Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter
Since 1995 Saturday, April 12, 2025
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Worldways Canada B-727 C-GWGT
Winnipeg 1991
Photo courtesy of Robert W. Arnold |
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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 79 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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 Hawaii Mars tour and lunch |
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We are very pleased to advise you that Cliff Cunningham, who is also a volunteer at the BC Aviation Museum in North Saanich, has arranged for a Pionairs event at the BC Aviation Museum.
The afternoon will include a tour of the Hawaii Mars and lunch.
When: Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Time: Lunch buffet begins at noon, and the tour follows after lunch
Where: BC Aviation Museum, 1910 Norseman Road, North Saanich
Cost: $25 per person (Pionairs members)
Because the lunch is being prepared by an independent outside caterer, pre-registration and pre-payment is required by end of day on April 15, 2025:
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 ACRA ( Air Canada Recreation Association, Montreal YUL) System Bowling 2025
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Wyndham Grand Fallsview Hotel
6455 Fallsview Boulevard
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I am working on some charcuterie boards for the museum. We will be hosting tour groups from cruise ships this summer.
I need a really good resolution picture of a Trans-Canada Air Lines Viscount, preferably in-flight to be mounted in one of the boards. The others will have the Mars, the Lancaster and the Norseman.
Would it be possible to put a request in the next NetLetter asking if anyone can help. It could be from a timetable, poster or other advertising of the day that could be photographed. It needs to be very clear.
Thanks
Cliff
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Submitted by Robert Arnold,
Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
Greetings all.
I’m a long time reader of The NetLetter. This is regarding the mystery B-727 that was parked at the Air Canada maintenance facility in Winnipeg during the mid 90’s.
Included below is a photo I took of the Worldways Canada Boeing 727, C-GWGT which was later registered as N357NE; not sure of the airline it went to. I took the photo of C-GWGT in late October 1990.
Sorry for the rather odd angle, as there was a rather large trailer parked in front of the aircraft (as described by David Hykle in NetLetter #1553), however after reading your article, now I know why. Does anyone know what airline it went to or who became the new owner? I would certainly like to update my files on this aircraft if possible.
Editors' Note: See Wayne's Wings for more info on the lifecycle of this aircraft.
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Submitted by Larry Gordon -
Re: Issue #1554 - Wayne's Wings story regarding the history of Canso CF-CRR (RCAF 9767).
I read this article with much interest as my Dad, Ralph Gordon DSO, DFC, CD (2017-2005), was a pilot with 162 Squadron based in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1943.
A quick check of his logbook revealed that he had flown this particular aircraft 4 times on operational sorties over the Atlantic. He was posted overseas for the remainder of the war in December, 1943 - just before the Squadron was transferred to Iceland.
However, prior to his departure, he had logged several flights with F/O T. Cooke - who was in command of this aircraft when it successfully attacked and sunk U-342 in April, 1944.
Larry Gordon
Halifax
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Submitted by Eric Lunan -
Thanks for the fascinating article about Lethbridge and the Canadian Airways ( NetLetter #1554) - I really enjoyed reading this!
I have a personal tidbit that others may find interesting. My father, Allan Lunan, had joined TCA in Winnipeg at the end of the summer in 1938 as a radio mechanic. Not long after that, he was assigned to the ghost service between Winnipeg and Montreal (St-Hubert). They stopped in all the intermediate airports to verify that the beacons and radios were all working well, as well as checking out other aspects of the run.
In 1987 he had flown to Timmins, Ontario and where I picked him up for a visit with me in Iroquois Falls. On our way we drove through Porquis Junction. He said that he had already been here, nearly 50 years ago - on one of the ghost flights!
So a quick trip to the local airport was in order. It has been maintained by a local group for general aviation, gliders and the occasional charter flight for the nearby paper mill. He remembered the blueberries along the runway - and they were still there! It was fun reminiscing about those flights!
Later he was transferred to St-Hubert, and then Dorval during the war, where he stayed until his retirement.
