|
Vesta's Corner
 Why not allow the NetLetter to be your platform and opportunity to relive your history while working for either TCA, AC, CPAir, CAIL, PWA, AirBC etal?
Share your experiences with us! ROSSY'S DONE IT -- FUSIONMAN WINGS ACROSS THE CHANNEL  Following two weather delays, Yves Rossy, 49, Friday successfully flew across the English Channel from France to England strapped to a set of eight-foot, 120-pound carbon fiber wings on his back, powered by four kerosene-burning micro turbines carefully mounted beneath it. The flight from Calais to Dover followed the route traced by Louis Bleriot, who in 1909 won the honor of first person to cross the Channel in an aircraft - a trip that took 37 minutes. Rossy's flight began at 8,000 feet upon departure from a Pilatus jump aircraft and covered the 22 miles in 9 minutes, 32 seconds, at speeds near 120 mph, according to The Guardian. Rossy had the benefit of a tailwind on his trek and so met Dover early with a bit of exuberant aerobatics.That was followed by parachute deployment and an otherwise harmless "face-in-the-dirt landing." Next in line for the adventurer are plans to fly over the Grand Canyon, take off from a standing position, and expand his cache of aerobatics. |
|
Air Canada - our first 70 years
1996
|
|
TCA/AC People Gallery
Over the past months we have been publishing various photographs from earlier "Horizons", should any photos prompt a memory in seeing one of them, feel free to send us your comments and thoughts.
 Prestwick Close golf tourney reunion in the spring 1996A few more pictures sent in by Andre Tison -  This is Super Constellation CF-TEU at Orly, Paris France in 1959. and here we have a copy of the Captain J.Burton's in-flight bulletin to his passengers while enroute to YUL on July 30th 1952. while over flying Sherbrooke PQ.The stewardess was Miss J.Kinna RN. Final chapter of the continuing story from Gordon Gilmour AITCHISON - Alias Mr Smith - Our flight from Halifax duly arrived and parked ahead of the executive jet and Mr.Smith and another gentleman walked across the ramp from one aircraft to another. However, Mr.Smith turned out to be not at all what had been expected. He was a reasonably tall. well-built. be-spectacled, coloured gentleman of very obviously African origin, resplendent in a military uniform befitting at least the rank of general, complete with red cap band such as is worn by British staff officers. He was accompanied by another coloured gentleman dressed in civilian clothes who carried an attaché case and some little hand baggage. They boarded the executive jet, and as soon as their checked baggage arrived from the Air Canada flight, the door was shut, the engines were started and off it went. Speculation as to what we had been witnessing was rife. To begin with, the booking of the executive jet had been left until the very last minute and the aircraft was chartered from a Company in Switzerland, a country which has always been traditionally neutral and well known for respecting confidentiality. Secondly, Mr Smith had left from Halifax, probably the quietest international airport in Canada and although our flight was proceeding through to London, his choice of deplanement and transfer was Prestwick, hardly the busiest airport in the UK. By requesting a ramp transfer from one aircraft to another at Prestwick, he had ensured that he was not landed in the UK and therefore no Immigration or CID record of his presence in the UK existed. The fact that his destination was unknown, even to the executive jet crew until he arrived in this country was, to say the least, unusual. Undoubtedly, his destination was somewhere in Africa. a continent where many states have been the subject of coups, banished exiles and consequent intrigue during the previous 30 years. If any man was setting out to cloak his movements in secrecy, our Mr. Smith was doing just that. We never discovered who he was, but we did find it very hard to believe that his name was Smith! My regards to the readers - Gordon Gilmour AITCHISON . (Jim McCall of AC Cargo PIK wishes to set the record straight. Part one of the story about Alias Mr Smith should have been attributed to his father-in-law Gordon Gilmour AITCHISON. - eds) |
|
Bytes and Pieces
 They say that any landing that you can walk away from is a good one. Take a look at the video below and you will see that they just squeaked by in the "walking away" part.  Just click on the image to view the video or click on this link. |
|
Canadi>n/CPAir/PWA, Wardair, etc. Events & People
