Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter
Since 1995 Saturday, November 8. 2025
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The Digital Poppy is a simple but meaningful way to honour Canada's Heroes.
Click the image to create one. |
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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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The Royal Canadian Legion’s Remembrance Day Poppy Campaign has a digital option for an online fundraising at www.mypoppy.ca. Canadians are able to personalize it, dedicate it and share it online – and add their own family stories and images – as their pledge to never forget those who served and sacrificed for our freedom. We have once again created a Poppy in memory of our colleague of many years, Alan Rust.
Alan joined Vesta and Terry shortly before Vesta's passing and served as the NetLetter website administrator until his own passing in April 2019. He created the original website and newsletter format that we still use today.
Alan joined the Forces in 1968 where he was first introduced to his career as an aircraft maintenance engineer.
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 Several subscribers reached out to congratulate and commend us on our 30th anniversary. We want to thank everyone for your kind words; very much appreciated.
Shirlee Schacter shared this personal memory:
It was so great to see that picture of Terry, Vesta and Alan. I worked with Vesta at 151 Front St. West in Toronto.
She was always a going concern, even back in the day! She was a Network Controller and I was a Message Edit Controller.
It seems like a lifetime ago and in reality, it really was, because it was in the early 70's.
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 We have welcomed 129 new subscribers so far in 2025.
We currently have 4529 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.
Restoration and posting of archive issues is an ongoing project. We hope to post every issue back to the beginning in 1995.
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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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Good day, NetLetter team,
 For fall/winter reading, here are the current CANAV booklists. Plenty of top books (some rare collectibles included), lest readers be looking for their library or gifts. Note some additions such as a collection of CanForces “ Flight Comment”, the air force’s historic flight safety journal.
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Also FYI, I'm beginning to sell the CANAV Books art collection, all the paintings (originals) that I've used over the decades in Air Transport in Canada, Canadair North Star, etc. These were done by our top artists of the day, most of whom by now have passed away, the great Tom Bjarnason, etc.
There's nothing like these on the market in Canada. Here's a chance to own a special piece of Canada's aviation heritage, perhaps a special item to donate to a favourite museum or archive. Of course, these rare beauties will not be losing any value over the decades to come.
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CPA Britannia
by Robert Finlayson
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World Wide Airlines
by Robert Finlayson |
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TCA North Star
by Les Waller
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TCA Lodestar
by Ron Lowry
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Submitted by Lorne Paterson,
retired Line Maintenance Manager -
Calin Rovinescu first joined Air Canada in 2000 as its Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy and served as its Chief Restructuring Officer during its 2003–2004 bankruptcy before leaving the company.
He returned in April 2009 and served as Chief Executive Officer until February 2021. He is broadly credited with having saved Air Canada from bankruptcy and having set it on a course for sustainable profitability, better labour relations and continued success. During this time he also served as the Chancellor of the University of Ottawa until 2022.
My son, Kevin Paterson, was a Customer Service Manager at YVR and on several occasions met and assisted Calin on his many travels through the terminal. He assisted Calin during the Queen's visit and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
A while back, Kevin's daughter (my grand daughter) Thalia received her Masters Degree from the University of Ottawa and we were surprised to find out that the person presenting her degree was the Chancellor, Calin Rovinescu. This was Calin's last official act as Chancellor as he stepped down shortly after.
Below is a photo of Calin and Thalia.
Lorne Paterson
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The YUL Montreal Air Canada Recreation Association (ACRA) campground.
Camp 4-Winds is located 4.5 kilometers from Cheneville (Outaouais, Québec).
The campground was purchased from the Séguin family more than 50 years ago by ACRA, the Air Canada employee recreation association for their Hobbies.
Originally there were only a few locations. The camp now has 79 sites for campers and 3 sites for guests. This beautiful campsite is self-financing through collected guest fees and the community work of volunteer campers who use their skills and knowledge to repair and beautify the site.
