Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter
Since 1995 Saturday February 22, 2025
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C-FPXD Boeing 727-171C Pacific Western Airlines
Edmonton - August 1981
Photo courtesy of Gary Vincent
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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 58 new subscribers so far in 2025.
We now have 4,493 active subscribers.
We wish to thank everyone for the continuing support of our efforts.
Special thanks to Shirlee Schacter for giving us a recommendation in the Pionairs Ontario District newsletter.
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 Back issues of The NetLetter are available in both the original newsletter format and downloadable PDF format.
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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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 Pionairs District Events |
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South Alberta District -
Every Wednesday, District Director, Cathy Olson, hosts a Zoom Coffee Get-Together, connecting with Passenger Agents, Ramp and Baggage Agents, Administration personnel and colleagues from Belgium and England.
Contact Info: Contact: Cathy Olson
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Okanagan Pionairs -
A Summer buffet at the Asian Pear restaurant in Kelowna, British Columbia on July 25, 2025 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Only $15.00 per Pionair member and $20.00 for non members. Pay at the event in either cash or cheque made out to Okanagan Pionairs.
Address: 2050 Harvey Avenue. lots of free parking.
Source: Pionairs Okanagan district newsletter.
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In NetLetter #1551, reader Evan Lloyd requested our assistance in locating a friend, Jim Woods, with whom he had lost contact several years ago.
Jim Douglas (YVR) recognized both names and offered his services to help reconnect the guys; mission accomplished!
We love it when stuff works. 😀😉
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We are always dealing with the quality of the photos that we extract from our source material. Terry spent countless hours scanning internal magazines from several legacy airlines.
However, scanners cannot correct all the effects that the passage of time has on the original prints and newsprint is not as sharp as an original print. Modern software can often improve the original photo marginally.
We debated whether or not to use the photo on the left for NetLetter #1551 but we thought that the story was good enough. Reader Albert Sorignet offered to work on improving the photo. Although certainly not as sharp as the original, the faces are now more recognizable. That is the whole point!
Our thanks to Albert Sorignet.
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From PWA Keeping Posted magazine
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Issue dated November 1969
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A PWA "Around the World" Charter left on November 11, 1969. This was the first around the world charter ever instituted in Canada
The crew, who were jetting from country to country, were Gil Tsui, Ole Damsgaard, Isle Buffi, Cory Van Vliet and Diane Paradee. They visited Honolulu, Pago Pago, Australia, Bangkok, Athens, London, etc.
The office staff of In-Flight Services received a postcard from Mr. Tsui (who was shanghaied into taking the trip), telling them what a lovely time the crew was having.
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 Posted by Jeff Vaillancourt December 9, 2024 on the “Un-Official” Air Canada Staff & Alumni Group page.
Onlookers from the YUL observation deck
The photo prompted Don Stewart to respond -
A Viscount in the foreground, a Vanguard taxiing out. Way in the distance, parked, I believe is another Vanguard. My Dad worked in the terminal as a Flight Dispatcher and I got to spend a lot of time on the observation deck. It was only a dime for admission.
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Found in 'Horizons' magazine
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Issue dated January 1987
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Gift of Wings.
The Canadian Maple Wings Association, (retired flight attendants) during 1986, presented Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children with a cheque for $12,000. The funds, raised at the April 1986 reunion, were used to purchase updated medical equipment.
In the photo are, from the left: Gretchen Marsh, founder and first president of the Maple Wings; Tuula Ross, the association's treasurer; Dr. William Crysdale of the Hospital for Sick Children; Annette Donovan and Ruth Heenan, two of the stewardesses from the class of '39; Claus Wirsig, president of the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation and June Seymour, president of the Maple Wings.
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Issue dated April 1987
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 In 1938, the requirements for the first Trans-Canada Air Lines/Air Canada stewardess uniforms were relatively simple, there were only two stewardesses at the time.
Specifications from head office were also relatively straightforward: no navy blue because of the problem of visible dandruff. Armed with that succinct directive, an employee walked into a Vancouver department store and bought two outfits off-the-rack.
"The logistics of uniform design and selection have certainly changed since those days." says Warren Reeves, Product and Appearance Standards Manager, In-Flight Service, "but one thing that hasn't changed is the pride that our personnel take in their appearance and the uniform."
