Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter
Since 1995 Saturday, July 13, 2024
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C-FACP in ZIP livery Edmonton - April 10, 2004 Photo courtersy of Richard Barsby |
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Dear Welcome to The NetLetter, established in 1995 as a dedicated newsletter for Air Canada retirees.
We have evolved into the longest running aviation-based newsletter for Air Canada, TCA, CP Air, Canadian Airlines and all other Canadian-based airlines that once graced the skies. The NetLetter is self-funded and is always free to subscribers. It is operated by a group of volunteers and is not affiliated with any airline or associated organizations. The NetLetter is published on the second and fourth weekend of each month. If you are interested in Canadian aviation history, and vintage aviation photos, especially as it relates to Trans-Canada Air Lines, Air Canada, Canadian Airlines International and their constituent airlines, then we're sure you'll enjoy this newsletter. Please note: We do our best to identify and credit the original source of all content presented. However, should you recognize your material and are not credited; please advise us so that we can correct our oversight. Our website is located at www.TheNetLetter.net Please click the links below to visit our archives and for more info about The NetLetter. |
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 We have welcomed .... new subscribers so far in 2024.
We wish to thank everyone for the continuing support of our efforts.
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 Back issues of The NetLetter are available in both the original newsletter format and downloadable PDF format.
Restoration and posting of archive issues is an ongoing project. We hope to post every issue back to the beginning in 1995.
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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.
We will try to post your comments in the next issue but, if not, we will publish it as soon as we can.
Thanks!
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See below for further details from each chapter
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- Vancouver
- July 30 at 7:05 p.m. - Baseball at Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium
- Tri-City Dust Devils vs. Vancouver Canadians
- Next flight planned for October 2.
- Calgary
- Dreams on the Greens in support DTF Calgary
- Cottonwood Golf and Country Club
- Next flight planned for November 19
- Toronto
- August 21 at 13:30 - 20th Annual Toronto Dreams Take Flight Golf Tournament Event.
- Ottawa
- Next flight planned November 11
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Regarding Computer and System Services (C&SS) personnel by Terry Baker in NetLetter #1536 -
Steve Carlton sends in these additions / corrections:
Maryse ? is Maryse Poirier, the Secretary.
Guy Langavin should read Guy Langevin.
Lillian ? is Lilian Norcott.
Norman Roberts preferred to be known as Norm Roberts.
Maeve Morrison should read Mavis Morrison, sister of Lois Morrison, also Edna Morrison, their niece.
Others I recall are Gilbert Gibson, Ted Zubek, Ron Meldrum, Martin Carman, Marilyn Sugar, Mardy Hutchinson, Deena Eliosoff, Brian Swinburne and Peter Symes.
Aron Charad also reminded us of Karl Eliason, Marilyn Herman (I can’t remember when she started/left), Sandra Poole and Beverly Cotton.
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Editors' Note:
In NetLetter #1536, on one of the 'Friends of Front Street' photos, we misspelled the name of Tim Mallory (left). We apologize to Tim for the error.
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Mike Nash recounts his quest to view the solar eclipse -
"Everyone should try to experience at least one total eclipse of the sun in their lifetime."
On Sunday evening, April 7th 2024, I flew from Prince George to Montréal and back in just 27 hours. A journey of five airplane rides over 8,600 kilometres, comprising 14 hours in the air, seven hours in airports and six hours walking around Dorval, Québec. I travelled from the BC Interior, to the Pacific Ocean, to the Atlantic Ocean, and back; all this for an event that lasted under one and a half minutes.
In 1793, Sir Alexander Mackenzie took nearly two years to reach what is now Prince George from Montréal, as he became the first known person to cross the North American continent and reach the Pacific Ocean in the Dean Channel off Bella Coola, fully 12 years before Lewis and Clark reached the mouth of the Columbia.
My first attempt to see a total solar eclipse was in the early 1970s while working for Air Canada in Toronto. This was the eclipse in Nova Scotia made famous by Carly Simon’s greatest hit song. With a colleague from the Reservec II team, we flew to Halifax, but alas we had neglected to reserve a rental car in order to reach the zone of totality at Antigonish, and none were available. Our consolation prize was to explore downtown Halifax and experience a 95 per cent total eclipse from the historic Citadel.
