Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter
Since 1995 Saturday September 27, 2025
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Air Canada C-GAGC
B-747-200M with 'Bombay/Singapore flights 888/889 vols' decal
Photo by Aero Icarus |
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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 120 new subscribers so far in 2025.
We now have 4522 subscribers.
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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BC Aviation Museum & Hawaii Mars tour
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Vancouver Island District Director, Grant Snider, is pleased to advise that they are hosting v2.1 of the BC Aviation Museum (BCAM) and Hawaii Mars tour. We’ll meet at the museum and will be organized into small groups for the tour.
When: Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Time: 2:00 p.m. in the museum
Where: BC Aviation Museum, 1910 Norseman Road, North Saanich
Cost: No cost if you attended the first event in April and you still have the free pass the museum provided to us then. Bring the pass with you!
$14.00 per person if you did not attend the first event in April or you did attend but no longer have the pass. Payable at the door if you have pre-registered with Cliff Cunningham.
Pre-registration: Send an email to Cliff Cunningham, confirming how many in your party and whether you are using a pass or will be paying the $14 entry fee.
For detailed directions to the museum, including bus travel information from downtown Victoria, go to the BC Aviation Museum website and select the menu tab titled Visit. |
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Submitted by Don Stewart -
The photo in the most recent NetLetter of the B-767-300 that we wet leased to Polynesian Airlines conjured up a couple of amusing memories.
I was working in Flight Dispatch at the time and we were tasked with dispatching these flights throughout the South Pacific.
We once received a Datalink from the crew somewhere down there. The flight had just finished boarding and evidently there were more passengers boarded than there were seats. The message indicated that a brawl had broken out in the cabin amongst some very large Samoans over the lack of seating and that the pilots had barricaded themselves in the cockpit until the dust had settled.
The other thing I found funny was one of the crews had said they ran across a bulletin in the Polynesian Airlines operations room that dictated all delays over 3 hours must be reported.
Good times,
Don Stewart
Retired Flight Dispatcher
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Submitted by Sue McAllister
In 2001 I retired after 28 years as a Customer Sales & Service agent. I loved all aspects of the airline operation starting with the ground crew up to the flight crew.
On one of my last shifts at night, I was meeting a flight from Vancouver and I asked the ground agent who would be directing the aircraft into the bridgehead parking spot if I could direct the aircraft in using the 'wands'.
It was one of the things that I always wanted to do. The young ground agent said "sure"....and I smiled and took the wands into my hands. He stood behind me while the aircraft approached me from a distance and I asked him "but you're going to stay behind me right?" And he said "of course".
So I brought the aircraft in to a stop, handed the wands back to the ground agent and thanked him and then I ran up the bridgehead staircase to meet the flight before the passengers started to get off.
Once everyone was off I asked the pilot what he thought of a lady in a dress directing him in....🙃 and how did I do?
He said "great......you did a good job." What a fun experience for one of my last shifts.
You folks do a wonderful job putting this together.....I always enjoy reading the NetLetter.....it brings me back to the time when I was working at the airport. ☺️
Sue McAllister,
YOW, Ontario.
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Submitted by Thomas Gosling,
"I was fired from my job as an Aircraft Technical Specialist when I hit 85 last year, volunteering at the local hospital now.
I have a couple of pics of TCA aircraft at RCAF Station Greenwood taken in the early 60’s when they were diverted because Kelly Lake (YHZ) was socked in. I have hundreds of aircraft images collected over the past 68 years."
Editors' Note: We will certainly be checking with Thomas when we are looking for photos!
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Vickers Vanguard
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Vickers Viscount
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You could easily store your oversized carry-on bag overhead!
Source: 'TCA North Star over the Atlantic' brochure.
Editor's Note by Ken Pickford: The round windows on the aircraft in the photo identify it as one of the first six unpressurized Canadair North Stars intended for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
They were fitted with a passenger interior and borrowed by TCA in 1947 and operated temporarily as a stopgap for about two years while awaiting delivery of their pressurized North Stars which had the same larger rectangular windows and similar cabin configuration as the DC-6.
Those early North Stars were then returned to the RCAF.
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New Destinations Take Flight as Air Canada Expands Network for Summer 2026
- New Montréal – Catania, Italy
- New Montréal – Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Return of Toronto–Shanghai; Toronto–Budapest
- Extension of Vancouver–Bangkok to year-round
Click the image for the full story.
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Air Canada Announces Changes to its Regional Network
- New Fredericton to Ottawa, and Moncton to Ottawa daily flights
- New Fort McMurray to Vancouver flights, three times weekly
- More Sudbury to Toronto flights, increasing from two to three flights daily
Click the image for the full story
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 for the latest posts at the Air Canada Media Centre. |
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 Click the logo to open the Air Canada YouTube channel. |
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Found in 'Horizons' magazine
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Issue dated February 1993
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Thirty years in New York.
Hank Fleming, Lead Cargo Service Agent at New York's JFK International Airport received hugs and congratulations on his 30th anniversary with the airline.
Helping him celebrate were, back row, left to right: Eugene Gonsalves, Cargo Sales and Service Manager - Northeast U.S; Cargo Customer Service Agents Henry Miranda, John Ferrelli and Pete Geisel; Rich Hewlett, Cargo Sales and Service Supervisor; Cargo Customer Service Agents Tony Molfetta, Danny Lubisco, Al Pierre, Rick Tejera and Theo Harding Jr.; Nick Molfetta, Cargo Sales Representative and (front row) Cargo Customer Service Agent Wendy Santos and Hank Fleming.
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Charlie says goodbye.