Eric Lunan
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With reference to the request for information regarding the B-747 dance floor in NetLetter #1554 by Aron Charad -
Josefina Vergara remembers dancing in the skies -
Yes, I flew for the first time 1st class from YUL to LHR in 1973 and I remember dancing with some crew members, however, it was converted to 'J' class seats when I worked as a flight attendant in the 80’s.
Doug Olson sends this memory -
I never saw it on a flight, but I did see it in the hangar during lunch break one midnight shift.
Joe Richard recalls this -
I was on one in 1977 but it wasn't this fancy. There was a bar upstairs from what I can recall.
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Our friend, Larry Milberry, has sent in a group of lists of available aviation related titles at the CANAV Books Blog
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Submitted by Clarence Ash -
I covered Kelowna Airport (YLW) (photo below) as a relief Passenger Agent in 1960 when Canadian Pacific Airlines was then operating out of this small terminal with one 40 pax Convair per day - one going east to Castlegar (YCG), Cranbrook (YXC) and Calgary (YYC) and one going west to Vancouver 7 days per week.
I was based in Kamloops and relieved the agents at both bases, driving between the two as the only flights were via YVR which required an overnight.
Flights from Vancouver (YVR) through Kamloops (YKA) (photo below) were 24 pax DC-3's. Flight engineer was based in YKA and joined the afternoon northbound flights to Williams Lake (YWL), Quesnel (YQZ), Prince George (YXS) (overnight), same stops southbound with engineer getting off in YKA and the flight continuing to YVR - these flights operated 6 days a week.
Clarence Ash, Richmond, British Columbia
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Posted January 17, 2023 by ACYYZ58
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The DC-9's time has passed,
Retired from the fleet at last.
After thirty-five years of service true,
It's time to bid this plane adieu.
In the jet age it took flight,
A workhorse of the short-haul market bright.
With low operating costs and frequent flights,
It brought the jet age to new heights.
The DC-9-14's seating small,
But its range was limited, that's all.
The DC-9-32 came next in line,
With more seats and a high-lift design.
This plane proved quite popular, it's said,
Airlines appreciated its performance and its economic spread.
Manually flown, with no computers in sight,
Captain Martin Herron flew it with all his might.
Now it's time for the DC-9 to rest,
But its legacy will stand the test.
A faithful servant it has been,
We'll miss it, but its time has now been.
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November 1, 2024 - Air Canada unveils special Vince Carter livery celebrating the Hall of Famer's career as Toronto Raptors retire Carter's Number 15 jersey.
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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 October 1986
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Cricket season ends on high note
The Air Canada Everest Cricket Club team arrived in England oblivious of the rigors ahead.
Warmly welcoming the Montreal group was Harry Edwards, President of the hosting London Cargo Cricket Club. Terry Welch had the task of tour guide, not an easy one in view of the questions he fielded from the many first time visitors to London.
Getting down to business, Everest faced a powerful British Airways' team. “We were easy victims, losing by 108 runs,” said Hinsley Cambridge, Everest President. Oh well, there is always tomorrow.
The next day dawned bright and sunny for the contest between LHR and Everest for the coveted ‘Everest Cup' which is symbolic of cricket competition among Air Canada sponsored teams.
Everest amassed a formidable total of 194 runs for the loss of eight wickets at the end of regulation time. LHR's courage in facing an uphill task was not sufficient to beat the Everest team with its superb bowling by C. Kyte.
In the photo below, the Everest team is shown following its victory as Everest Cup champions.
Front row, from the left: C.Kyte, J. Budhoo, Hinsley Cambridge and David Solomon.
Standing, from the left: K. Ross, Maximum Richards, K. Dennis (club treasurer), Shamboo Sharma, C. Gullin (V. P.), C. Eastman and J. Ireland (secretary).
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The LHR Cargo team is shown after the Everest Cup game. Front row, from the left, are: C. Turner, G. Aitken, M. Hopkins, M. Hawkins and T. Welch.
Standing, from the left, are: S. O'Farrel, G. Smith, T. Bell, S. Woods and J. Oakley.
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For Montreal, following its triumphant London visit, the Everest machine continued its winning streak. To the finals of the Quebec Cricket Federation Frontenac Cup, symbolic of knockout competition in a league comprising 14 teams.