Plan B was to fly to Winnipeg in February 1979 to see the solar eclipse there, but in 1978 I had left Air Canada and moved to north central British Columbia for a different lifestyle.
I finally realized my lifelong goal to experience one of Nature’s ultimate wonders in August 2017 when my wife and I watched the Great American Eclipse in the high deserts of Idaho during a two-week driving and hiking tour of provincial, state and national parks on both sides of the border.
Then, on Monday April 8th, 2024 I stood with an ecstatic crowd of Montréalers in a waterfront park in the delightful community of Dorval watching the Moon’s shadow race towards us across the St. Lawrence River. The seagulls flew around confused, and gasps and screams of delight and wonder came from the crowd all around me as the breathtaking moment of the ‘diamond ring’ marked the start of just 87 seconds of totality.
Ruby red solar prominences appeared, along with the much larger solar corona, and the planet Venus was plainly visible nearby. The spectacle was encircled by a sundog caused by high clouds moving in from Ontario. The eclipse ended as it began with another spectacular diamond ring as sunlight briefly streamed through the Moon’s mountains.
The Niagara region had declared a state of emergency a few days earlier, as had the State of Idaho when we were there in 2017. Therefore, not wanting to rely on other means of transport in the aftermath of the eclipse, I had walked from the airport into Dorval via a convoluted route that I had pre-planned using Google Earth street views the previous day. By walking to Dorval instead of taking a cab, I would be certain of the route and timing to get back to the airport after the eclipse. During my nine years with Air Canada, I had flown in and out of the airport on many occasions, but always to and from downtown. I had never visited the delightful riverside community of Dorval that lent its name to the airport.
By mid-afternoon I was lethargically feeling the effects of being awake for more than 30 hours as I dragged my feet between the prospective viewing sites beside the St. Lawrence River. But I was so fully rejuvenated by the event itself, that I was able to complete the ten-hour return journey to Prince George in relative ease. This was aided by the fact that, following the eclipse, faced with an hour’s walk back to the airport, some Dorval residents whom I had been chatting with before the eclipse kindly offered me a ride.
I had booked the trip at the last minute on Saturday evening after closely monitoring weather and cloud forecasts all week. Based on historic weather records, Eastern Canada was supposed to have the worst prospects for the entire eclipse path, but that was upended a few days before with the promise of some of the clearest weather along the entire route of totality, especially from Québec to New Brunswick.
Was it worth it? Absolutely! Plus I got to revisit the city where I landed in Canada 55 years before, and had worked in off-and-on for nearly a decade; and, it was my re-introduction to flying after a four-year Covid hiatus. I have now experienced the wonder of two total solar eclipses under clear skies, one in the high deserts of Idaho and one at sea level.
I highly recommend to anyone to try and experience a total solar eclipse at least once in your life. The next opportunity will be in Iceland and Spain in August 2026, and if you want to be there, start planning now!
Footnote: We had fantastic naked eye views of the diamond ring effects at the start and end of the eclipse, and of the ruby-red prominences close to the Sun's surface, and the much larger solar corona.
These images portray my journey to the eclipse, and the general ambience of the event. One thing that really adds to a total solar eclipse is to be with a crowd of people and to hear the rising excitement as the moment of totality approaches.
Click the image below to view a beautiful video of our momentous experience.
Mike Nash
Prince George, British Columbia
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A visit to Dawson City, Yukon Territory - CYDA - March 29, 2024.
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The Dawson City Airport in the Yukon is a regional airport made for people, as I like them. Here the passenger is considered as such and not like a number linked to a boarding pass.
When we entered the tiny terminal, you were greeted by the two employees of Air North who take care of baggage and check-in without delay.
On a shelf along a window, you can find a few magazines, books and board games. These are there when weather conditions cause flight delays so that passengers can wait for their plane more pleasantly. A few indoor plants complete the ornamentation and give a little life to the terminal.
Particularity regarding the luggage of passengers arriving in Dawson City, it is transferred from the trolley coming from the plane into the terminal through a simple hatch in a wall; simple but effective.
You can find several air taxi operators offering, in particular, tourist flights in the region. Also note that the airport has only had a paved runway since 2019.
