Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Boeing 747-100 "The Classic"

Entered Air Canada service with the delivery of Fin 301 in February 1971. Deliveries of Fins 302 to 306 continued through May 1974 (see 305 above in header). These giants were the class of the industry and replaced the DC-8 on growing markets from Toronto to London and Paris. Domestically they were used on the busy Toronto - Vancouver route.

Fins 301 and 302 were sold to Guinness Peat Aviation by 1985 and continued in service under various registrations until 1999. Fin 302 was operated briefly by Wardair Canada from October 1986 until June 1990.  Fins 303 to 305 remained in service in the Air Canada fleet until retired 1998. Unfortunately, it seems that all five have been broken up and none remain in storage.

My favourite personal experience with this fleet was flying on Fin 303 from Toronto to Las Vegas. The aircraft was (at the time) configured for sun destination charters with 497 economy seats. I was seated on the bottom deck at the front of the aircraft when it was suddenly hit by lightning just at the beginning of the descent into Las Vegas. There was a Big Bang and then a fireball sped through the cabin. Everyone on board caught a glimpse of the “Bright Lights” before we even got to the Big City. Ironically, it happened so quickly that there was no time to be frightened. I flew on Fin 303 a few more times before it was retired and always felt a particular bond with this aircraft. 
Sources: Air Canada OnAir and Planespotters.net. To view a “Classic” landing in Toronto please click here

Avianca Brazil will join the Star Alliance network July 22, 2015.

Lufthansa’s flight attendant union UFO has agreed to postpone any further strike action until mid-July after receiving concessions on pay and pensions from the German carrier.

Don Brady sends this memory –

We did not have digital radar in the TRACON 25 years ago when I was an air traffic controller. With our analog radar, spring and fall waterfowl migrations of ducks, geese, and cranes always created a cluster of raw radar returns on the scope. It was one of those days when the scope was almost white with more raw radar returns coming from flocks of birds than from transponder-equipped or non-transponder-equipped aircraft returns (of which there were and still are MANY in Alaska!). It is always a long flight to Alaska, and the captain was chatty, with a sense of humor. Delta checks on with the standard information arriving the airport. ... DAL 123: "XXX approach, this is DAL 123 descending out of 8,000 with information Bravo. Direct the VOR." ... Approach (me): "DAL123, XXX approach. Traffic 12 o'clock, five miles opposite direction, altitude unknown. Multiple targets, most likely waterfowl." ... DAL: "Approach, how do you know that? Do they have a transponder?" ... Approach: "DAL 123, no sir, but they are squawking!" -- Dan Brady

We're pleased to introduce a new feature this month called "Wayne's Wings". Wayne Albertson, newest member of the "NetLetter Team", will be providing a new section in each issue regarding aircraft in the ACFamily Fleet of aircraft (all the previous airlines that have molded themselves into the present Air Canada).We plan to expand on this feature within the ACFN website by adding an aircraft specific section where we can display photos and stories from our readers.

As Wayne said to me recently, "Every time I board an aircraft, I take note of the FIN number. This sometimes brings back memories of previous flights or experiences with these specific aircraft".

To me, some obvious FIN numbers or registrations stick in my mind, 604 (Gimli Glider), 501 and 503 (L1011's) and CF-TCC.

For those subscribers asking about the Obituaries area, this is being rebuilt on the new ACFN website, but is still available at www.acfamily.net/obituaries

Alan Rust
NetLetter Administrator