Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter
Since 1995 Saturday, October 11, 2025
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Wardair A300 C-GIZN
At Edmonton - January 1987
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 124 new subscribers so far in 2025.
We now have 4526 subscribers.
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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BC Aviation Museum & Hawaii Mars tour
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Vancouver Island District Director, Grant Snider, is pleased to advise that they are hosting v2.1 of the BC Aviation Museum (BCAM) and Hawaii Mars tour. We’ll meet at the museum and will be organized into small groups for the tour.
When: Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Time: 2:00 p.m. in the museum
Where: BC Aviation Museum, 1910 Norseman Road, North Saanich
Cost: No cost if you attended the first event in April and you still have the free pass the museum provided to us then. Bring the pass with you!
$14.00 per person if you did not attend the first event in April or you did attend but no longer have the pass. Payable at the door if you have pre-registered with Cliff Cunningham.
Pre-registration: Send an email to Cliff Cunningham, confirming how many in your party and whether you are using a pass or will be paying the $14 entry fee.
For detailed directions to the museum, including bus travel information from downtown Victoria, go to the BC Aviation Museum website and select the menu tab titled Visit. |
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Submitted by Captain Rick Maki -
Thank you for the entertaining and positive nostalgia!
The letter from the lady who used the wands to marshal in the aircraft ( NetLetter #1566) on her last shift reminded me of something.
I was a Captain on the A320 at a time when 2 of my sons were working on the ramp at Air Canada. They both went on to pilot careers one at WestJet and one at Air Canada (which makes for interesting Thanksgiving dinners!)
On a certain flight departing Calgary I was sitting in the right seat with a Captain in the left seat doing requalification training following a leave. In our conversation I had mentioned that my sons were working on the ramp here in YYC but I didn’t know if they were on duty that day.
Now normally when the lead makes an initial contact to the flight deck he/she would say “Ground to cockpit communications check” and we would confirm that and that the brakes were set.
So in the serenity of us waiting for this check-in we hear in our headsets “Whazzzzzzzzuppp!” The other Captain looks over at me and says; “that’d be the boy then?” We laughed pretty hard at that and some things you don’t forget!
It was always a thrill for me to see them working the ramp and frequently on my flights. I always had tremendous respect for their contribution to a safe and efficient flight especially in winter weather.
I also know that, now that they are both on the other end of the microphone, they, like me, respect their ramp crews efforts!
Cheers Rick Maki
Retired B-777 Captain YYC
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Submitted by Lorne Paterson -
October 1 marked the end of one families direct involvement in two great airlines of Canada; CP and AC in their various iterations.
From the involvement of 'Head of the Family' Art (Chevy) Cooper at the Canadian Pacific run Commonwealth Air Training Plan at the London, Ontario base in 1942 to the retirement of his grandson on October 1 from AC it is an all Cooper-Paterson affair.
Strange as it may seem the CATP was initially run by CP, thus the story starts there. From there it moved on to TCA with, we think, Art being the last surviving member of the Lancastrian maintenance crew.
Art spent 33.5 years with TCA/AC having to coexist with a son in law on the opposite side of the runway. A very peaceful relationship indeed. Forty and a half years later two of us from M&E at CDN were asked to remain after a buyout to sign out the final transfer of the CDN aircraft to AC and then retire.
I believe the two of us 'Turned Out The Lights' of CDN. Strangely, after almost 41 years at CP/CDN we retired as AC employees. We actually did not even complete a full day's service with AC.
Mixed in the middle were 'Art's' daughters Carol Ann, Donna Mae, and Kath. Finally it comes mostly to a close after just under 120 years of service by the retirement after 29.5 years of Kevin Paterson.
I say mostly as Kevin's wife Emily continues the tradition at YVR. Great stories can be told but that is for another time.
To all you hard working and caring AC employees keep up the great work. Outside the airlines nobody appreciates the effort you put in.
Lorne Paterson,
Retired Line Maintenance Manager
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Submitted by Anthony Herben
It was nice to see you place the information in the NetLetter #1566 about Canadian Pacific Airlines’ inaugural flight to Sydney, on July 10, 1949.
I thought you might be interested in the passenger list for that flight. It is interesting to see the people and their diverse backgrounds, who flew on the inaugural flight.
Regards,
Anthony Herben,
Vancouver, British Columbia
Click the image to view larger size.
See CP Air / Canadian People Gallery below for another story on this event.
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A.C.E. Fly-in was an annual event for Air Canada (and Trans-Canada Air Lines, its predecessor) employees and retirees to gather with their aircraft, enjoy airshow activities, and socialize.
'ACE' in this context stands for 'Air Canada Employees'.
Purpose:
To connect Air Canada employees, both active and retired, and their families with aviation in a casual setting.
