Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

In the photo submitted by Robert Arnold in NetLetter nr 1332, Dennis Giguere wishes to set the record straight -
Captain Rene Giguere is the correct spelling re the picture of my Dad in latest issue. (Captain Dennis Giguere also retired)

Continuation of the story from NetLetter nr 1332 regarding the DC-8 article.

That was for testing and ferry flight. Improved and enlarged DC-8s were introduced as technology advanced. The Conway’s proved a little too thirsty and the cabin capacity a little too lean with a mere 146 passengers. By the time the wide-bodies arrived, it was obvious her days were numbered. That's when she was farmed out. Old fin 810 had a change of paint and, on April 13th 1976, started flying for Cubana registered CU-T1210. But while the old kite plied the Montreal - Havana route and did flights throughout the Caribbean for Cubana. it still came home to Dorval for maintenance under the !ease agreement.

The Cubans logged 2,578 hours on the aircraft before turning it back in on February 1978. Unemployment was not a long term problem for fin 810, another quick paint job and she was back on the line. This time for Air Jamaica, delivered on May 8th 1978, registered as 6Y-JMF. Again we kept the maintenance contract in Montreal along with all the aircraft's records.

The Jamaican assignment racked up another 1.366 hours and 26 minutes before being returned March 1979. By the time she was ready to leave the Air Canada fold 810 had gone through 1,000 tires, 149 engine changes and 20.067 landings.

(The conclusion will be NetLetter nr 1334 – eds)

Located in the "Between Ourselves" magazine issued June 1964.

The last Super Constellation delivered to new owners.

Super Constellation aircraft fin # 405 CF-TGE c/n 4544 was the last of the 14 aircraft once owned by the company and was sold to Mr Gil Tobin on May 15th, 1964 and, according to the records of Fin 405 it had flown 19,993 hours as of December 31st 1963.

There were no bands to mark the event at Dorval Base, but there were a number of mechanics who took a few moments to take a last look as it was towed away after Jim Spurr, Surplus Sales Specialist P & S had handed over the keys.

The aircraft had a very colourful career and it is believed that the aircraft never left the Montreal area. Sold to the Montreal Air Services and registered as CF-RNR and leased to World Wide Airways in August 1965 when it was impounded at Montreal on the bankruptcy of World Wide Airways at the time the aircraft was in a hangar undergoing overhaul due to a cracked wing spar. The aircraft was grounded and stripped of its engines, electronics and serviceable spares it was stored at Montreal until December, 1968.

In 1992 Phil Yull, a member of several Super Connie clubs located the aircraft in a farmers field and negotiated its purchase, dismantled the aircraft and shipped it to Millardair hangar at Pearson airport. From there it was moved to the Constellation Hotel near YYZ and displayed on a pedestal.

In later years it was relocated at YYZ and used as a restaurant.

Efforts to purchase the aircraft came up short and the aircraft was sold to a USA company and it ended up in the Seattle Museum of Flight in its full Trans-Canada Air Lines colours. www.museumofflight.org

Mike Horan in Ireland, having read "Wayne's Wings" in NetLetter nr 1330 sends this url which features a BAe-146 aircraft.

The pilot of this Cityjet plane that was scheduled to land in Cork Airport on November 17th, 2015 aborted the landing at the last minute and brought the plane back into the air. In the video the plane can be seen contending with heavy crosswinds that were still prevalent in the wake of Storm Barney. The plane, which was making its way from London City Airport, can be seen making glancing contact with the ground before taking off into the air again. Thankfully, after the pilot performed a go-around procedure the plane was able to land safely. While the video might look pretty shocking, this type of incident is more common than you might think.

Regarding the article sent in by Betty Driver under "Odds and Ends” -

"A couple of comments: The articles about the mail being delivered to Regina in the "big Lockheed" need a minor correction. The two pilots were R M (Bob) Smith and H W (Herb) Seagrim which is spelled with an 'i' not an 'a' as written in the story. I know this for certain because Herb Seagrim was my father. By the way, Bob Smith was my first boss when I joined as a pilot in August 1965. He was Flight Ops Director at Dorval."

Under "Wayne's Wings" and the article about the DC-8.

"The second bit of information I have concerns the arrival of the first DC-8. I was working on the old Dorval ramp at the time and remember it well. It was August 1959 and we had organized special crew to handle it with 6 guys and a lead for a crew of 7. Three big thick steel plates were placed on the ramp to take the weight of the gear and the aircraft was carefully taxied on to them. I believe it was fin 803 and was in Dorval as part of the certification and introductory program. I don't know where it went as I left what was a summer job to go back to school."