That first uniform, slightly modified for Trans-Canada Air Lines, consisted of a beige gabardine suit, a two-button jacket, a brick red handkerchief for the breast pocket, a tie and a wedge cap with a red flash.
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As Air Canada celebrated its 50th birthday on April 10, 1987, some 7,000 public contact employees donned new uniforms designed to give the airline a stylish and elegant image not only for the anniversary year, but also for the years ahead.
"It's been nine years since the previous uniform was introduced and its lifespan was expiring," says Connie Bastien, Wardrobe and Grooming Manager, Passenger and Operational Services. "We felt it was time to introduce a new wardrobe and Air Canada's 50th anniversary seemed like the perfect occasion."
The new uniform was designed by world-renowned Montreal couturier Leo Chevalier and manufactured entirely in Canada.
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 Modelling the ground staff knitwear and jacket are, from the left: Larry Zeagman and Angie Vederian, Customer Sales & Service Agents, Toronto and Dorval Cargo Agent Richard Leblanc. |
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 Showing off the dress and jacket are Dorval Customer Sales & Service Agent Lorna Gow, left, and Paulette Couture, Purser, Winnipeg. |
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 The in-flight knitwear is shown by, from the left: Purser Paulette Couture and Flight Attendants André Bujold and Sherrie Christensen. |
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 Displaying the cardigans are, from the left: Cargo Agent Richard Leblanc; Customer Sales & Service Agent Lorna Gow and Purser Paulette Couture. |
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 Trying out the rainwear are Winnipeg Flight Attendant André Bujold right, and Angie Vederian, Customer Sales & Service Agent, Toronto. |
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 Pam Tapp, Passenger Service Supervisor, Toronto and Brian Matte, A /Route Operations Supervisor, Montreal. |
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CP Air / Canadi>n People Gallery |
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1969-
- April 27 - PWA inaugural flights to Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton and Cranbrook.
- September 29 - Inaugural PWA B-737 flight into Inuvik. The first time a commercial jet had landed at Inuvik, NWT.
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Issue dated December 1969
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We found yet another photo of a PWA Hercules. This shows CF-PWO and its crew at Tokyo International Airport just prior to departing for Edmonton on the last leg of a Round-the-World flight in January 1969.
The crew members from left to right: Dennis Mockford, Navigator; F/O Weldon Bradley; Captain Bob Bell; Bob Dobson and Jim Eggen, Engineers, Jerry Kish, Loadmaster and F/O Terry Champion.
This flight was the last in a series of trips, carried out between December 13 and January 17 arranged by our London agents, Clarkair International.
The aircraft, two crews, project manager and maintenance crews were based in London and made flights from London to Prague; Manchester to Dampier (Western Australia); Copenhagen to Nairobi (Kenya); Paris to Dubai (Saudi Arabia) and Manchester to Dampier again.
Loads consisted mainly of bulky generating equipment, electronic components, etc. While the number of trips was not great, the length of the flights produced substantial revenues. A number of potential trips were lost during the Christmas/New Years’ period as there was insufficient time for Clarkair, experts though they are, to overcome the mountains of red tape involved in transporting goods to Africa, the Middle East and the Far East.
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Issue dated December 1986
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Nordair employees who celebrate 25 years service during 1986.
Standing from left right: Richard Leduc, Peter Knox-Leet, James McLarnon, Erwin Weismuller, Terrance Keenan, John Smith, Raymond Barbejat, Brian Turriff, Lionel Desjardins, Patrick Rock and Leo Frigon.
Seated left to right: William Pearce, Clive Turriff, Gerard Kochman, Roland G. Lefrancois, Margo Russell, Jose Sakillarides, Doug McCracken, James Dawes and Gerald Goudreau.
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Standing, from left to right: Jean-Paul Lévesque, Harry Grosser, Gordon Girvan, Frank Dolha, Bob Wright, Keith Campbell, Nelson Langlais, Art Hale, Les Rogers, Alphonsio Galland and Ron Andrews.
Sealed, left to right: Normand Duchesne, André Chadourne, Jules Sesia, Léo Jodoin, Roland J. Lefrançois, Jean Bérubé, Jean E. Douvilie, Laurier Delisle, Fernand Morin, Steve Alichos and Pierre Violette.
