hiroshi Yoshida, Tokyo and M. K. Wong, Hong Kong.

Rear row: J. R. Penn, Buenos Aires; Joe Binder, Tel Aviv; A. G. J. Swaak, Amsterdam; N. E. Vrailas, Athens; Fulvio Fusco, Rome and Abelardo Moreno, Mexico.

Issue dated December 1977 

Around the world by commercial.

Scheduled services in 63 hours, eight minutes was an achievement of Vancouver airport passenger agents Roger Matheson, right and David Shore, December 1 - 3.

They have applied to the Guinness Book of World Records claiming to have eclipsed the old mark of 65:58. The pair flew 23,900 miles Los Angeles - Amsterdam - Frankfurt - Bombay - Singapore on Lufthansa, Singapore - Sydney on Alitalia and Sydney - Los Angeles non-stop on Pan American.

Photo by Ken Oakes,  Vancouver Sun.

It is probably common knowledge among our readers that the first supersonic flight by a commercial airliner was achieved during a test flight of a DC-8-43 (test registration N9604Z) on August 21, 1961.

This aircraft would be delivered to Canadian Pacific Airlines on November 15, 1961 (fin #602, registration CF-CPG) where it remained in service for close to 20 years.

The video linked below comes from 'Maximus Aviation' and chronicles the events leading up to that flight. 

Editors' Note: You will certainly notice that the video creators confuse CP Air with Air Canada in their graphics!

British Airways' BOAC Boeing 747 Is Being Dismantled But You Could Buy Parts.

Parts of the historic aircraft are expected to be sold to aviation enthusiasts once the aircraft is dismantled.

It has been confirmed that the BOAC liveried British Airways Boeing 747-400 aircraft (registration G-BYGC), parked up at St Athan in Wales, is in the process of being dismantled.

The aircraft was the last Boeing 747 to fly with the British Airways callsign, with its final flight on December 11, 2020. While it is the end for the aircraft, it’s not the end for the constituent parts, with aviation geeks across the world potentially able to own a piece of this historic aircraft.

Source: simpleflying.com

Click the image below to view a video posted on YouTube by 'Heathrow Aircraft - past and present'. A Farewell tribute to G-BYGC. The best moments from 2019-2021.

Pacific Western Airlines L-100 Hercules 

A retired pilot friend of mine at the local Seniors' Centre that I frequent was telling me about his experiences when he flew the Pacific Western Airlines L-100 Hercules fleet. Always lots of fun to listen to whatever John has to say, always with a glint in his eye while recalling the adventures.

My only personal recollection of the Hercules was through occasional leasing for engine movements. When I started doing my research, I discovered that the aircraft has a long and distinguished career both in civilian and military (C-130) service. 

I don't have any personal recollection of ever seeing these aircraft in PWA livery, so I asked Ken & Terry if they had any insight to share; they always come through. 

Ken advises:

PWA Hercules operation is quite well known. And it wasn't just in the North. They were flown on charters all over the world.

The civil Hercules was marketed by Lockheed as L-100. The L-100-20 was about 8.5 feet longer than the original and the L-100-30 had a further stretch of about 6.5 feet.

PWA operated both the -20 and -30 models. The L-100 designations were just for marketing purposes. They were officially registered and certified as L-382 with a letter following to identify the different models. The longest L-100-30 was certified as L-382G.

Came across that undated footage (link below) of PW Hercules CF-PWO at a remote site in the North, probably operating on a frozen lake. That was the aircraft written off in Peru on July 16, 1968 with no fatalities, landing at a remote jungle strip.

It was only two years old, delivered May 11, 1967, so the undated footage is somewhere between those dates. That's the standard original L-100 with the short fuselage, so PW actually operated all 3 models, not just the lengthened L-100-20 and further stretched L-100-30 mentioned in my earlier message.

Also found the following in a site (www.diecastmodelaircraft.com) related to model aircraft, but has very good info and a photo of another PW L-100-20, with an article written by Stuart (Stu) Russell whose office was near my own during my CP years in Calgary. 

The article says incorrectly that Stu was a Hercules pilot. He was a loadmaster who dealt with the cargo loading, weight and balance and paperwork etc. during their flights. 