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Found in 'Horizons' magazine
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Issue dated March 1994
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Some of the Air Canada Houston staff recently gathered at the Hotel Sofitel to celebrate six months of service.
Back row, from left to right: Customer Service Agents Suzanne Kalap, Desna Francis and Joyce Harmison; Dennis Lerchbacker, Aircraft Services Coordinator; Customer Service Agents Robert Cassidy and Donna Felker; Michele Stevens, Lead Customer Service Agent and Customer Service Agents Lalo Bayarena and Robert Kinkead.
Front row: Janet Ferguson, Customer Service Manager; Frank Leggett, Regional Sales Manager, Southwest U.S.A. and Patti Yoshimura, Airport Secretary.
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Issue dated April 1994
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Ingo Hirt, Passenger Terminal Manager, Frankfurt, was recognized for his 35 years of service.
From left to right: Hans Schütt, Area Manager, Customer Service - Central & Eastern Europe; Ingo Hirt; Hollis Harris; Leo Sachs, Flight Service Director - Toronto; Hedi Wohlfahrt, Senior Passenger Agent and Hans Sittler, Manager, Personnel Services - Central & Eastern Europe.
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The first official RESIII flight took off from St. John's, thanks to Customer Sales and Service Agents, from left to right:
L. Seaward; P. Hollett; B. Norman; W. Brake; P. Mackay; S. MacDonald, Acting Customer Service Supervisor; B. Cock; J. Davis; D. Neal; D. Hall, RESIII Facilitator; C. CaIlanan; N. Ford; R. Butt, J. Brien; M. Earle; D. Mercer; Customer Sales Manager.
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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 April 1999
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The first Empress - the Canadair Four
By Peter Pigott
In 1949, Canadian Pacific Air Lines modernized its fleet of 47 aircraft by replacing the amphibian Cansos used between Montreal and Rouyn and Val d 'Or with DC-3s.
But by far its most spectacular acquisition that year was its first four-engined aircraft — the Canadair Four C-4-1.
This was a heavier version of the North Star, Canada's first indigenous passenger aircraft. Under the aegis of C.D. Howe, the Minister for Reconstruction, Canadair (formerly Vickers Shipbuilders) was kept in postwar business by assembling surplus DC-4 airframes and putting Rolls Royce Merlin engines into them.
The only legal stipulation that the Douglas Company had was that the hybrid aircraft could only be sold in Canada and the United Kingdom.
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The plant at Cartierville gearing up to put together the North Stars. Across the runway was Noorduyn where the CPA Norsemen were made.
The white-roofed houses in the corner are the original Curtiss-Reid Flying School of 1928.
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Editors' Note: The aircraft pictured below is incorrectly identified in the original text as a CPA Canadair 4. It is actually an early unpressurized North Star built for the RCAF (identified by the round windows - those built for airline use had the same rectangular windows as the DC-6).
It was borrowed for an early trans-Pacific survey flight (the subject of the photo) prior to commencement of service using CPA's own pressurized Canadair 4s. Unlike the RCAF and TCA, CPA did not use the North Star name. The only other airline customer, BOAC, used the name Argonaut.
Appearing in the photo are, left to right: Grant McConachie; C. North Sawle; Charles Pentland; W.G.M. (Mel) Knox; R.N. (Bob) Goldie; Pat Roy; Bob Phipps; C. Kane; L.C. (Craig) Stevenson, M.D.; Mel Lee; Len Fraser; Ernie Gerby; Art Boone; Courtney Griffiths and Al Pierce.
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Videographer Alex Praglowski has been busy tracking Dash-8s lately.
Click the images below to view the videos.
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Dash 8 Air Tanker close up - Conair Dash 8-400 at Calgary/Springbank Airport
For the past two summers, Conair Aerial Firefighting of British Columbia has sent one of their Dash 8-400 Air Tankers to Calgary's Springbank Airport.
