Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter
Since 1995 Saturday, March 8, 2025
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Vancouver Canucks Boeing 727-22
C-GVCH at YVR - February 1984 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 65 new subscribers so far in 2025.
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.
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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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Submitted by David Hykle,
I just finished another great issue and had a few comments/questions regarding the B-727, C-FPXD article - NetLetter #1552
Back in the mid 90s I believe PXD was undergoing some type of maintenance check in Air Canada's Winnipeg Overhaul facility and I thought its dark blue paint scheme was that of Echo Bay Mines, yet internet photos all suggest that it was a First Air aircraft.
I'm not sure why I became confused about the two different carriers having done a bit of work on the aircraft while it was in the hangar itself.
Continuing on with the Winnipeg overhaul facility, I seem to recall during that same time period, a B-727-100 series aircraft that was parked outside the hangar awaiting a ferry flight once an extensive inspection had been carried out. It was parked outside the hangar for quite some time with a tractor trailer rig positioned to prevent an unscheduled departure! I think it was an ex-Wardair aircraft.
Do you have any contacts in Winnipeg that would have more accurate details regarding either of these hangar visits? Also, have you done a story yet about the Vancouver Canucks B-727? I found an article that suggested at the time the Canucks were the only NHL team with their own jet. My how times have changed!
Dave,
Fergus, Ontario
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Editors' Note: The only B-727 that flew for Wardair was CF-FUN which we have covered a few times in The NetLetter. See NL #1336 & NL #1370. It left the Wardair fleet in 1973 so it is very doubtful that it was the B-727-100 parked at YWG. Does anyone else remember this aircraft and how and why is was parked for a time?
Regarding the Canucks B-727, aircraft, we are featuring its history in this NetLetter issue. We thank Dave for reminding us of this aircraft.
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Frequent contributor, Caz Caswell, sent in a few photos from his personal collection of Pacific Western Airlines aircraft that we have recently featured -
"The B-727 was taken not long after starting work at Wardair in Edmonton. The two Hercules I had taken in England, prior to emigrating to Canada."
Thanks, Caz
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C-FPXD - Edmonton
July 20, 1978
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CF-PWN - June 20, 1974
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C-FPWR - March 1975
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Remember when!
In 1969, Waikiki accommodation at reduced rates.
All Airline employees and their families are eligible for year-round reduced rates at the Waikikian Hotel in Honolulu.
Special low-season rates from September 1 to January 14 begin at $8.50 single, $11.50 twin, $13.50 triple and $19.50 for a family of four.
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Posted on YouTube by the Flig Avia YouTube channel.
Air Canada says "GOODBYE" to B-737 MAX
In a surprising turn of events, Air Canada has shocked the aviation industry by bidding farewell to its B-737 Max fleet but instead of phasing it out entirely, they transferred all of its Max aircraft to its low-cost subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge. This decision has sparked curiosity and speculation about the airline's strategy.
Why is Air Canada distancing itself from an aircraft that was once Boeing's pride? What risks does this move entail?
Click the image below to view the full video.
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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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Found in 'Horizons' magazine
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Issue dated January 1985
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When Alex Sinclair, Aircraft Cleaner, Toronto, retired in 1984, fellow employees who had come to know him over the years gathered to say goodbye and wish him well.
In the photo, Alex, centre, is shown with, from the left: Lynne Cox, Bill Vanniewenhuizen, Peter Zarycky, Terry Hannon, Gus Molinaro, Dick Smith, Fiore Palumbo, Jim Davenport, Terry Constandinidist, Bruno Dichiara, Bill Lavers, Ron Dickson, Larry Romanica, John MacGillivary, Joe Vanderra, Larry Flowers, Ray Backwell, Harold Thompson, Bob Squirrell, Adolfo Pinlac, Bob McGregor, Tom Houstin, Mike Baker, Pete Schoonhaven and George Marshall.
Editor's Note by Bob Sheppard:
I remember working with Alex and he had a locker beside mine. He had a penchant for collecting newspapers and his locker was full of them. He would take them home when it got too full. I asked him why, and he replied, I just like them and in fact I have a room at home that is full, going back many years.
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Bombay hosts reception.
In early 1985 some 150 guests including travel agents, airline staff and commercial business travellers attended a reception at the Ambassador Hotel in Bombay.
Ambassador Flight Kitchens, which handle Air Canada's catering requirements in Bombay, prepared a sumptuous spread of First, Executive and Hospitality class meals.
Shown admiring the impressive food display are, from the left: Sheila Fernandes, Customer Service Officer, Jack Parmar, Sales Manager, Bombay; Mrs. Parmar and Peter Broad, Manager, Indian sub-continent.