Activities:
Participants would fly their own aircraft to a designated farm airstrip, where they could enjoy an informal airshow, meet with other aviation enthusiasts, and socialize.
Editors' Note. We found the article below in the August 1988 issue of Horizons magazine on the 10th anniversary of the A.C.E. Fly-in.
Can anyone bring us up to date on the current status of this event?
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Pilots put on A.C.E. performance
The 10th annual A.C.E. Fly-in was recently held at the Burlington, Ontario airfield and attracted more than 1,000 people - employees, retirees, toddlers and aviation buffs of all ages.
By mid-morning dozens of planes in various shapes and sizes had arrived and assembled alongside the runway. Onlookers were free to wander up for a close-up look and the owners were always nearby to answer any questions about their airborne pride and joys.
But the real excitement began in early afternoon, when the airshow got under-way. For two hours viewers were treated to an impressive display of antique and civil aircraft, homebuilt and restored planes. A trio of parachutists opened the show and then several frail-looking micro-lights took to the sky and flitted over the cheering crowd.
Click either image for the full story.
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Found in 'Horizons' magazine
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Issue dated May 1993
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Air Canada takes off to Mecca.
An Air Canada Boeing 747 aircraft and a 30-member team of pilots, in-flight personnel and maintenance supervisors left Toronto in 1993 for an assignment to transport Muslim pilgrims between Medan, Indonesia and Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
The two-and-a half month contract with Garuda Indonesia saw the Air Canada contingent fly 44 round trips - 10 hours each way - until July 4. They will transport some 10,000 Muslims on their religious pilgrimage. The contract will generate $3 to $4 million in revenue for Air Canada.
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St. Lucia makes a move.
During 1993, Air Canada moved its operations into the new wing at Hewanorra International Airport in St. Lucia.
Enjoying their new surroundings are, from left to right: Gregory Jean Baptiste, LIAT Passenger Agent; Denyse Joseph, Customer Service Agent - Port of Spain; Ali Ferdinand, Manager - St. Lucia; Kim Henry, LIAT Reservations Agent and Marva Greenidge, LIAT Reservations Agent.
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Issue dated June 1993
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Power Plant achieves perfection.
A group of proud employees from Dorval's Power Plant Shop achieved 100 per cent serviceability of spares for the JT9D-7. "This was the first time we have attained this level since the introduction of the B-747 in 1971," says Val Jurkovic, Manager, Power Plant Production - Wide Body & Blades.
"It's the result of teamwork between Planning, Engineering, Materials Management, Quality, Support Shops & Production."
Employees shown here are, front row, left to right: Greg Scoffield, Bert Leffei, Anantha Rao, Maurice Webb, Al Clattenburg, Orazio Cianciusi, Steve Firman, Richard Lefebvre and Frank Kantorik.
Back row, left to right: Gerry Fournier, Willy Jone, Jacques Landry, Bob Lenko, Jean-Marc Vandenbrande, Walter Hock, Marian Szczerba, Maurice Dubois, Youssef Shedeed, Manuel Cesar, Lucien Vinersar, René Guérard, Antonio Miguel, Ian Broadley, Ghislain Landy, Sonny Harr and Mario Dellavecchia.
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Issue dated July 1993
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Class of '68 reunites.
The Air Canada Flight Attendant Class of '68 celebrated its 25th anniversary.
The reunion, during 1993, was held in Toronto and was attended by active and past employees. Some of the 45 participants brought back memories by donning the old uniforms worn during the past 25 years.
Modelling their vintage outfits are, from left to right: Gudrun Papesch, Suzanne Palmer, Maria Turner, Lynne Fedyszyn, Jackie Earle, Corrine Lusty, Susan Harris and Lynn McCoy.
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Pionairs elect new executive.
Air Canada's Pionairs elected their new 1993 national executive, which will serve for the next two years.
From left to right: Marv Lohnes, 1st Vice President; Sheila Snow, 2nd Vice President; Wilse Jessee, President; Vera Hoare, Secretary; Bill Nicholson, Treasurer and John Innes. Past President.
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Editors' Note: Special thanks to Bob Lynch for his work to enhance the photos presented.
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CP Air / Canadi>n People Gallery |
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From the "Canadi>n Flyer" magazine.
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Issue dated October 1999
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Excerpts from:
Archie Vanhee: Pacific Pioneer
by Peter Pigott
Click the image below for the full story.
The sheer size of the Pacific Ocean was enough to deter Canadian pilots for almost two decades after the Atlantic had been crossed.
Appropriately, when conquered in 1949 it was by Canadian Pacific Airlines pilots, one of whom was no stranger to navigating trackless wastes.
