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Vesta's Corner
From my postcard collection The enchanted Caribbean..  Hi Vesta . I used to fly and layover in BGI in the 50's Not too much has changed.Note: for our new readers, I have been collecting postcards from our travelling NetLetter "family" for many years. If you are away and have a minute, I'd be delighted to get one from you as well. You can obtain my address by sending an email to |
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Star Alliance News
 A380 to make March 18 debut at Heathrow - The A380 will make its revenue debut in Europe on March 18 when it completes Singapore Airlines Flight 308 from Changi to London Heathrow.SIA plans to take delivery of its third A380 in mid-March and put it into service soon thereafter. Its second arrived three weeks ago. "The arrival of the first commercial A380 flight to London will be a proud moment not only for Singapore Airlines but also for British aviation, with the magnificent wings of the aircraft made in Broughton and Filton and the [aircraft] powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines," SIA GM-UK and Ireland Marvin Tan said. The aircraft will return to Singapore the same day as SQ319. The route then will be operated daily as SQ322 to LHR and SQ317 to SIN. Seats for the route, including the inaugural flight, are on sale. |
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Air Canada - our first 70 years
1964 - Jan 11 - Winnipeg's new terminal facilities officially opened for business. 1996 - May 1 - Scheduled passenger service at Edmonton Municipal Airport ceased. From John Rogers John came across some postcards of early TCA scenes, and sends us these -  Dorval in the '40's  Winnipeg Hanger in the '40's  Air Canada pavilion at Expo 67  Interior shot of terminal at Dorval. This postcard shows Malton Airport. It was sent to Mr and Mrs Ross Smyth you probably know Ross from his book writings. It is dated July 22 1949 has a 4 cent Canadian stamp celebrating 200 yrs of Halifax 1749-1949. |
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When home is a Cruise Ship
 A few years ago I came across a story that I thought may be an Urban Legend regarding a retired lady that went on back to back cruises year round instead of opting for a retirement home. Seems that it's a true story...For only slightly more than the average cost of a year in an assisted living residence, older people can live aboard a luxury liner with many of the same services, including meals, housekeeping and medical care at all hours - not to mention entertainment. Here's how the story goes (this was found on the Internet, and is not my personal story)  About 2 years ago my wife and I were on a cruise through the western Mediterranean aboard a Princess liner. At dinner we noticed an elderly lady sitting alone along the rail of the grand stairway in the main dining room.I also noticed that all the staff, ships officers, waiters, busboys, etc., all seemed very familiar with this lady. I asked our waiter who the lady was, expecting to be told she owned the line, but he said he only knew that she had been on board for the last four cruises, back to back. As we left the dining room one evening I caught her eye and stopped to say hello. We chatted and I said, "I understand you've been on this ship for the last four cruises." She replied, "Yes, that's true." I stated, "I don't understand" and she replied, without a pause, "It's cheaper than a nursing home." So, there will be no nursing home in my future. When I get old and feeble, I am going to get on a Princess Cruise Ship. The average cost for a nursing home is $200 per day. I have checked on reservations at Princess and I can get a long term discount and senior discount price of $135 per day. That leaves $65 a day for:
PS: And don't forget, when you die, they just dump you over the side at no charge. And the real story of the lady that actually did this? -  Bea Muller, an 86-year-old retiree, has been a permanent resident on Cunard's 'Queen Elizabeth 2' since 5 January 2000. Her husband had passed away while the couple was on a world cruise eleven months earlier, and rather than opt for a retirement home, Mrs. Muller sold her house and possessions and booked herself onto the ship. Click here for full story... |
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TCA/AC Events & People Gallery
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Canadi>n/CPAir/PWA, Wardair, etc. Events & People
Canada's first jet era hanger was the "Britannia" Hanger opened in Vancouver airport on February 22nd 1958.  Pictured is a Britannia CF-CZX at YVR.P.W.A. first scheduled service at Edmonton was a DC-3 in 1957 On November 13th 1963 P.W.A. started the Airbus service between Calgary - Edmonton.  Pictured is the first Hercules freighter in 1967  and some employees from 1992June 1st 1966 - Inaugural service Toronto to Milan, Italy. October 26th 1966 - Canadia>n was the first international carrier to operate out of Beijing's new terminal. We have a selection of Canadi>n employees from the "Contact" magazine 1991/2 loaned by Bill Wood.   |
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Readers Feedback
From: Ron LingwoodSubject: Tetraphobia NetLetter 1007 Hi Guys, I was very interested in your article on Tetra phobia and would like to thank you for bringing this item up. During my time with CAIL we introduced the B747 to the Orient. This was mainly, China and Hong Kong at that time. Prior to introduction the aircraft were to have tail numbers in the 400 series. Someone with some cultural knowledge however told the powers that be, that the Chinese would not fly with that designation, as it was considered extremely bad luck to do so. Apparently the Chinese symbol for 4 has a similarity with the symbol for death. Consequently the series number was quickly changed to the 800 series. 