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Friday March 29, 2024 -
 After spending three wonderful days in Dawson and the surrounding area, it is time to leave for Whitehorse with an Air North ATR-42-300 ( C-FVGP) on flight 4N252. The Klondike Experience guide took me back to the small local airport. My baggage was immediately checked in and placed on the trolley that was to be taken to the plane.
For my part, I returned outside to witness the landing of the ATR which is, in fact, the same as that of the outbound flight.
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Saturday March 30, 2024 -
 The trip to the Yukon ends. This afternoon, I flew back to Vancouver on flight 4N543.
This is the same Boeing 737-55D as on the outbound trip: C-GANU.
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Sunday March 31, 2024 -
 After a busy last day in Vancouver including a helicopter flight with Helijet, I was very tired when I returned to the airport. Being more than three hours early, there is no line at the Porter Airlines check-in counter, nor is there any at security.
My plane was an Embraer ERJ-195-E2 and my flight PD318 departed on time. The plane was almost full, but in the end I didn't have anyone sitting next to me. After the snack service, exhausted, I realize that I am able to sleep in episodes, which is quite rare on a plane as far as I am concerned.
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Allan Gray sent in the following photos of the last days of Wardair after being merged into Canadian Airlines in 1989.
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David Baker found this article and sent it to us to share -
Pneumatic tubes, conveyors, three-wheelers speed parts through 14 acres in seconds.
Excerpt of an interview given by Roland Sullivan, Technical Stores Supervisor to the 'Modern Purchasing' magazine in May 1968.
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When Air Canada built its mammoth materials warehouse at its maintenance and overhaul base in Dorval, efficient materials handling had to be the crux of the architect's design.
For within ten to 60 minutes after receiving a requisition. the stockmen must deliver any one of the 145,000 parts valued at over $50 million to the worker's site - no matter where the worker is located on the base's 14 acres.
To accomplish this feat, Roland Sullivan (below left) Technical Stores Supervisor, explained, "Machines had to do all the carrying; not men. This was the only way we could gain speed. Without machines, delivery would take three to four times as long."
So machines were installed; machines that whisk a three-pound part one-quarter mile in 60 seconds; and, machines that hoist a 2 1/2 ton airplane engine skyward as if it were a balloon. And all these machines and their related systems, says Sullivan, are adaptable to general industry.
While walking along a corridor outside the warehouse area, Sullivan suddenly stops and points to a blue bicycle (below right) and orange golf cart passing one another. When really caught tight for a part, departments can have light-weight items delivered via one of these vehicles. But the company's main mechanism for light items under three pounds is a $139,000 pneumatic tube system containing three miles of pipe and servicing 33 stations spread throughout the 14 acres.
Sometimes modern equipment isn’t fast enough and a three-wheeler takes over.
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Air Canada rewards its employees with a special logo jet
Air Canada has unveiled a special livery on the pictured Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The special livery identifies its employees on the tail who won the 2024 Employee Excellence Award.
Editors' Note: Two of The NetLetters' own are previous recipients of the Award of Excellence. Terry Baker was honoured in 1984 and Bob Sheppard in 2000.
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 for the latest posts at the Air Canada Media Centre. |
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 Click the logo to open the Air Canada YouTube channel. |
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1946 - November 1 - With the withdrawal by Canadian Pacific Airlines from the Vancouver - Victoria route, TCA quadrupled its service and re-established service, relinquished in 1937, between Vancouver - Seattle with DC-3 equipment.
The incursion of the DC-3's into the West was on September 15, 1946 when all trans-continental flights as far as Winnipeg began operating with the 21 -passenger equipment, the new aircraft were also introduced on Flights 5 and 6 between North Bay and Winnipeg. DC-3's were to proceed on to Lethbridge later in 1946.
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From The NetLetter archives –
Here we have a few front covers of the 'Between Ourselves' magazine from April – June 1946
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Issue dated September 1946
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Chicago's hospitality
Chicago’s big friendly hand was outstretched to TCA when we came flying in from the North, and the great Illinois city left us in no doubt as to the warmth of our welcome.
Crew of the inaugural flight: Stewardess Victoria Stuart on the steps and Captains Weatherall and Seagrim and First Officer Renwick on the left.