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Roger Linder, former Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Service, was the guest of honour at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the New York sales office.
He is shown, centre, assisted by Customer Service Agents Joan Fink, left, and Laurie Cassaro.
Looking on, from the left: are: Jennifer Miller, Customer Service Agent; Pat Conlan, Reservations Service Supervisor; Kathy Baltz, Manager, U.S. Reservations Sales Office; Diane Jennings, Customer Service Agent; Guy Chiasson, former Vice President, U.S. and Southern Region and Michael De Wilde, General Manager, Northeast U.S.
Peeking from behind are several customer service agents.
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Issue dated February 1985
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Oslo highlights expansion.
The Oslo Travel Show provided Air Canada staff with an opportunity to promote the airline's service to Bombay and Singapore, with excellent connections through London.
Shown, from the left, are: Guenter Veeser, Sales Manager, Norway and Sales Agents Britt Vinje, Brit Odegard and Synnove Fernholt Nordahl.
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Valentine's day 1985 marked the second anniversary of the entry into regular scheduled service of Air Canada's Boeing 767.
It was on February 14, 1983, that aircraft fin number 601 operated the Toronto - Calgary and Calgary - Toronto - Montreal routes.
The aircraft had been flying on a ghost schedule on the Montreal - Toronto Rapidair service since November 1982 for familiarization purposes. In its first two years, the B-767 has become firmly entrenched as the work horse on medium to long haul North American routes. As of May 1985, it launched another era in company history as one of the first twin engine commercial jets to operate over the North Atlantic.
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Issue dated August 1985
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Haiti cargo service.
Air Canada Cargo concluded an agreement with Air Haiti to wet lease a DC-8-73 to operate between New York and Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Some of the people associated with the service which operated twice weekly are shown in this photo taken at JFK.
From the left, are: George Hoban, General Sales Agent; Brian Ganley, Cargo Supervisor; Tom Kelley and Pete Newell, Cargo Agents; Jason Troncale, Cargo Sales & Service Manager; Francis Myrtil, Air Haiti; Hank Fleming, Lead Cargo Agent and Gerry Brown, General Sales Agent.
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CP Air / Canadi>n People Gallery |
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Issue dated January 1970
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The eighth wonder of the world.
 During November 1969, PWA operated a round-the-world flight on behalf of the Alberta Motor Association.
When you visit a place and enjoy your visit you likely pick up a little souvenir to show the folks back home and to remind you of your visit. After 14 days of their 30-day jaunt around the world, the 152 Canadians (30 from Central Alberta) had accumulated one ton of extras.
The Flight Crew were: Captain Art Bell, First Officer Alex McTavish, Engineer Moe Sangster, Navigator Cliff Beck, Purser Gil Tsui, Purser Ole Damsgaard, Flight Attendants Isle Buffi, Corry Van Vliet and Dianne Paradee.
Visiting Honolulu, Pago Pago, Auckland, an 8-day stop over in Sydney, Hong Kong via Darwin, Singapore, Bangkok, New Delhi, Ankara, Athens, Madrid and London, then back to Canada.
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Issue dated March 1970
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Class of PWA Reservations personnel who have completed training.
Front row left to right: Lynda MacDonald, Barbara Rogers, Janice Clark and Marilyn Hallinan.
Back row left to right: Dhorea Allisen, Diane Corrie, Pat Furlong, Roger Wilkes, Francis Haar and Bebe Helgason.
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A view of the Peace River passenger terminal circa 1970
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Late summer, 1940 -
Directors of Moose Jaw-based Prairie Airways began discussing an offer from Canadian Pacific Airlines to purchase their firm. This was approved.
Prairie's GM, Dick Ryan, joined CPA’s staff as manager of its Saskatchewan region, but soon was loaned to the management staff of No. 3 Air Observer School (AOS) in Regina.
Summer, 1944 -
The two ex-Prairie Airways Beech 18s operated by Canadian Pacific on its north-south Saskatchewan route (which connected with the east-west Trans-Canada Air Lines route at Regina) were sold to Venezuela’s TACA airline.
Astonishingly, both are still intact and preserved. These aircraft were CF-BKN and CF-BKO (photo below).
CF-BKN is in the Pima County Air Museum at Tucson, Arizona. Its last owner, M.W. Sweeley, donated the '18 on July 30, 1980.
It carried American registration N55681 and had 6,000 hours in the air, logged between 1938 and 1980.
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CF-BKO - Beechcraft Heritage Museum - Tullahoma, Tennessee
October 6, 2007
Photo courtesy of Roger Syratt
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From the Alex Praglowski Aviation YouTube channel
Rare B-747-200 Still Flying! Rolls-Royce 747 Testbed Takeoff from Tucson.