Meeting on Montreal's Douglas Hospital grounds were the heavily favored Grenada Cricket Club which had lost only one game during a 14-game season and the mighty Montreal Everest team for whom the pundits predicted annihilation.
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Issue dated March 1987
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The Pionairs District Directors, together with the executive, met in Vancouver to discuss, among other things, arrangements for the Annual General Meeting in Anaheim, May 1987.
Shown during the meeting are, seated from the left: Blake Austin, Second Vice President; Gene Brown, Secretary; Frank Dunlop, President; Dorothy Grant who assisted with secretarial work; Martin Betts, Pension Committee Rep and Tony Nuttal, London, Ontario.
Standing, from the left, are: Doug Armitage, Vancouver; Jack Somerset, First Vice President; George Daman, Montreal; Ray White, Treasurer; Bob Hough, Retired Assistance Committee Rep; Mary Young, Ottawa; Mike Lewicki, Winnipeg; Tony Bruneau, Halifax; Gerry Chaffey, Edmonton; Nancy Walchuk, Immediate Past President; John Innes, Victoria; Kay Napolitano, Toronto and Ken Morrison, Calgary.
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Paris Staff in 1987
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 Passenger Agents Danielle Barranco, left, and Danielle Donot process Delta reservations. |
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 Things are always humming at the airport Operations office. At work are Station Coordinators Noël Beckwith, left, and Jean-Claude Burel. |
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 Working at the airport ticket counter, from the left are: Lead Passenger Agent Annie Beckwith, Passenger Agent Caroline Tal and Lead Passenger Agent Geneviève Brigoud. |
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 Accounting Clerk Josiane Girard is proud of the latest acquisition in her section - a terminal makes life easier. |
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 At the stores department, Jackie Leroy handles the cargo chores. |
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Part of the Paris sales team, from the left: Jacques Gras, Manager - Western Switzerland handles marketing for new products; Jean Rousse, Sales Manager - Northern France & North Africa; Christiane Galland. Sales Agent; Christian Lautrey, Sales Representative and seated, Michel Plazanet, Customer Relations Representative.
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CP Air / Canadi>n People Gallery |
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Issue dated October 1969
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Service to Orient marks 20th Birthday
CP Air marked 20 years of service to the Orient on September 19, 1969 when flight 401 departed Vancouver for Tokyo and Hong Kong.
For the anniversary flight, Captain Lee piloted the DC-8-63 Spacemaster Empress of Honolulu, on the historic flight.
The first Canada-Orient flight, with a Canadair Four aircraft traveled the 6,670 miles to Tokyo and Hong Kong in 30 hours via Anchorage and Shemya. In 1969 the same flight takes 14 hours with no stops between Vancouver and Tokyo.
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Attend service course
Twenty-two CPA people from South America and the Orient were in Vancouver in two groups this month to study the latest customer service policies and methods. The group pictured were at headquarters the week of July 12.
From the left (descending), they were: Luis Moran, Armando Del Callejo, Fidel Valdez Garcia and Miss Leonor Rames, all Mexico City; Edward Chu, Hong Kong; Tomio Suzuki and Yukie Isomoto, Tokyo; Miss Elida Barbieri, Buenos Aires; Miss Mariana Yichmann, Santiago and Miss Norma Beltran, Lima.
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The following attended the course during the week of July 26, 1969.
Juan Lopez, Anastasio Escalona, Fernando Sustaita, Luis Baragan, all Mexico City; Kenny Wong, Hong Kong; Toshiharu Togo, Mrs. Yoshiko Huhara, Hirosha Edagawa and F. J. Metzger, all Tokyo; S. L. Rush, Buenos Aires; Monica Sieveps, Santiago and Daniel Archimbaud, Lima (no photo available).
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Stewardess Kay Simons is not the only one who can fly. Here with a porpoise in Queensland, Australia, Miss Simons was competing in the Miss International Air Hostess Contest in which she was runner-up.
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Issue dated May 1998
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 Our Sales force in London, U.K. in 1998 were creating wins one step at a time.