LaGuardia staff threw Ramp Coordinator Charlie Saladino (centre) a farewell party to celebrate his retirement after over 30 years of service.
Helping him celebrate were, from left to right: Customer Service Agents Linda Triolo, Suzanne Cummings and Kathy Charbonnier, Charlie Saladino, Barbara Cronin, Secretary; Customer Service Agents Glen Smith and Susan Deppe and Lead Customer Service Agent Karen Burglin (seated).
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Issue dated September 2002
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ZIP employees pull out all the stops in Calgary.
ZIP unveiled its first painted aircraft to the media and employees in Calgary July 30, 2002.
Employees of the new carrier, helped by several maintenance employees, pulled the B-737-200 into Calgary hangar 101 in a ceremony marking the arrival of the first plane.
ZIP also announced that it would officially take to the skies on September 22, 2002 with service between Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Calgary.
ZIP's aircraft are flying Air Canada flights while waiting for the start-up of ZlP.
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CP Air / Canadi>n People Gallery |
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From the "Canadi>n Flyer" magazine.
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Issue dated February 1999
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Destination Harbin, China?
Canadian crew shine during unforeseen layover.
By Lance Goshko
Considering the number of international flights we operate on a daily basis, the notable diversions to alternate airports are few and far between. When they do occur, these diversions often become a real adventure.
On November 20, CP29 from Vancouver to Beijing was one such unforeseen adventure. Winter weather forced CP29, a B-767, to make an unscheduled and lengthy stop in Harbin, some 600 miles northeast of Beijing.
The diversion was prompted by a severe snowstorm in Beijing. Rather than employing conventional snowplows and sweepers, Beijing Airport relies on 500 soldiers equipped with shovels and brooms to keep its runway clear.
Click the photo for the full story.
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Issue dated June 1999
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Pacific Overture: The inaugural service to Australia.
By Peter Pigott
 An RCAF North Star had been borrowed for the North Pacific survey flight in April 1949. The next ground-breaking mission was the reconnaissance flight to Australia on May 28.
However, this time the Canadair Four CF-CPR - the Empress of Vancouver — was ready for a chance to fly into the history books. And it did just that, it became first Canadian aircraft, civil or military, to fly across the South Pacific to Australia and New Zealand.
The inaugural passenger flight to Australia took place on July 10 on the Empress of Sydney with a crew of eight: Captain J.K. “Bud” Potter, Chief Pilot North Sawle, Navigator Fred Wicker, Radio Officer R. Phillips, Engineer Art Boone, Stewardesses Helen McCracken, Registered Nurse and Pamela Hookham and Director of Inflight Service Reg Sargeant.
In the photo: The Empress of Sydney at Mascot Airport in Sydney in July 1949.
Left to right: Captain North Sawle, Captain Bud Potter and Stewardesses Helen McCracken and Pamela Hookham.
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Our video comes from 'The Only Nolan' YouTube channel entitled 'The Secret Companies That Actually Run Airports'.
It explores the many service providers required to efficiently run an airport.
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Airbus to Open Second A320neo Assembly Line in Mobile, Alabama
Airbus will open a second final assembly line for A320neo jets at its Mobile, Alabama facility next month, marking a major milestone in U.S. aircraft production. The expansion coincides with the 10th anniversary of Airbus’ Mobile site, which has grown from 300 employees in 2015 to more than 2,000 today and has become a cornerstone of America’s aerospace industry.
The new assembly line highlights Mobile’s increasing role in global commercial aircraft manufacturing. Supported by a skilled workforce, a growing supplier network and a thriving local economy, the second A320neo line will boost Airbus’ production capacity in the U.S. and strengthen its ability to meet record demand for single-aisle aircraft.
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VH-ECA / C-GAGC Fin #308
Fin #308 was a bit of a rarity among the Air Canada B-747 fleet. It was the only one of the -100 or -200 series not originally delivered to AC. The first two of the -200M series, C-GAGA, Fin # 306 and C-GAGB, Fin # 307, were delivered new to AC in 1975 and 1979, respectively.
Fin #308 was also a B-747-200M combi with main deck cargo door and was originally delivered to Qantas in October 1977, registered VH-ECA and named 'City of Sale' (Sale is a city in the Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria).
It was acquired by AC in late 1987 and delivered in January 1988 after major overhaul and painting by QF. Qantas was disposing of its 17 original Pratt & Whitney-powered B-747-200s around that time, replacing them with new Rolls-Royce-powered aircraft.
It remained in the AC fleet until January 20,1999 when it made its last revenue flight on AC425 (Montreal - Toronto). It was then ferried to Marana, Arizona for storage. There have been reports of sightings in the desert still with the AC green tail, however I could not find any photos. It was broken up in 2011.
Source for additional info and several photos:
Special thanks to Ken Pickford for the suggestion and research.
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In its final livery
April 1997
Photo by Aero Icarus
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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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 Join our exclusive tour to Sicily in the Spring of 2026. This tour sold out in 2025, and folks loved it. So we are doing it again. 7 nights exploring the island with food tours, tastings and more!
Speaking of 6-star cruises, Silversea has opened interline rates on over 70 sailings from now into 2026, including Antarctica!!! There's no charge for 24-hour room service, breakfast in bed, or late-night snacks, either. Silversea's all-inclusive pricing means just that – gratuities, wines and spirits, entertainment, enrichment – even an in-suite bar setup with premium liquors is included in our fares.
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Issue dated May 2000
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By Jake Visser
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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):
The historical information as well as any other information provided in the "NetLetter" is subject to correction and may have changed over time.
We do publish corrections (and correct the original article) when this is brought to our attention.
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