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From CP Air News |
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Issue dated May 1971 |
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Brilliant Inaugural to Israel Features Fanfare, Publicity One of the most impressive sights in history of Israel's Lod Airport was the inaugural arrival on April 2, 1971 of CP Air DC-8-63 Spacemaster with President John C. Gilmer; VP Marketing and Sales H. B. Renwick and a load of revenue passengers. While the first-flight passengers were presented with flowers and souvenir scrolls, the President and Vice-President were greeted officially by local dignitaries including the Israel Director of Civil Aviation, the Canadian ambassador and the President of El Al. Crew members on the historic first flight to Israel were: Captain R. F. Thorne, Check Captain A. W. Weatherbe, First Officer A. W. Clark, Second Officer R. O. Wilson, Purser M. Ruggiero, Steward F. Saudelli, Stewardesses B. A. Ebster, B. A. Langpap and T. M. Anderson. |
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President Gilmer arriving on the inaugural flight to Israel. |
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Issue dated September 1977 |
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The NetLetter #1519 had quite a history for the DC-8 Fin #608 'Empress of Santiago'. Here is some information from the 'CP Air News' magazine issued September 1977. Short-Term Lease of DC-8 To Flying Tigers. The 'Empress of Santiago', aircraft #608 (CF-CPT) moved to Flying Tiger Line on a temporary lease. The DC-8-55F aircraft was taken out of service on August 30, 1977 for maintenance, removal of seats and galleys and the installation of ground proximity warning system. The lease commenced on September 17 and runs for three months with the option of extending it to April 1978 if required. During the lease period it will fly in a freighter configuration. The aircraft will be required by CP Air next spring (1978) in order to maintain the summer schedule. The Flying Tiger Line required the additional freight capacity of aircraft #608 because of the need to check their fleet of DC-8 series 63 aircraft for spar damage. A similar check was completed on the CP Air DC-8 63 series aircraft earlier this year. Flying Tiger Line has 16 of the series 63 aircraft in its fleet. Flying Tiger Line is no stranger to CP Air as it leased two DC-8-63 series aircraft from us in 1968/69. The 'Empress of Santiago' has been with CP Air since it was purchased from Braniff International in 1967. |
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Glasgow - Prestwick Photo courtesy of David A. Montgomery |
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More from issue dated February 1978 |
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England to purchase DC-8-55F aircraft 'Empress of Santiago'. The aircraft has been surplus to fleet plan since September 1977 when it was leased to Flying Tiger Line for use in an air freight configuration. It is owned by the parent company (C.P. Ltd.) and was purchased from the Douglas Aircraft Company in 1967. It was used by CP Air in all-passenger configuration except for a period of time in 1972 when it was converted to passenger/cargo for one Canada - Hong Kong weekly and five times weekly cross Canada Cargo with 69 economy seats. Under the Letter of Intent the 'Empress' listed as #608 with CP Air was acquired by IAS Cargo Airlines of the U.K in August 1978. Editors' Note: IAS was renamed British Cargo Airlines and ceased operation in March 1980. The aircraft was stored from March 1980 to February 1982 when it was leased by ANDES of Ecuador and re-registered as HC-BJT. |
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G-BSKY at Dusseldorf, Germany April 29, 1979 Photo courtesy of Udo Haafke |
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This photo, by Pierre Gillard, is of Wardair Boeing 747-1D1 c/n 20208 C-FDJC at Gatwick, UK on May 9, 1983. Source: QAM magazine issue # 5. |
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