This B-747 is a Flying Test Bed for Rolls-Royce, and is powered by three RB211s and one Trent 1000. It was headed up to Fairbanks, Alaska, apparently to do some cold weather testing with sustainable aviation fuel.
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Island Express Air was a small Canadian airline based in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Its first flight was on August 7, 2009, as part of the Abbotsford International Airshow.
It operated scheduled air service between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, as well as charter flights and cargo service. On February 23, 2018, Transport Canada suspended Island Express' air operator's certificate (AOC). The operating certificate was reinstated on June 26, 2018.
The company slogan was “Your Island Connection”. In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Island Express Air ceased operations and sold its assets to a group of investors.
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C-GMDL - PA-31 Island Express Air
August 12, 2013
Photo by Bill Kingsland
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Trans Canada Airways: A Look Back at 1939
Editors' Note: The following article incorrectly identifies Trans-Canada Air Lines as 'Trans Canada Airways'. We chose publish this excerpt from article in its original form. The full article is available from the links.
March 20, 2013 by Tom in Transportation.
I went searching through old newspaper archives online, looking for something quite different than what I found. I wanted to find travel ads from the 1960s or 1970s to see how far the industry has come.
What I found was a pretty cool advertisement in the Winnipeg Tribune from November 1, 1939 that was sort of indirectly related to travel. The Tribune is a defunct paper from the Manitoba capital that has just 1939 to 1945 online.
What’s even more amazing is the power of the internet. This picture literally tells a story of history that could easily approach the 1,000 words each picture is said to be worth. Simply by plugging in the registration number on the airplane in the advertisement, with Google and the rest of the internet, there is so much information to be found.
First off, Trans-Canada Airways (actually Trans-Canada Air Lines, aka TCA) had it’s first flight on September 1, 1937 from Vancouver, British Columbia to Seattle, Washington. The airline was the first national carrier in Canada and the Canadian National Railway was the major backer. TCA was the precursor to the modern day Air Canada with the name officially changing in 1965. 
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Vancouver Canucks B-727
In our 'Subscriber Feedback' section, David Hykle mentions a B-727 briefly owned by the Vancouver Canucks Hockey Club. Its Canadian registration was 'C-GVCH' (Vancouver Canucks Hockey?).
Boeing serial #18853, line #189 was originally delivered to United Airlines in October 1965 under registration N7046U. Rzjets.net shows the aircraft was acquired by Allegheny Airlines (later USAir) in October 1978.
It was bought by Vancouver Canucks Enterprises in October 1983 and remained with the team until March 1985 when it was acquired by Avensa of Venezuela. It was withdrawn from service in March 1993 and broken up.
The Canucks also used an Orca Bay Boeing 727-200 in the mid-1990s. By the mid 2000s, the Canucks contracted an A319 in the Air Canada Jetz fleet. I remember it quite well because it frequently overnighted in YVR during hockey season.
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N7046N at New York - LaGuardia
August 1989
Photo courtesy of Paul Seymour
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C-GVCH still in USAir colours
Vancouver 1983
With CP Air B-747-200 C-FCRE, Fin # 744, on right
Photo courtesy of Gary Vincent
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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.
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Issues dated January and May 1968
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Old airplanes never die — they don't even fade away!
Employees Restore Vintage Lockheed
as Colourful Career ends with Honours.
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Excerpt from Between Ourselves
Manufactured in 1937, this Lockheed L-10A Electra was the first new aircraft purchased by Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA).
Transferred to the RCAF in 1939, it was then used as a transport plane for six years, with a brief interruption in 1941 when it was loaned back to TCA for six months.
From 1946 to 1962 it was owned by a number of individuals and companies, both in Canada and the United States.
The much travelled and colourful veteran returned to Air Canada last month before retiring finally to a place of honour among memorabilia of Canadian aviation. The company's first new aircraft, CF-TCA, the silver Lockheed that since followed Amelia Earhart into aviation history, has made its next-to-last flight.
Now at the Dorval Base for refurbishing, from there it will be presented to the National Museum of Science and Technology for permanent display at the Aviation Museum at Ottawa's Uplands airport.
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A milestone in aviation history is back in the public eye for the first time: Lufthansa Technik has completed the extensive assembly of a Lockheed L-1649A.
This aircraft type was the flagship of the Lufthansa fleet at the end of the 1950s under the name Super Star. On Friday, January 17, the fully restored long-haul aircraft was rolled out of the hangar on its own landing gear for the first time in Hamburg - a moment that not only thrilled aviation enthusiasts.
See also:
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Our cartoon by Caz Caswell is from the
Top Gun Air collection of January 1993
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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.
We do publish corrections (and correct the original article) when this is brought to our attention.
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