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Editors' Note: Below is a photo of the same aircraft, a Douglas DC-3 (CF-TDR) taken at Winnipeg August 17, 1968.
Shown here on short lease by Transair from Matane Air Services of Quebec. The next year it was exported to the US and cancelled as N3773 on 14 March 1972.
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Photo and comments courtesy of Tim Martin.
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TCA Flight 201
On July 10, 1946 a giant, four engine TCA Lancaster, only 28 hours out of London, England, lowered its wheels over Vancouver Airport, marking the completion of the first direct commercial flight from the United Kingdom to the Pacific Coast and the first non-stop commercial flight flown by TCA across Canada.
The aircraft which made the flight in connection with Vancouver's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, was greeted at the airport by a large crowd, including Mayor J. W. Cornett of Vancouver.
Members of the crew who took over the controls of the TCA Lancaster at Montreal for the second leg of the United Kingdom to Vancouver flight.
Left to right: Captain G. H, Lothian; Radio Officer W, Lucas; F. M. McGregor, Operations Manager of the Trans-Atlantic Service, who made the flight in an official capacity; Captain J. A.Wright; Navigator P. O. Powell and Purser-Steward D. V. Miller.
In the foreground are Captain Lewis (right) and First Officer Harrison, the two pilots who flew the aircraft from Great Britain to Montreal.
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From the 'horizons' magazine
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Issue dated September 2003
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Program Management Office team.
Seated, left to right: Kirsi Ulmonen, Sam Pellegrino, Sandra Boyle, Kara Gill, Nancy Rockbrune.
Standing, left to right; Lucy Franco, Line Robinson, Carole Charbonneau, Denis Chalifoux, Vicki Benoit, Lise Lefaive, Pauline Nghiem, Claire Thermidor and Luc Desautels.
Video conferencing; Lynda Zavitz (left) and Sandra Dick in Vancouver.
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Issue dated October 2003
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Now a word from our sponsor
 In all the years we’ve been publishing Horizons (and now New Horizons) we've tried to blend the serious with the lighter side. In the last few years, however, we’ve tended more towards the serious because we've had a lot of difficult things to deal with... frankly, none of it's been funny.
So to give ourselves and you, our devoted reader, a break, we’ve dispensed with the usual news in this issue to give you something that hopefully will make your day a bit brighter.
We want to give you a well-deserved time out. Employee Communications is a privileged group - we get to hear about a lot of great things about employees and we're going to make a real effort to share more of these good stories with you as we go on. We hope you enjoy it.
Jane MacGregor,
Director, Employee Communications
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CP Air / Canadi>n People Gallery |
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Continuation of the DC-6 story started in NetLetter #1531 through 1536.
Jet Way Inc. alias Markair Transport.
K & C Corporation had acquired the aircraft for associated company Jet Way Inc., which was an executive jet operator flying Learjets as freighters out of Detroit's famous Willow Run Airport.
Willow Run was a 'propliner mecca' at the time, home base of the large fleets of Zantop, Trans Continental and others which flew their aircraft in support of Detroit's automobile industry, flying in car components from plants all over the eastern United States and Canada to keep the huge assembly lines churning out Fords, Chevrolets, Chryslers and other notable American marques of the era. 
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Additional Information:
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From the 'new horizons' magazine.
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Issue dated October 2003
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 Retired aviation pioneer Dan McIvor, who lives near Vancouver International Airport, received the Order of Canada tor his foresight into fighting forest fires from the sky.
He received letters of congratulations from some of the country's highest-ranking officials, including the Prime Minister since winning the Order in the summer of 2003.
Born in 1911, the former PWA pilot knew from an early age that water bombers were the most logical line of attack. "When I was five years old, I was throwing stones in a lake, said Dan. "Suddenly, a big, yellow noisy thing rang overhead, and I shouted to my mom “What's that!?"'
He learned it was an aircraft, and that it was on the lookout for forest fires. Later that day he told his sister that aircraft should be used to carry water and release it over fires.
Editors' Note: Mr. McIvor passed away on February 24, 2005 at the age of 93. Click Here to read his obituary.
