Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

 

When I started looking into the history and current status of the A319 fleet, I came upon some very interesting trivia regarding these aircraft. The first two prototypes produced by Airbus would eventually be in the Air Canada fleet. 

 

The first A319 prototype aircraft (image below) was to eventually join the Air Canada fleet as C-GBIP, Fin #285, (pictured in issue header) in April 1998. The aircraft is easily recognizable because it sported the 'Kids' Horizons' logo from January 2008 until September 2015.

 

It was then briefly painted in 'Tom Mulcair' livery while leased by the New Democratic Party during the federal election of 2015. It was withdrawn from service in January 2021 and as of September 2022 it has been stored as registration 2-ROYA by Royal Aircraft Maintenance.

 

Similarly, the second prototype (test registrations F-WWAS & D-AVYK) would also be delivered to Air Canada as CFYNS (Fin #251), however although first in fin numbers sequence it was not the first to enter service, not delivered until July 1997. It's entire career has been with AC, in the Rouge fleet March 2014.

 

As per Planespotters.net, it appears that the first A319 to enter service with Air Canada was the 18th built by Airbus. C-FYIY (Fin # 252) was delivered in December 1996 and was also transferred to the Rouge fleet in April 2014. It was stored due to the pandemic but shows returned to service as of July 2023.  

 

 

Photo by T. Laurent at Toulouse, France - May 1997

Used by permission with our gratitude.