Achille "Archie” Vanhee was born on September 15, 1909 in Jabbeke, Belgium. In 1925, Archie immigrated to Canada. Settling in the Montreal area, he began studying to become a pilot. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Archie joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was offered a direct commission as Flying Officer and trained at Camp Borden as a flight instructor.
Following the war, Archie was hired by Canadian Pacific Airlines and became one of seven domestic captains selected for overseas training. He was on the team that used CF-CPR (Empress of Vancouver) on the survey flight on May 28,1949, to Fiji, Australia and New Zealand, returning on June 11. This was the first Pacific crossing carried out by a Canadian civil aircraft and perhaps even military.
On July 13, Archie captained Empress 301, the first scheduled overseas flight down under via the Hawaiian Islands, Fiji and Australia. On the return flight, backed by favourable winds, Archie made what is believed to have been the first direct flight between Honolulu and Vancouver, avoiding the usual stop in San Francisco, completing the trip in nine hours and 10 minutes.
The crew of the The Empress of Vancouver are greeted by the Consul-General for Australia prior to departing on the first scheduled flight to Australia on July 13, 1949.
From left to right: Barbara Ayliffe, Stewardess; Captain Archie Vanhee; First Officer Craig Stevenson; Second Officer Bruce Thompson; Navigator Brian Hellings; Radio Officer L. Freeman and Margaret Lineham, Stewardess.
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Images below are from a Canadian Pacific Steamships sailing schedule issued in March 1953, advertising the Comet soon to operate on Canadian Pacific Airlines' route between Vancouver and Australia, initially on the Honolulu-Sydney leg, with DC-6Bs connecting to/from Vancouver.
It would probably have been the first CP timetable to show Comet flights.
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Wardair Airbus A300 lease
While looking through the historic Wardair fleet, I noticed that they had leased 3 Airbus A300s from South African Airways from 1986 to 1989 while waiting for their order of A310s to begin delivery.
Max Ward had lobbied the government for many years for the rights to offer scheduled domestic service. As Mr. Ward explained in ' The Max Ward Story', " be careful what you wish for" as when the rights were finally granted, in 1986, he realized that they needed to acquire additional aircraft quickly. Wardair ordered 12 new A310s from Airbus but delivery was at least a year away.
He entered into a lease agreement with South African Airways (SAA) for 3 A300s and received the aircraft in August 1986.
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C-GIZJ (fin #501) and C-GIZL (fin #502) were returned in March 1989. They last flew for Onur Air of Turkey and have both been scrapped.
C-GIZN (fin #503) was the first to be returned, in August 1987, and is the only one of the three still active. It remained with SAA (photo below - registration ZS-SDG) until October 2000 when it was acquired by MNG Airlines of Turkey and converted to cargo configuration. It is currently in service with Moalem Aviation of Kyrgyzstan.
Editor's Note by Ken Pickford: I am pretty sure they were the only passenger A300s ever registered in Canada. C-GIZN looks like one of the oldest A300s still in service at age 43.
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Frequent NetLetter contributor, Caz Caswell, met all 3 of the aircraft on delivery and supplied the first two photos photos below.
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C-GIZN - 'Herbert Hollick-Kenyon'
on its delivery flight to Wardair
YYZ - August 30, 1986
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The crew that flew the delivery flight.
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ZS-SDG with South African Airways
Paris Orly - May 15, 1994
Photo courtesy of Rémi Dallot
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TC-MND with Ceiba International (operated by MNG Airlines)
Amsterdam - May 27, 2012
Photo courtesy of Christoph Flink
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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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The Last Flight of Viscount CF-THS Air Canada 637
Excerpt from an article by Jim Griffith
Late August 1983 in Winnipeg proved hot and muggy. Stretched out on a lawn chair in my back yard, I studied condensation droplets dribbling down the side of the tankard holding my first ice-cold beer of the day. The phone rang. It was my good friend, Gerry Norberg.
“Jim,” he said, “have you still got a Viscount endorsement on your licence?” “Yes, I do, Gerry. What’s up?” I replied.
Gerry breathlessly explained: “The Western Canada Aviation Museum (now the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada) now owns the former Trans Canada Air Lines hangar at Winnipeg and will use it for the home of their historic aircraft. Their Vickers Viscount, the largest aircraft in the collection, is stored in a former RCAF hangar up at Gimli.”
The Vickers Viscount was a pioneering airliner in western Canada. He continued catching his breath. “The plane was flown up there from Montreal last year but now two of the four engines are time expired and, to make it airworthy for a flight to Winnipeg, they need to swap two engines with Beaver Industries.” “And?” I interrupted.
“They need someone to fly it to Winnipeg,” he blurted out and added, “They don’t have the money to pay anybody.”
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Issue dated January 1999
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By Jake Visser
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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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