8 being a completed figure with much more Feng Shui (I hope I spelled it correctly). Talk about superstition... but then who knows? Keep up the good work Regards Ron Lingwood < From DK Powick Subject: NetLetter nr 1007 - TCA/AC people gallery. Ah the good old days...re Tourist Class Photo of 1954. Looks like there was a shortage of seat belts...check out the suitcase on top of the blanket in the Left Hand side of the photo and back then people really dressed up to go for a flight. Probably the only thing that has not changed is the meal !!!! The again, probably a "posed" picture. Enjoy the Netletter...thanks. DK "Kip" Powick < From Brian Dunn, Subject: issue #1007 CPAir, Canadia>n, Wardair etal events and people. The picture of the three Wardair 747s is not at London-Gatwick, but taken from the parking garage at the old Terminal 1 at Toronto airport. Brian Dunn George Mills responds to the information in Netletter 1007 under CPAir, Canadia>n, Wardair etal events and people. Although a long time TCA/Air Canada person,(1957/96) I did spend some time with CPA and find any of the stories such as Dawn Shannon's really interesting. Don Saunders accounting of CF-TOB is really interesting too. When Guinness Peat Aviation bought that aircraft from Air Canada it required an acceptance flight test, exactly like the test done at the factory when receiving a new airplane. Since the aircraft was still 'owned' by AC it had to be flown by AC Supervisory pilot's. Don Stinson and I, along with a Supervisory S/O, conducted this flight in the presence of GPA people and pilots from Iberia. This 14 year old performed as if she had just come off the assembly line! There was not one system that didn't do exactly what the specifications called for. The aircraft went on to perform yeoman service for many other operators. Thanks to Don Saunders for that bit of history. Dawn Shannon's story of the Convair operation and the crew's that operated it brought back memories. In 1955 I was an apprentice AME with CPA in Edmonton and spent many hours servicing Convairs, along with the other aircraft in the fleet. It was common practice that an Engineer would go along on many of the flights (not all) that were operated out YXD. At the height of the DEW line operations we were sometimes short of Engineers so apprentices were sent as crew on some flights. I flew on DC-3 trips on many occasions and to this day, almost 53 years later, still have a 'crew tag' on my old tool box. We did wear company issued 'starched white' coveralls, as she mentioned. Thanks Dawn for those memories too. George Mills From: George Brien sends us this information - Subject: Wagaming I missed your query for info on Wagaming so I guess I cant claim the prize! However, here is some added information on this early TCA station. Wagaming/Armstrong YYW A TCA schedule dated Nov 1,1939 listed a strange sounding airport WAGAMING, that most people wouldn't have heard of. Yet it was a stop on the Trans Continental route There is it - about halfway between Winnipeg and Kapuskasing on the CNR rail line. First staffed with TCA employees in 1939 as it became an essential fuel stop on the trans Canada Route of TCA. By 1940, the airport name was changed to Armstrong, the little railroad town 8 miles west of the airport. It was not shown on later timetables so passengers were always surprised when they had to buckle up for a landing on this route. Flight #1 westbound dep at 0320 and Flight #2 Eastbound dep at 0641. I guess it was all midnight shifts for the staff. By 1945 the staff had increased to 12 but by Ju1 1947, with the newer aircraft, the station was closed down.  Pictured is the route map for Sept. 1943.Peter Piggott's "National Treasure The History of TCA" pages 74, 80-81, 197-198 has some interesting stories from Armstrong, as related by Al Took.. cheers George Gretchen Aird Subject: RESTORATION OF THE ENOLA GAY  Now completely reassembled and staged at the new Udvar-Hazy Museum at Dulles International Airport , Enola Gay is externally complete. She still needs much avionics restoration work inside. That work will continue over the next few years. Happily for the thousands of folks who began to tour the new museum when it opened on 15 December, NASM is planning an interactive virtual tour of the interior of this aircraft - and it will also be accessible from the web. (In the picture note the tail of the Air France Concorde - eds) |
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Terry's Travel Tips
 Nudists get their own flight - German holiday makers will be able to indulge in their love of naturism by taking to the skies nude on a special flight being launched this year. All the passengers will fly naked, but they are only allowed to undress once they are airborne, but they will be able to enjoy the one hour flight.  The pilot and flight attendants will, however, keep their clothes on.(My application for a flight attendant position was rejected as the applicants were oversubscribed - eds) Interline Specials New 10 day tour offers on China Land Tours. We have some new offers from SeaDream Yacht Club and assorted cruises with price reductions. You will even find a 16 night Antarctic cruise with Celebrity's Azamara Line that starts as low as $799 for 18 nights plus their new releases. Check out our great selection of Mexican and Caribbean all-inclusive resorts. We also introduce great land tour packages exploring the wonders of China. You can select a short Beijing holiday or a more extensive land tour and cruise on the Yangtze which starts in Beijing and ends in Shanghai. We have plenty of great options for cruises in Alaska, the Caribbean, Hawaii and through the Panama Canal. Now is the time to plan your next interline vacation. Interline World Vacations - www.interlineworld.com |
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Smilies
 At the airport, checking in at the gate when an airport employee asked, "Has anyone put anything in your baggage without your knowledge?"To which I replied, "If it was without my knowledge, how would I know?" He smiled knowingly and nodded, "That's why we ask." Happened at Uplands in Ottawa. Now, with Valentines Day, Easter or that birthday approaching, follow this guy had the right idea for a present - an aircraft of your favourite choice. India's richest man, Mukesh Ambani has bought his wife an Airbus A319C corporate jet with VIP interior of game console, music system, satellite TV, bar and mood lighting. Only a cool us$60 million - but you may be able to get a senior discount. |