Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Vickers Viscount, CF-THS, has been retired to the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (RAMWC) at Winnipeg for several years and has gone through an in-depth refurbishing program, ready for the public to view with a ceremony on May 22, 2022. 

Source: Robert W. Arnold, Viscount Project Manager, RAMWC

Editors' Note: See 'Subscriber Feedback' section for more info. 

Vic Bentley, who volunteers his time, sends us this information -

Canada will be marking Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.

On July 1, Canada Day, the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, British Columbia will host our community to a family-oriented commemoration of the 70 years that Queen Elizabeth II has reigned as Queen of Canada.

The event will have the primary objective of providing all families in our community with the opportunity to have an enjoyable and educational day out, regardless of means, through free admission and free activities. The QE II Commemorative Day will feature appropriate and tastefully themed crafts and participation activities for children.

'Wings over Springbank' Airshow - July 23 & 24, 2022

Featured performance: The Canadian Forces Snowbirds

The thunderous roar of formation-flying jets screaming across the Springbank sky will officially return this summer. The Canadian Forces Snowbirds, a nine-plane demonstration team, will mark their fourth appearance at the 'Wings Over Springbank' Airshow.

Springbank Airport (YBW) - YBW.ca
175 MacLaurin Drive,  Calgary Alberta, T3Z 3S4

Gates open at 10:00, close at 18:00.

Source: wingsoverspringbank.com 

Québec Aerospace Museum (Musée de l'aérospatiale du Québec - MAQ). 

Saturday, July 9, 2022, there will be a party for the members of the MAQ.

Ordinary General Assembly at 11:00, after which will be included an exclusive visit of the Lux terminal and the installations of WAAS Aerospace at Saint-Hubert airport will be organized for all members of MAQ and their families.

The Pionairs host Coffee Group meetings at local districts in Canada, United States and United Kingdom.

Check www.pionairs.ca and select your district from the 'Districts' tab.

Click 'Coffee Groups' in the list on the left. If no meetings are listed, feel free to contact your District Director to inquire about meetings. 

Pionairs Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands District Coffee Group meetings.

• Comox Valley
  • The last Thursday of each month. At Plates restaurant in Courtenay 11:00 a.m.
• Sidney
  • The last Thursday of each month. At Bevan Bistro in Sidney, 9:30 a.m.
• Victoria
  • The last Wednesday of each month. At Oaks Restaurant & Tea Room on Oak Bay Avenue, 10:00 a.m.

2016 - Air Canada Rouge service launched:

• May 19 - Toronto - London (Gatwick).
• May-29 - Toronto - Prague.

Found in 'Horizons' magazine

Issue dated March 2002.

DC-9 calls it a day.

After 35 years of service, the DC-9 was retired from the fleet on January 13, 2002. It has left behind the legacy of being the workhorse of the short-haul markets, especially during the introduction of the jet age.

In the early 1960's. the airline needed to purchase a short/medium-haul jet. "Based on economics, technical studies, and passenger traffic forecasts, the DC-9 was purchased for its low operating costs and ability to provide frequent service between short-haul markets," said George Reeleder, Senior Director Scheduling.

"The DC-9 was not only ordered as a prop replacement but it was a competitive necessity as U .S. carriers such as American, Delta and United were going to introduce jets on competitive routes to New York and Chicago. The Vickers Vanguard just could not compete in the jet era."

With a seating capacity of 72, the DC-9-14 quickly proved too small and its range was limited.

On June 12, 1965, the airline ordered twelve DC-9-32's. It was 4.5 metres longer and could seat up to 115 passengers. Equipped with a high-lift wing system of leading edge slats, it provided better short-field performance and increased lift allowed pilots to fly the aircraft slower and therefore use less runway for landing. The 30 series became the best-selling version of the DC-9 as airlines appreciated its economics and performance.

"You fly it manually. There are no computers," said Captain Martin Herron who flew the aircraft for 18 years. I'm going to miss flying that airplane." 

From an article by Mary Manni,

Coach/Counsellor at Toronto's Call Centre.

• Air Canada was the first international carrier to order the DC-9.
• The DC-9-14's cost $4 million each.
• The first Air Canada flight occurred on April 6, 1966, Montreal - New York (JFK).
• DC-9 was Air Canada's first aircraft to provide liftable armrests.
• DC-9 was Air Canada's first aircraft to have an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU).
• Air Canada ordered 50 between November 1963 and February 1973.

Issue dated July/August 2002.

Destina.ca was launched in April 2002.

Within three years, the Canadian online travel industry was expected to generate some $4.5 billion in travel business. It is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Internet, and it's for that reason that Air Canada launched Destina.ca in April.

"We launched Destina.ca because the world of distribution is being re-defined, and we saw an opportunity to play a lead role in the evolution of distribution in Canada," said Lise Fournel, President & CEO Destina and VP Information Technology - 2003 - 2006.

"Destina.ca is part of Air Canada's strategy to develop competitive business units that generate revenue and save money for the corporation."

Editors' note: Destina.ca has since ceased operation. 

Lise Fournel continued in the position of Senior Vice-President E-Commerce and Information Technology from May 2006 to April 2016.

Below - The Destina.ca crew take a well-earned break to pose for Horizons.

Found on the CP Air Employees Facebook page -

Shown in this photo holding the EPA CUP is part of the combined team of Charlottetown (YYG) and Fredericton (YFC) who last year, ruled supreme the EPA hockey greats of 1979.

Team members from left to right are:

Don McCallum, YYG; Paul Brothers, YFC; Claude Goodwin, YYG; Paul Clark, TAS YYG; Chris Nicholson, YFC; Bob Hennessey, TAS YYG and Rosco Currie, YFC.

From the "InfoCanadi>n" magazine.

Issue dated June 1988.

Annual Sales Blitz.

May 1988 was blitz month for Canadian Airlines sales offices across Canada.

Sales reps and volunteers from each city, equipped with information kits and timetables, visited all top accounts, travel agencies and other businesses to publicize the introduction of the B-767.

In Calgary, volunteer pilots and flight attendants in uniform accompanied sales staff as they blitzed local radio stations as well.

In this photo, disc jockey Don Slade of Calgary radio station CFAC greets with open arms, from left:

Barry Moffitt, Captain B-737; Penny Holden, Flight Attendant; Alan McDonald, Sales Representative and Vaughn Moir, Captain B-737. 

Also participating in the Calgary blitz and visiting another radio station at the time of this photo were Ralph Tweten, First Officer B-737; Joanne Andrusiak and Cindy Gielnik, Flight Attendants and Andrea Olson, Customer Service Agent, Reservations.