Additional photos and info at:

www.pwareunion.com/hercules.htm

Terry supplied the following fleet list:

Current status as per rzjets.net

• CF-PWO - L-100-20 -1967-1969 
  • written off July 1969 at Cayaya, Peru
• C-FPWN - L100-20 - 1969-1984
  • written off November 1989 on alleged CIA mission
• C-FPWX - L-100-20 - 1969-1976
  • written off November 1976 at Kisangani,  Zaire
• CF-PWR - L-100-20 - 1969-1980
  • Libyan Air Cargo - withdrawn from use
• C-FPWK - L-100-20 - 1973-1981
  • Paulatuk, Northwest Territories burned on ground while unloading fuel - April 1982
• C-GHPW - L-100-30 -1978-1983
  • Current registration N411LC with Lynden Air Cargo
• N9263R L-100-100 - 1966-1966 lease
  • Current registration S9-BAT with Transafrik International
  • No longer in service as per Wikipedia (see photo below)

CF-PWO Lockheed L-100 Hercules
Pacific Western Airlines

Unspecified date in the Canadian Arctic

Posted by Keith Deines

Former registration N9263R in World Food Programme (WFP) livery. 'United Nations Humanitarian Service' painted on the fuselage.

Registered S9-BAT to Transafrik International of Angola headquartered in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

Photo by Marco Antonio Silva at Recife, Brazil November 4, 2004

Terry Baker, co-founder of the NetLetter scours the internet for aviation related Trivia and Travel Tips for you, our readers, to peruse.

Further to the article regarding the homebuilt aircraft in NetLetter #1380.

Chinese teenagers from BC built their own aircraft. Extracted from a Vancouver Sun article dated July 24, 1936.

Boys built own plane. Talent shown by BC Chinese brothers.

Vancouver’s most ambitious aviators are Robert and Tommy Wong, of 124 Market Avenue, BC born Chinese brothers.

They have built their own airplane in their spare time, and done it so well that it has been licensed by the government as a safe aircraft.

Yesterday I found them in the loft of the Boeing Aircraft, putting together the wings and fuselage to their gleaming silver bird, a little Pietenpol monoplane with a 27 foot wingspan.

At first it was hard to believe that Robert was a 17 year old student of Vancouver Technical High School but that faded into significance when beside that Tommy was only 14 and a pupil in the Strathcona Public School. It was the plane which made them seem much older.

Here is part of the latest information.

Built in Chinatown in '30s, piece of aviation history found in a trailer. From an article by Kevin Mitchell, Vancouver Sun issue November 17, 2023.

A small, single-seat built by the hands of two teenage brothers, touched clouds more than 8o years ago. Then it went on a long & strange journey, down back roads and prairie fields.
It rebounded from owner to owner, travelled western Canadian highways in a series of trucks spent several years in the ceiling of a sawmill, and the last quarter-century in the inky blackness of in a 53 foot trailer, in a compound, on a field outside Saskatoon.

In the airplane world it’s an ultimate barn find," says Campbell Harrod, an airplane restorer from Hamilton who recently purchased the Pietenpol Sky Scout long believed to have been lost, with plans to someday return it to the sky.

The Pietenpol is significant because it built by the Wong brothers, Robert and Tommy, using mail-order instructions in their Vancouver Chinatown apartment in 1935 and 1936.

The brothers later established and ran Canada's largest flying school in Toronto, training more than 8,000 pilots and sending them into the sky.

Harrod was able to buy that long-hidden airplane because of the efforts of Don MacVicar a Hamilton man who's always relished a good mission.

The lost machine caught his fancy after he learned of its possible existence from Harrod, while they worked on a project involving a 1956 Piper Apache, which once belonged to the Wong brothers.

The ever-tenacious MacVicar searched everywhere. Phone calls, emails, gumshoe detective work. He traced a path from Vancouver to Saskatchewan, doing all of it from his home over a span of a few years.

It was an impossible task, the proverbial needle in the haystack, until the day it was exposed to the light, battered but vivid. The original registration CF-BAA is emblazoned in big letters across the fuselage and on the wings. MacVicar saw the photos sent by somebody connected to the owner, and he felt the chill.

"It was the shock of the century" says MacVicar. "A container under the snow in Saskatchewan. What a story" says Evelyn Wong, Robert’s daughter.

Harrod, for his part, has a marathon restoration in front of him. He still can't fully believe the plane was found. It's a little winged miracle: a thing to savour.

Additional Info:

canadianflight.org/content/the-wong-brothers-and-pietenpol

thestarphoenix.com

Another cartoon by Dave Mathias appeared in the 'Horizons' magazine issue April 1980.

The caption reads "I don't know what it is, but something about that guy bothers me."