Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter
Since 1995 Saturday June 15, 2025
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Conair CS2F Firecat
at the Canadian Museum of Flight
Langley, British Columbia
Photo by Wayne Albertson |
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Dear Welcome to The NetLetter, established in 1995 as a dedicated newsletter for Air Canada retirees.
We have evolved into the longest running aviation-based newsletter for Air Canada, TCA, CP Air, Canadian Airlines and all other Canadian-based airlines that once graced the skies. The NetLetter is self-funded and is always free to subscribers. It is operated by a group of volunteers and is not affiliated with any airline or associated organizations. The NetLetter is published on the second and fourth weekend of each month. If you are interested in Canadian aviation history, and vintage aviation photos, especially as it relates to Trans-Canada Air Lines, Air Canada, Canadian Airlines International and their constituent airlines, then we're sure you'll enjoy this newsletter. Please note: We do our best to identify and credit the original source of all content presented. However, should you recognize your material and are not credited; please advise us so that we can correct our oversight. Our website is located at www.thenetletter.net Please click the links below to visit our archives and for more info about The NetLetter. |
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 We have welcomed 98 new subscribers so far in 2025.
We wish to thank everyone for the continuing support of our efforts.
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 Back issues of The NetLetter are available in both the original newsletter format and downloadable PDF format.
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We always welcome feedback about Air Canada (including Jazz and Rouge) from our subscribers who wish to share current events, memories and photographs.
Particularly if you have stories to share from one of the legacy airlines: Trans-Canada Air Lines, Canadian Airlines, CP Air, Pacific Western, Maritime Central Airways, Eastern Provincial, Wardair, Nordair, Transair, Air BC, Time Air, Quebecair, Calm Air, NWT Air, Air Alliance, Air Nova, Air Ontario, Air Georgian and all other Canadian based airlines that once graced the Canadian skies.
We will try to post your comments in the next issue but, if not, we will publish it as soon as we can.
Thanks!
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Editors' Note: Details are subject to change.
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August 16, 2025 -
- Bi-Annual LAX Airline Collectibles Show & Sale.
- 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. Embassy Suites by Hilton-LAX South,
- 1440 East Imperial Ave., El Segundo.
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August 23, 2025 -
- Cleveland Airline Collectibles Show.
- 9:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Best Western Plus Strongsville (Cleveland),
- 15471 Royalton Rd. Strongsville.
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September 6, 2025 -
- Newark & NY Area Airline Show
- 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. Located at the Holiday Inn Newark Int'l Airport.
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September 20, 2025 -
- San Francisco Airline Memorabilia & Airplane Model Show (Fall)
- 8:30 am – 2:30 pm. Best Western Grosvenor Plus,
- 380 South Airport Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080.
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October 11, 2025 -
- Minneapolis/St. Paul Airline Collectibles Sale
- 9:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Wyndham Bloomington - Mall of America,
- 1901 Killebrew Drive, Bloomington, Minnesota
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October 26, 2025 -
- Vancouver Aviation Collectibles Show
- 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Sandman Signature Vancouver,
- 10251 St. Edwards Drive, Richmond, British Columbia
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November 1, 2025 -
- Houston Airline Collectibles Show.
- 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Sheraton Hotel North Houston IAH Airport, 15000 JFK Blvd, Houston, Texas
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November 8, 2025 -
- Frankfurt Aviation Collectibles Fair 2025
- 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Stadthalle Hofheim, Chinonplatz 4, 65719 Hofheim am Taunus.
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A charming memory from retired 'Stewardess' Linda Wills -
I flew from Halifax to Vancouver on May 3, 2025 - direct flight on Air Canada. Since I was an Aeroplan member I had free WiFi through Bell. Same for return flight on May 12th. It was lovely, good flight, aisle seat and a full flight.
I was boarded first, I requested it because of age, although perfectly fit, I like being able to get settled before the rush. Can’t say I am a fan of having to purchase a seat after buying a ticket, nor pay for a bag. Not quite sure what a passenger is supposed to do if they don’t pay for a seat. Sit on the floor? Hang onto the wing?
The inflight crew were very nice and quite interested in learning they had an antique “Stewardess” on board.
Flying certainly has changed since I worked for Air Canada back in the ‘60s. Except for no smoking, which is great, the cramped seating is no fun.
I am not a big woman and I had a fairly large man beside me. He had his knee pressed against mine most of the flight and his elbow in my ribs. I couldn’t get exasperated with him because it really wasn’t his fault. He had nowhere to go except overflow his seat onto mine.
Lots of good memories from when I was flying - like the winter I flew with the Chicago Black Hawks in a chartered Viscount. They were a great bunch of guys. Kept pressed roses from them for years.
