Christmas Around the World
As mentioned in Alan's Space, Alan and Mary Lou are celebrating Christmas and New Year's in style by cruising in Australia and New Zealand.
Lately, I have found myself thinking of a very special Christmas season for myself ten years ago. I had some vacation time in early December 2007 and a C1 pass to use before the end of the year so I decided to enjoy an Executive Class ride to Beijing. I had toured China earlier in the year and wanted to see more of this historic city.
I certainly was not expecting to see Christmas decorations around the city but, to my surprise, my hotel was beautifully decorated for the season. My first impression was that this was simply for the benefit of tourists but over the next few days I learned that the people very much into the 'spirit' of Christmas.
One of my guides on this trip was very knowledgeable about western culture and was able to explain to me the meaning of Christmas from a non-Christian perspective. 
My guide also mentioned to me that there could be good deals on hotel rooms in China during the Chinese New Year celebrations because the people returned home to be with their families during this time. So I returned to Beijing in February 2008 to see people carrying gifts of flowers and small red envelopes (containing currency) as they travelled around the city to celebrate the holiday with their loved ones.
The concept of a day when everyone is at peace and the joy of giving is universal and can be celebrated within all faiths and cultures.
| Alan Evans, out in South Africa, sends us this the Aerial Rule for Aerial Fools: Natal Aviation a set of safety rules for its pupil pilots. Here we have the first list of the rules, the rest will following in NetLetter # 1382. | |
 |
 |
|
Alarm Bells "The Donald's" recent trade mission to China paid dividends for US manufacturer Bell, with a further 50 orders for its Bell 505 Jet Ranger X (JRX) helicopter. Initially introduced in June 2013 as the Bell SLS (Short Light Single). All good for President Trump's "America First" policy. Mind you, perhaps the celebrations will be more vigorous elsewhere; the Textron subsidiary manufactures the Bell 505 in Montreal, Canada using the Arrius 2R power plants supplied by France's Safran. (Source: Flight International November 11, 2017) |
|
|
TCA/Air Canada, over the years, have operated 25 different aircraft types of which 11 aircraft types have been retired. |
| Ways to avoid paying too much to travel. (Source: MSN.COM) |
|
Weekend Departures Sure, it might be more convenient to pack up and go on a Saturday or Sunday, but the cost of convenience might be more than you realize. From a mini getaway to long trip, you can cut costs in a big way by booking your flight out for mid-week. |
|
“Charging It” Overseas You pack the plastic because it’s one of the most convenient – and safe – ways to keep money on hand while away, but beware of any fees or foreign transaction charges that your credit card company might apply once you cross the border. If you travel often, it pays to do some research into companies that offer discounted rates for credit card use while abroad – some even offer perks that can benefit you at the airport and give you breaks on travel insurance. |
|
Border Cities Aero Club, Windsor, Ontario.
This association was the first and oldest group in Canada to be granted a charter as a member of the Royal Canadian Flying Clubs Association. Here we have this photo of a Border Cities Aero Club moth aircraft in November 1930 being loaded with newspapers which travel to London, Ontario in 70 minutes. (Source: The Windsor Star) |
|
When service started in 1946, BCPA had no aircraft that could operate the route so they chartered DC-4s from privately-owned domestic carrier Australian National Airways (ANA), pending delivery of BCPA's own DC-6s in 1948. The BCPA routes to HNL/SFO/YVR, initially operated for BCPA by chartered ANA aircraft (in ANA livery) were later transferred to Qantas when BCPA was shut down in 1953. Ken Pickford |
|
Japan Airlines is investing $10 million into Boom Aircraft, the Denver-based startup promising to bring back supersonic air travel. The deal includes options for 20 aircraft.
Boom hopes to fly its one-third scale technical demonstrator next year at subsonic speeds before moving into supersonic testing on the Edwards Air Force Base test range. (Source: AVwebFlash December 5, 2017) |
The Boom passenger jet, according to the company’s target specs, will fly for 4,500 NM between refueling stops—just enough to carry 55 passengers on the 4,452-NM trip from Tokyo Narita International to San Francisco International at Mach 2.2.|
Vern Swerdfeger has sent us these comments referring to the Canso article by Bill Cameron in NetLetter # 1378. I don’t agree with some of the dates shown, I was a radio-operator and weather observer for the DOT at YZP in 1952 and I’m darn sure the Canso was flying at that time and the Vern |
|
Bill Cameron continued the dialogue with the following - About dates for Canso operations: Yes, there was a CPAL Canso in operation between YPR and YZP in 1952 when you were based at YZP as you noted. And, the DC-4 operated between YVR and YZP, with payloads exchanged at YZP. It was Canso CF-CRV that was in operation between YVR and YZP - In 1952 when you were at YZP with the DOT. That aircraft was written off in an accident on the Harbour at YPR in 1953. Captain was H. Clegg, and F/O E. Abbey - a stewardess and a passenger lost their lives. But in my article, the date of 1954 is given for the operation of Canso CF-CRP, the aircraft that had been transferred from the Quebec District. In 1955 the other remaining Canso CF-CRR was also moved from the Quebec district, and based at YPR. There were two Canso aircraft there until 1960. The fourth Canso that CPAL acquired in 1946 - CF-CRQ, was written off in an accident at Osisko Lake, Ontario in 1949. (No fatalities) Bill Cameron |
|
In a further e-mail from Bill Cameron was the following information: Attached is a short history of the four Consolidated 28A-5 Canso aircraft in CPAL service, 1946 to 1960. This information is included in the two PDF documents below. Sadly, many of the colleagues/friends that we worked with, or that flew those great airplanes are no longer with us... Cheers, Bill Cameron |
 Consolidated 28-5A - ‘Canso A” Aircraft - In Service with CPAL 1946-1960. |
| List and history of each of the four 28-5A ‘Canso’ aircraft of CPAL . |
|
Having read the article regarding the Viscount in NetLetter # 1379. Clint Ward sent us this information. It is a very important aircraft in my career because it’s the one I got promoted on and I flew it for almost 12 years before I embraced the jet years.
I have written a Memoir called “On All The Other Days.” The title is from a Peanuts cartoon where Charley Brown and Snoopy are sitting a dock looking out on a lake. Charlie breaks the silence, “Someday we will all die, Snoopy.” “True,” Snoopy replies, “but on all the other days we will not.” They are words that daily inspire me because several years ago, I was within a close death and was very fortunate to survive so all the other days have great meaning. There is second interpretation as well. I was a professional pilot but on all the other days I managed to indulge in many things, flying, sports, theatre, music and film. Writing occupied my spare time and it is all covered in the book. It is available on Amazon in colour or black and white. More about Captain Ward: “On All The Other Days” is a memoir of the multi-dimensional renaissance journey of author, Clint Ward. It is a rare glimpse “behind the curtain” of a life well-lived, interwoven with epic proportions of high flying adventure, sportsmanship and world travel. After high school, a short stint in Canada’s Royal Canadian Air Force set him on his vocation as a professional aviator. Throughout a career that spanned nearly 40 years with Trans-Canada Air Lines and Air Canada, he piloted seven different aircraft, including 12 years as a captain on the Boeing 747. Click Here for his Facebook page. |