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Posted by Mike Duggan November 28, 2024 -
Memories of PWA -
The old PWA office in Inuvik (YEV) in the Wagner Building. This was before it became the Robertson Building. From the mid 1970's.
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The last Martin Mars finally made it to Arizona over the weekend after a couple of earlier attempts were aborted due engine problems. One diverted to Victoria (home of the other Mars since last year).
Final leg to a lake (manmade reservoir) about 50 km north of Phoenix. Will be disassembled and trucked about 270 km south to the Pima Air & Space Museum near Tucson.
Research by Ken Pickford
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Last ever Martin Mars Takeoff From Sproat Lake! Philippine Mars' Penultimate Flight
It finally happened, the last flying Martin Mars leaving Sproat Lake for the last time!
Posted on YouTube by Tobyn Burton Aviation Videos
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Martin Philippine Mars lands in the San Francisco Bay for the last time
Posted on YouTube by wcolby
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Semi-retired pilot takes Canadian pride to new heights
Most people look up at the winter skies and see grey.
Londoner (Ontario) Mike Jones sees the maple leaf. I thought, well a maple leaf is a fairly simple thing to draw out. It’s all just points and straight lines, so I could fly it,” he recalled.
The semi-retired pilot and flight instructor wanted to express his Canadian pride after American President Donald Trump’s tariff threats, and suggestions that he would annex Canada making it part of the United States.
“Some of the things he said about Canada kind of got me riled up a little bit. And it’s just, I thought, a polite way of going up and showing my patriotism,” Jones said.
“Well, it’s not as perfect as it looks. I was off, every turn, I’m trying to judge how tight to turn and stuff. But I made it big enough that my mistakes don’t show that badly,” Jones said, with a chuckle.
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Airbus says "GOODBYE" for the Beluga Cargo Airline! Here's Why.
In the competitive and volatile aviation industry, it is inevitable that businesses will have to make bold decisions to adapt to the market. Recently, the world's leading aircraft manufacturer Airbus surprised everyone when it announced that it would stop one of its main transportation services.
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Has WACA changed your life? It certainly has ours!
Michael Harbott, a Canadian Airlines retiree, spells out his experiences attending the AGM of the World Airline Clubs Association (WACA).
After visits to AGMs in Jordan and Eqypt, Mauritius was the venue in 2024, and this year Michael is looking forward to visiting Malta with WACA.
His wife and Michael have documented their amazing life together in their book “Our Fine Romance”, available from Amazon, together with an e-book and audiobook!
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PWA's Boeing 727s
We've been looking at Pacific Western Airlines history quite a bit lately. Their Hercules fleet provided us with quite a bit of material and we have discovered some good stuff in our archive copies of their 'Keeping Posted' magazine.
I was surprised to come across a few photos of PWA B-727s. Two of them served in the PWA fleet, both were built as combis with a main deck cargo door. I do not recall ever seeing either of these aircraft as they were used primarily to serve the north.
As per rzjets.net, the first, CF-PXB, was built in 1966 and originally delivered to Southern Air Transport (photo below), believed to have close connections with the CIA. It was acquired by PWA in October 1972. It went to Continental Airlines in 1977 but caught fire after landing in 1980 and was written off.
The second, C-FPXD (photos below), had a much more varied lifecycle. It was built in 1968 and delivered to Trans International Airlines (TIA), registration N1727T.
It was leased to Braniff International in October 1972, returned to TIA in January 1974. Sold to Pacific Western the following month and received its Canadian registration.
Between 1976 and the late 1990s it operated firstly for YYC-based Panarctic Oils, originally leased from PWA, supporting their oil exploration and brief production activities in the north. Then sold to Echo Bay Mines, mainly to support their remote, now closed, Lupin gold mine in what was then NWT, now Nunavut. Later to Royal Aviation and First Air.
It went to Transafrik International of Angola in April 2006. It has now been withdrawn from use but I have not been able to confirm the date or where it is currently stored.
Additional research by Ken Pickford.