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 Found on Facebook |
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Posted by John Desramaux on May 2, 2024 -
Nordair Flight Dispatch
Left to right: Captain Danny Bereza, F/O Art Andrews, Check Captain John Armstrong and Flight Dispatcher Wayne Harmidy.
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Posted by Glen Roddick on May 10, 2024 -
Kuujjuaq Airport, Quebec (YVP) unidentified crew working YVP.
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From The NetLetter archives -
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From the Vancouver Interline Club Newsletter.
 Visit to the Museum of Flight in Langley, British Columbia on April 21, 2024
We had a nice sunny day for the tour of the Museum of Flight and everyone enjoyed the tours. The tour guides were excellent and very knowledgeable.
We had 31 people in attendance and after the tour we enjoyed coffee and goodies to top off our Sunday morning.
The group included: Jeanette Stemler, Judith Guevara, Norma Gillian, Mary Lou Rust, Claude Hewitt, Lalita Lal, Betty Shewchuk, Fred Buchi, Loretta Buchi, Joyce Barr, Val Philbrook and Linda Lipp.
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B-737 of many colours
While looking through the various aircraft that had once flown for Quebecair, I came across a B-737-200 with an interesting history and numerous liveries over almost 45 years of service.
MSN 220752 Line #623 was originally delivered, under registration OY-APO, to Maersk Air of Denmark in December 1979 ( see photo here).
It was acquired by Chemco International in March 1982 and began its career in Canada under new registration C-GQBA. It was leased to Quebecair in August 1982 (photo below). It was leased to Air Nauru (registration C2-RN9) in September 1983 and then returned to Canada when acquired by CP Air in October 1985.
Re-registered as C-FACP, its livery was to change several times through the many acquisitions during the years to follow.
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- January 1986 - Canadian Pacific Air Lines - photo below
- April 1987 - Canadian Airlines - photo below
- April 2001 - Air Canada - photo below
- November 2003 - Air Canada 'Zip' - photo in issue header
- January 2005 - Canadian North - no photo available
- October 2005 - First Air - photo below
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It was re-registered as C-GNLA when acquired by Nolinor Aviation in September 2016 ( see photo here). It was withdrawn from service in October 2019 and stored at Mirabel.
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Photo courtesy of Pierre Langlois
Montreal - June 1983
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Photo by Mally T
Posted on Pinterest
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Photo courtesy of Pierre Lacombe
Montreal - May 1998
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Photo courtesy of Pierre Lacombe
(transition livery)
Montreal - April 2000
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Photo by BriYYZ
Toronto - June 2015
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| Terry's Trivia
& Travel Tips |
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Terry Baker, co-founder of the NetLetter scours the internet for aviation related Trivia and Travel Tips for you, our readers, to peruse.
During May, Pierre Gillard took these photos of Canada Jetlines.
About Canada Jetlines.
They’re the new, all-Canadian, value-focused leisure carrier, utilizing a growing fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, providing passengers with another choice to travel to preferred destinations within the U.S., Caribbean, and Mexico.
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| C-GJLH |
C-GCJL |
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Here are some aircraft tails that have been seen in Canada's skies.
No prize, but the answer in next NetLetter – have fun!
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We recently met Dan Fallwell whose cartoons have been shown as a 'Smiley' in past NetLetters.
He spends his summer at craft sales in Terrace and also in Prince Rupert while the cruise ships are visiting.
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A few more contributions from Caz Caswell.
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First published August 1990
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First published March 1991
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Wayne, Ken & Terry Richmond, British Columbia - December 2019
(Bob Sheppard was not available for the photograph) |
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Wayne, Bob & Ken Richmond, British Columbia - December 2023
(Terry Baker was not available for the photograph) |
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We wish to honur the memories of
Vesta Stevenson and Alan Rust. They remain a part of every edition published. |
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Subscription Management
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E&OE - (errors and omissions excepted):
The historical information as well as any other information provided in the "NetLetter" is subject to correction and may have changed over time.
We do publish corrections (and correct the original article) when this is brought to our attention.
Disclaimer: Please note that the NetLetter does not necessarily endorse any airline related or other "deals" that we provide for our readers.
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We do not (normally) receive any compensation from any companies that we post in our newsletters. If we do receive a donation or other compensation, it will be indicated as a sponsored article or link. |
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