The team includes (from top): Shilla Gill, Gary Kershaw, Lucy Moore, Denise Mihell, Maggie Coombe, Tony Powles, Nicky Edmunds, Jenny Ruler, Kim Lord and Gary Cross.
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Maintaining our aircraft at LHR are Daniel Hetherington and Tim McSharry.
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Rare DC-8 in Calgary! Samaritan's Purse Douglas DC-8-72 at YYC
Alex Praglowski posted this video of the 56-year old aircraft that looks like new with a clean paint job.
The DC-8, line #427, was originally delivered to Finnair as a DC-8-62CF (passenger/cargo convertible) in January 1969 as registration OH-LFR. It was acquired by Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) in November 1981 and registered as F-RAFG, it was converted to cargo configuration and re-engined during this time, becoming a DC-8-72CF.
It was acquired by U.S.-based Air Transport International in June 2005 and registered N721CX until June 2015 when it was re-registered N782SP after being acquired by Samaritan's Purse, a North Carolina-based evangelical Christian humanitarian aid organization.
The DC-8 is reportedly being retired later this year and replaced with a Boeing 767.
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First Air.
The airline was founded at Ottawa by Canadian aviation pioneer Russell (Russ) Bradley and started operations as Bradley Flying School in 1946, changing the name in 1950 to Bradley Air Services, concurrent with a move to Carp Airport, and is still registered under that name.
First Air started scheduled operations in 1973, between Ottawa and North Bay. This service was operated with an eight-seat passenger plane.
In 1995, First Air acquired Ptarmigan Airways, and in 1997 Northwest Territorial Airways (also known as NWT Air), both merged into First Air.
In 2016, First Air/Bradley Air Services became the oldest airline in Canada still operating under its original name.
On November 1, 2019 Canadian North and First Air merged. The merged airline uses the new First Air livery, but operates under the name Canadian North.
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C-FTIL ATR 42-500
Canadian North-First Air livery
at Cambridge Bay Airport
Photo by: CambridgeBayWeather
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Worldways Canada Boeing 727 - C-GWGT
It's always fun to look into the lifecycle of an aircraft, especially if there is a bit of a challenge and some reader participation involved. In NetLetter #1553, David Hykle mentioned a B-727 that was parked outside the Air Canada Winnipeg hangar for a time in the 1990s.
Dave thought that it may have been an ex-Wardair aircraft but we were quite sure that was not the case. We asked our readers for some help in identifying this particular aircraft.
Alan Mulholland responded in NetLetter #1554, advising us that it was actually a Worldways aircraft but did not recall the registration or fin number. Air Canada had completed a 'D' check on the aircraft around the time that Worldways ceased operations and the aircraft was being held by Air Canada.
As mentioned in our 'Subscriber Feedback' section above, Robert Arnold not only identified the aircraft (C-GWGT) but supplied a photo taken at the time it was impounded at YWG.
Digging into its history, I found that it was built in 1967 (line #398) and delivered to TAP Air Portugal. It saw service with TAP's charter subsidiary, Air Atlantis, until returned to the mainline fleet in 1987.
It was acquired by Worldways in 1989 and appears to have remained there until impounded in 1991. In 1993, it was acquired by Express One, converted to a freighter, and operated by Roadway Global Air ( Click Here for photo). It appears to have briefly returned to Canada under registration C-FACW and operated by 'All Canada Express' of Mississauga, Ontario during 1998.
It was deregistered in August 2001 and unconfirmed to be stored at Lockbourne Army Airfield at Columbus, Ohio.
References:
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Photo by Pedro Aragão
Faro, Portugal - 1986
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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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 Interline Travel by Dynamic Travel and Cruises
New Interline Offers from Disney, Windstar and Virgin Voyages. Plus Alsace Christmas Market Tour, Shopping Tour to France plus Tour to Spain and La
Tomatino!!
You can book on our website or by calling us at 800 766-2911—no Booking Fees Either Way!!
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St. John’s International (YYT) Crowned Best Small Airport in North America
Recognized as the best airport with under 2 million passengers in North America. The award for airport service quality is judged by Airports Council International.
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Our cartoon appeared in Horizons magazine issue May 1990
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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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