See also:
Photo of C-FPXD in 'Echo Bay' livery by Reinhard Zinabold
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N5092 (CF-PXB) in its original livery
Seoul, South Korea - October 1969
Photo courtesy of Aris Pappas
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N1727T (C-FPXD) in its original Trans International livery
Photo courtesy of Ken Fielding
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C-FPXD with PWA - Edmonton City Centre (YXD) - 1981
Photo from the Mike Ody Collection via George Trussell
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C-FPXD in First Air livery February 2005
Montréal Pierre Elliot Trudeau International (YUL)
Photo courtesy of Pierre Langlois
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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.
Travelling to Cancun?
The Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama recently eliminated a controversial fee that previously required tourists to pay for bringing more than one large electronic device, such as laptops or tablets, through customs. The rule had led to reports of travelers being charged an average of $190 or having their devices confiscated.
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At Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL), you will have an additional option for dropping off your loved ones with the opening of the (West) express drop-off zone located in parking lot P4.
Open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week, this express drop-off will make it easier for you to get around the airport and avoid traffic congestion. Your loved ones will be able to take advantage of a frequent shuttle service, with a 5-minute trip directly to the terminal.
We hear the opening of the (East) drop-off zone located in parking lot P10.
Source: Pionairs Quebec district newsletter
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January 20, 1959 was the date of the maiden flight of the Vickers Vanguard.
The aircraft with the registration G-AOYW flew a short distance from Weybridge to nearby Wisley, Surrey. The Vickers Vanguard was designed as a larger and longer-range successor to the popular Vickers Viscount.
Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) also expressed interest in the new airliner, although with slightly different requirements than those of British European Airways (BEA).
Two types would be built to suit the launch customers' specifications: Type 951 for BEA and Type 952 for TCA, which had higher seating and cargo capacity. BEA ordered 20 in July 1956, and TCA ordered 20 in January 1957.
Trans-Canada Air Lines would place the Vanguard into service in February 1961, beating BEA by a month. Indeed, TCA's Type 952's additional features soon caught the attention of BEA, who approached Vickers to ask for a new variant. This was known as the Type 953, and BEA would change its order with six Type 951s and fourteen Type 953s delivered.
The Vanguard was a commercial failure with only 43 aircraft sold to two original customers -- 23 for TCA and 20 for BEA, plus one prototype. By the time the Vanguard was ready for service few airlines were interested in large 4-engine turboprops with jets like the Boeing 727 and DC-9 soon to be available.
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Issue dated July 2003
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On July 22, 1943 Trans-Canada Air Lines (now Air Canada) launched its very first transatlantic flight, from Montreal to Prestwick, Scotland. The transatlantic service was introduced to assist in the war effort to carry mail to and from the Canadian armed forces in the British Isles.
The service also provided transportation for Canadian government officials and members of the Canadian armed forces.
The first flight on a Lancaster aircraft CF-CMS set a record of 12 hours and 26 minutes, and carried 2,600 pounds of mail and three passengers on government business.
TCA soon realized the potential of extending the overseas service to paying passengers, and by 1946, the company began passenger service from Montreal to London through Prestwick, using four modified Lancaster aircraft with all the amenities to provide safe and comfortable passage.
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Posted by Paul Bulas December 5, 2024 - Interesting numbers regarding the weight and fuel savings.
In 2005, due to high fuel prices, Air Canada tested a bare-metal, American Airlines-style finish on a Boeing 767-200 (C-GDSP), reducing weight by 360 pounds to save $24,000 annually on operational costs. However, the experiment only lasted a few weeks.
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From the Caz Caswell Top Gun Air collection
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Issue dated May 1970
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The Co-Pilot
I'm the co-pilot, I sit on the right,
Its up to me to be quick and bright.
I never talk back lest I have regrets,
I have to remember what the captain forgets.
I make up the flight plan and study the weather,
Pull up the gear and stand by to feather.
Make out the mail forms and do the reporting
And fly the old crate when the captain is courting.
I take the readings and adjust the power,
Put on the heaters when we're in a shower.
I give him his bearings on the darkest of nights
And all the bookwork without any lights.
I call for my captain and buy him a coke
And I always laugh at his corniest jokes
And once in a while when his landings are rusty,
I always come through with "by gawd, but its gusty. "
So all in all, I'm a general stooge
As I sit on the right of the man I call scrooge.
I suppose you think that is past understanding
But maybe some day he will give me a landing.
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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 honour the memories of
Vesta Stevenson and Alan Rust. They remain a part of every edition published. |
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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.
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