Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Terry Baker, co-founder of the NetLetter scours the internet for aviation related Trivia and Travel Tips for you, our readers, to peruse.

Montreal Dorval-based World Wide Airways bought Douglas C-54D Skymaster CF-NNN (c/n 10826) in May 1961 from World Airways.

Following a successful test flight at Oakland, California, on May 26, the aircraft completed a non-stop 11 hour 45 minute long delivery flight to Dorval, Québec.

Acquired by World Wide to undertake chick flights to Cuba, the Skymaster entered service on a run from Toronto to Havana on June 17. Further livestock flights were made to Cuba from Toronto in later months, but the aircraft was seriously damaged when the nosegear was inadvertently retracted during crew training at Dorval on March 10, 1964.

Subsequently repaired, the aircraft was sold to Rutas Internacionales Peruanas in July 1965 as OB-R-769 - only to be destroyed taking off from Panama City on August 4, 1965.

Founded in 1945 by Captain Donald M. McVicar, World Wide Airways also flew Curtiss Commandos, DC-3's, a Lancaster, North Star and eventually three Super Constellations.

With thanks to Tom Singfield for sharing this magnificent view of the aircraft taken by Tony Breese.

Ace McCool is an over-the-top spoof of the airline industry. It relates the hilarious misadventures of a fly-by-night, corner-cutting airline called Down East International, based in Moncton, New Brunswick.

The stories start with Ace McCool, a World War II pilot, and the rag-tag characters he picks up along the way as his airline progresses from DC-3 to a Boeing 727 over the years from just after the war to 1985.

Editors' Note: We old-timers may remember reading some of these hilarious episodes written by Jack Desmarais formerly with TCA.)

Available from Amazon.ca, at various prices, in eBook, hardcover and softcover formats.