I had grumpy PM Diefenbaker on various flights, and charming PM Pearson on others. Or the week before Christmas when we were stranded in St John’s, Newfoundland and were entertained nightly by locals with kitchen parties, lots of Screech, good food and singing. A Newfoundland captain at the time got us out Christmas Eve! I could go on….
Linda (Lockerby) Wills.
Bedford, Nova Scotia
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Submitted by Louise Garneau -
Doug Russell, Manager; Bill Vandermere, Accountant; G. Sing, Cargo Agent; Fred McDonald, Cargo Agent; Louise Garneau, Clerk; Shirley Wells, Clerk; Al Holden, Assistant Manager and Doug Slade, Cargo Agent.
Located in an addition to Harrison Airways. Air BC farther down on the left side.
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Submitted by Anthony Herben -
Further to the article in NetLetter #1558 about ACRA.
I wanted to share with you that it goes farther back to TCARA - Trans-Canada Air Lines Recreation Association.
Besides the list of sports that you mentioned, TCARA YUL also organized picnics with a trip to the beach. See attached picture, dated July 11, 1959.
Regards,
Anthony
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Robert replied -
These photos were supplied to me through my friend and colleague Keith Olson. They were taken the following summer after their retirement in 1975. Most of the photos show registration CF-TIE (Fin #649), which was the museum’s first Viscount.
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A group of Viscounts on April 30, 1974.
All were sold to Beaver Enterprises Ltd.
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CF-TIE (Fin #649)
On April 28, 1973 operated the final Viscount service between Vancouver (YVR) and Victoria (YYJ) before retirement. On April 29 it was ferried from Vancouver to Calgary, Regina and finally Winnipeg.
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Tales from Rampage YYZ - From: A.K.
A memory from below the wing.
Many years back, while working a YUL flight, the outbound baggage runner pulled up to the belt loader with what he claimed was the last cart of bags and one cat. l had a quick look and asked, “where is the cat, I see the cage but no cat”. Bob looked and then used some colourful language The cage was there with the door open but no cat inside.
We tried not to panic and instead retraced his route from bag room and found the kitty hiding under one of the domestic in-belts. With the help of a hockey stick we managed to find nearby, we lured the cat out and got it back in the cage.
Nobody the wiser as to what could have transpired here other than the fact that this particular feline was a white Turkish Angor cat enroute to a cat show that was now almost black from grease and dirt.
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Issue dated January 1950
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Inaugural Flight to Barbados - December 2, 1949 -
 Left: At official reception for the visitors on the flight, His Excellency, Governor A. W. L. Savage, of Barbados, chats with TCA's A. C. McKim and F. M. McGregor.
Below: Flight landed under stormy weather at Seawell Airport (now Grantley Adams International Airport).
Click the image for additional details.
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Found in 'Horizons' magazine
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Issue dated February 1989
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Charter stops in Bombay.
Back in October of 1988, one of our DC-8-63 freighters, fin number 876, was wet leased to US-based company, Evergreen, with option to buy. Over a 15-day period it operated a charter from Frankfurt to Calcutta, via Bahrain, Dubai, Bombay and Delhi.
Air Canada was responsible for providing the crew, maintenance support and weight and balance while ground support was handled by Evergreen with the assistance of Air India.
Shambhoo Sharma, an Acting Maintenance Foreman at the Dorval Base, was stationed at Bombay and accompanied the flight to Delhi and Calcutta, where he coordinated maintenance with Evergreen, with Maintenance Control Dorval always available if needed.
Below he poses with a group of Bombay-based colleagues. They are, from the left: Yezdi Divecha, Shambhoo Sharma, Noor Baig, Ashwani Malhotra, Ronnie Bharucha and Nijay Ullal.
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Vancouver loads by the nose.
A Cargo Boeing 747-F, a nose-loading all-freight aircraft, pulled into the freighter loading dock at the newly expanded YVR Air Canada Cargo Terminal. This operation was planned for every Saturday night in the coming year (1989) as part of a ground handling contract with Korean Airlines.
This photo, taken during the first operation, provided valuable experience for the Cargo crew on duty, from the left: Brian Parker, Peter Kerr, Brian Martin, Rudy Urbano, Tony Dewildt, Gary Jabs, Bernie Cook and Gary Zoratti.
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Issue dated March 1989
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De-icing ... San Francisco style.
When temperatures in San Francisco dropped below freezing in 1989, our colleagues found themselves in an unusual situation.
Our aircraft, which had overnighted on the tarmac, had ice on the wings and, it goes without saying, SFO does not have any kind of de-icing equipment.
Ramp Coordinator Mike Garzouzi took matters in his own hands and simply swept the problem away with nothing more than common sense and a broom.