From the "CanadianFlyer" Issue dated August 2000  Andrew Geider, Corporate Archivist has this "Our history" of the Lockheed L-100 Hercules. and here is a photo of Andrew Geider.David Welham has sent us a couple of "Esprit" in house magazines which succeeded the short lived "CPAir News" Musings from the Oct/Dec 1986 issue To assist with the new 1987 summer schedule, (3) DC-10-30 on lease to United Airlines will be returned to spur premium service in exchange for the DC-10-10, it obtained in the lease/swap arrangement in 1983.  The first visit to Rome in the new colours, this photo of a DC-10.Sept 25th Announcement that service between Toronto, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to commence May 2nd 1987 with DC-10 equipment. In a previous NetLetter we had an article on families working in the airline  this photo is of the Randall family. At EXPO86, CPAL had a DC-10 perform a fly-past. Senior Management had a strategy meeting in Kelowna. |
|
Readers Feedback
 Don Palmer sends us this follow up on the "Bermuda Sky Queen" storyI imagine everyone interested in the Bermuda Sky Queen (formerly the Capetown Clipper when owned by Pan Am) has surfed the net, yourself included. In case you didn't come up with these websites, I found them very interesting. You will note in the address of the first one, rbogash ~ Bob Bogash, retired from Boeing and now heavily into vintage aircraft restoration at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. One of his projects is the restoration of TCA/AC Super Connie CF-TGE which you have previously posted. His most ambitious project seems to be the recovery of the Honolulu Clipper located 650 miles east of Oahu in 17,000 feet of water (also an unintended landing at sea). At the bottom is Bob's bio Cheers Don www.rbogash.com/NC18612%20Accident%20Report.html www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,854795,00.html www.rbogash.com/bio4.html Jack Stevens has sent us this information - It is interesting, that Viscount CF-THI fin 627 c/n 270 which is in a new hangar at the Can. Av. Museum in Ottawa, is awaiting the required ventilation system being installed. Until then there she sits, yearning for restoration. At least she is inside after corroding outside for some 37 years!  Here is a photo by Jim Parsons, contributor to www.vickersviscount.net |
|
Terry's Travel Tips
 Caesar Hotels Airrways VacationsUK B&B Package from $585 * 6 Nights The British invented Bed & Breakfast. The idea of welcoming travelers into their own homes and providing a warm bed and a hearty breakfast. The famous English breakfast is legendary, consisting of bacon, eggs, sausage, tomatoes, as well as cereals, fruit juice, toast, coffee or a "nice cup of tea." Our UK B&B's are the best way to see Britain. Your hosts will welcome you in their homes as a friend of the family, with a warm, enthusiastic greeting. Their generosity and sincerity will exceed your expectations and they will be happy to give you tips and information on their area. We advise you to take their advice. this is one of the big advantages of B&B's in that, in addition to the friendly welcome, you benefit from the local knowledge of your hosts. Naturally, they can advise on local attractions, restaurants, or where to find the finest hand made shirts. You'll enjoy all the advantages of our Open Voucher System, the most economical and practical way to tour the UK. (Especially this year). Our package includes 6 nights open voucher Discover B&B's, weekly Alamo car rental, full English breakfast daily. UK B&B Package Departure 2008/2009 Departure Date Land Only NYC/BOS/WAS CHI/HOU/DTW ATL/PHL/MCO LAX/SFO/DEN April $499 $919 $1019 $1129 $1178 May $499 $919 $1019 $1229 $1189 June $499 $1189 $1349 $1499 $1424 July-August $499 $1309 $1449 $1499 $1509 Rates are per person based on double occupancy. Dublin B&B supplement of 7.50 euro per room per night, applies from June August and is payable direct. Air inclusive rates include lowest airfare at time of print. Automatic car upgrade available. Supplement for Dublin arrivals. Call 1 800 422 3727 today! Check the web site for many more offers - www.caesarhotels.com/destinations/ireland.htm Caesar Hotels Airway Vacations, 11864 Adie Road, Maryland Heights, MO 63043. |
|
Smilies
 Don Palmer supplies this story -An American couple are waiting for their baggage at an airport somewhere in the US when they see an oddly dressed man waiting some distance away. Woman says to her husband, "I wonder where that man is from." Husband says, "I don't know but I'll go over and ask.". He approaches the man and says, "Excuse me, sir, but where are you from?" "Saskatoon, Saskatchewan." The man returns to his wife with a puzzled look on his face. "Where is he from?", asks the wife." "I don't know. He doesn't speak English." |