Springbank Airport is the main general aviation airport for the Calgary area, and the main runway is 5000 feet long. The Dash 8-400 is both the longest, and the heaviest airplane to fly here on a regular basis, if not ever.
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I Flew from Canada to Greenland on a Dash 8!
Last year, Air Greenland re-launched seasonal (April-October) flights between Iqaluit, Nunavut, and Nuuk, Greenland. This unique international route is the only nonstop flight between Canada and Greenland, operated by their Dash 8-200.
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Toronto Pearson Airport.
In 1938, Malton Airport opened on a site that originally covered 13 farmers’ fields. Today, that small facility has grown to become Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada’s largest airport – handling twice as many passengers as the country’s next largest airport, Vancouver International, and offering more connections to more places than all but four global airports.
Below. on August 29, 1938 at 1:10 pm an American Airlines DC-3 from Buffalo touched down. The first of many landings at what was then called Malton Airport.
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As demand for air travel grew, new terminals and runways were quickly added. The first modern terminal, Aeroquay 1, was opened in 1964.
Its innovative circular design was intended to handle up to 3.5 million passengers. When it was finally closed in 2004, Aeroquay 1 was handling almost 9 million passengers each year. To meet growing demand, Terminal 2 was opened in 1972, Terminal 3 in 1991 and a new Terminal 1 in 2004.
Today’s Pearson operates out of two terminals designed with a linear concept; Terminal 1 and 3. Terminal 2 was demolished in 2008.
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Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Campaign
 On recent visits to the BC Aviation Museum it became quickly apparent that the majority of volunteers are veterans. I'm quite sure that the same is true of aviation museums across Canada.
They work on preserving the historical aircraft as well as acting as guides to museum visitors; they perform these tasks with pride and joy.
Although I have never served in the military, through aviation I have had the pleasure of working with many veterans and certainly appreciate the friendships.
This year I have had the honour of volunteering for the Legion Poppy Campaign and what a pleasure it has been.
A few hours of standing (actually I brought a chair to rest) in front of a busy grocery store passed quickly with people approaching me with broad smiles, often joking that this was the second or third poppy donation due to the pins falling out so easily.
I enjoyed the banter with everyone who share appreciation for the unselfish service of so many veterans.
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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.
Found on the internet - quote about my age group:
"There’s one advantage to being 92, there’s no peer pressure!"
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More defunct airlines of Canada.
Source:
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'Vacationair' (established as Gray Coach Airlines) was a Canadian charter airline that operated 3 Boeing 737-200s between 1988 and 1990 before ceasing operations.
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Photo by Torsten Maiwald - July 1989
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Skyservice Airlines founded in 1986 was a charter airline based in Toronto.
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Airbus A320-200 C-GTDK
September 2003
Photo by Adrian Pingstone
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Soundair Express previously Owen Sound Air Services, was a freight airline based in Mississauga, Ontario. The airline was the parent company of Air Toronto and Odyssey International.
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Douglas C-54A-1-DO Skymaster C-GPSH
(Later served with Buffalo Airways as 'Arctic Distributor').
Dorval - August 1987
Photo by Andrew Thomas
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Pepsi paid millions to paint a Concorde in its iconic blue livery. But the passengers who paid first class fares to fly the iconic jet got a much slower and shortened ride as the blue paint heated the jet so much it was allowed to fly at Mach 2 speed for a mere 10 minutes.
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Something a little different for this issue's Smiley.
Click below to view a YouTube video of the great Bob Newhart's classic Air Traffic Controller routine from the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.
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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.
Disclaimer: Please note that the NetLetter does not necessarily endorse any airline related or other "deals" that we provide for our readers.
We would be interested in any feedback (good or bad) when using these companies though and will report the results here.
We do not (normally) receive any compensation from any companies that we post in our newsletters. If we do receive a donation or other compensation, it will be indicated as a sponsored article or link. |
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