Photo by Candace Boyer
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CP Air / Canadi>n People Gallery |
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Wardair Flight Attendant Uniforms.
Last flight attendant uniform at Wardair prior to the merger with Canadian Airlines. They were designed by Klaus Preis of Couturier Nina Ricci.
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Air Creebec Donates Hawker Siddeley HS 748 (C-FLIY) to the Canadian Aviation Museum.
The Canadian Aviation Museum, of Windsor, Ontario is pleased to announce that we have taken possession of an Air Creebec HS 748 on Friday, May 30, 2025.
The aircraft completed its final flight at the Windsor Airport, officially marking the end of its service and the beginning of a new chapter as a celebrated piece of Canadian aviation history.
C-FLIY has played a vital role in northern aviation, particularly in connecting remote communities across Quebec and Ontario. Known for its durability and reliability, the aircraft has been an essential part of Air Creebec’s fleet, supporting passenger and cargo operations under some of the most demanding conditions in Canada.
Mark Brandon Aviation has posted the video below commemorating its last flight.
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The history of a B-737-800 by Pierre Gillard.
Since the beginning of May, Chrono Aviation has been operating a Boeing 737-800, in passenger configuration. Recently, I had the opportunity to photograph it (see below) with its new C-GCUA registration valid since May 12, 2025.
Originally delivered to Shanghai Airlines in January 2002, the Boeing 737-800, line #1047, has a history linked to Quebec since March of 2016 when it was leased by Air Transat with the registration C-GTQJ until 2018.
It was leased by Carlyle Aviation Partners of the U.S. (registration N631CL) until acquired by Chrono Aviation and registered C-FMBO in April 2021. It has been operated by Nolinor Aviation and subsidiary OWG until May 2025. For complete lifecycle see: www.planespotters.net
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Conair Firecat
I frequently drive by the Canadian Museum of Flight at Langley, British Columbia. I've noticed that lately they seem to be moving some aircraft around. Recently I stopped on my way by to take a picture of this Conair Firecat parked on the east side.
The Conair Firecat is a fire-fighting aircraft developed in Canada in the 1970s by modifying military surplus Grumman S-2 Trackers. The modifications were developed by the maintenance arm of the Conair Group.
Conair bought a large number of Trackers formerly operated by the Royal Canadian Navy and a small number of ex-United States Navy aircraft as well. All superfluous military equipment is removed and the empty weight is almost 1,500 kg lower than a Tracker's. The first aircraft was modified in 1978. Some examples have been re-engined with turboprop engines and are known as Turbo Firecats. These feature a larger tank and extra underwing fuel tanks.
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History of this aircraft (excerpt from the museum website):
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Built by de Havilland Canada under license as a Grumman CS2F Tracker for the Royal Canadian Navy. Manufacturers No: 38, RCN: 1539
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1972 to Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources as CF-OPU, coded “54″
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1980 to Conair as C-FOPU. Converted April 1981 to Firecat, coded “564″
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Re-registered as Conair Firecat, c/n 007, 24 September 1991
Sources and full description:
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| Terry's Trivia
& Travel Tips |
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Terry Baker, co-founder of the NetLetter scours the internet for aviation related Trivia and Travel Tips for you, our readers, to peruse.
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 The Corendon Amsterdam New-West, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, offers a unique B-737 suite that features a full-sized Boeing 737-800 within the room.
The suite includes the cockpit and front passenger section of the plane, complete with seats, overhead bins, and even a galley cart. Guests can explore the plane, including the cockpit, and even watch Netflix or TikTok from the passenger seat.
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Boeing 787 flew in formation with its oldest ancestor and it was spectacular to see.
The display of aviation greatness occurred in 2010, when one B-787 Dreamliner flew beside the Boeing Model 40.
"The B-787 and Model 40, both the technological leaders of their time, represent decades of commercial airplane innovation and illustrate the dramatic progress in airplane design,” explained Boeing in an Instagram post.
The B-787 entered into service in 2011 and has since helped to launch more than 425 direct routes to different destinations all around the world. The fully restored 1928 vintage Boeing Model 40, Boeing’s first production commercial airplane, was also known for its innovation and efficiency.
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Issue dated April 1963
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By Dave Mathias.
The caption reads "I promised in our negotiations to merge with Trans-Parent Air Lines that you would all be treated equally - you're all fired!"
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Wayne, Ken & Terry Richmond, British Columbia - December 2019
(Bob Sheppard was not available for the photograph) |
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Wayne, Bob & Ken Richmond, British Columbia - December 2023
(Terry Baker was not available for the photograph) |
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We wish to honour the memories of
Vesta Stevenson and Alan Rust. They remain a part of every edition published. |
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E&OE - (errors and omissions excepted):
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