Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Terry Baker, co-founder of the NetLetter scours the internet for aviation related Trivia and Travel Tips for you, our readers, to peruse.

It is the biggest ship in the world:
An evolution of Oasis of the Seas and one of the largest and most-innovative Royal Caribbean ships to grace the waters of the sea.

Wonder of the Seas is exactly that: a wonder.
It is the biggest passenger ship in the world by gross tonnage at 236,857 gross tons.
It has 18 passenger decks and stretches nearly 1,200 feet in length.
A total of 5,734 passengers can be carried at double-occupancy; 6,988 if all berths are filled. 

Source: www.cruisecritic.com

Air Canada nee Trans-Canada Air Lines History.

(Source: Air Canada 75 years of innovation)

• 1937 -
  • Passenger operations kick off on September 1, 1937. A Lockheed Electra, carrying two passengers and mail, goes from Vancouver to Boeing Field, Seattle, in 50 minutes. The ticket costs CDN $7.90 one way, CDN $14.00 return.
• 1938 -
  • The elements quickly become an issue. In 1938, TCA is the first airline to equip its fleet with alcohol de-icing nozzles to remove the ice that accumulates on windshields at high altitude. (It sets the stage for the airline's introduction of electric de-icing to Canada in 1961)
• 1939 -
  • April 1, 1939, marks the inauguration of scheduled trans-national passenger service between Montreal and Vancouver, with stops in Ottawa, North Bay, Kapuskasing, Winnipeg, Regina and Lethbridge. The flight takes 15 hours.
• 1941 -
  • Torontonians take a bite out of the Big Apple in 1941. The first transborder service launches on May 10. Overall, the number of passengers increases by 60 percent that year.
• 1942 -
  • Some 163 male employees are in the Armed Forces in 1942, presenting TCA with a serious manpower problem. The company starts employing women as agents, chauffeurs, cargo handlers, radio operators, stock keepers and mechanics - a total of 464 women that year, or one third of the workforce. The real fun starts in 1942. TCA employees set up the Recreational Association (TCARA), which organizes hockey tournaments, photo contests, picnics, parties and even, in the early days, beauty pageants. It lives on today (2010) as the Air Canada Recreation Association (ACRA).
• 1943 -
  • The hazardous Atlantic route is first charted during the Second World War because the need for supplies can't be fully met by sea. TCA's first crossing is a 12-hour-and-26 minute flight from Montreal to Prestwick, Scotland, on July 22, 1943. An unarmed Lancaster - a military aircraft converted for civilian use - carries three passengers on official government business and 2,600 pounds of mail for the military personnel.
• 1944 -
  • On November 7, 1944, TCA convinces both the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to establish their headquarters in Montreal.
  • TCA President H.J. Symington is named president of IATA in 1945.
• 1946 -
  • By January 1946, TCA's list of Million Milers - pilots who had flown over 1 million miles - has reached 20. TCA makes great strides in passenger comfort in 1946 by installing a Janitrol Aircraft Heater in its DC-3s, an advanced unit for its time based on the internal combustion principle. Previously, aircraft heating and ventilation only worked when the airplane was aloft, so during taxiing and takeoff the cabin got chilly fast.

Editor's note: the series will continue in the next issue – Terry.

Continuing our series on The Boeing 747 aircraft after life!

While most retired B-747's are daytime tourist attractions, there is one parked in Sweden that hosts overnight stays.

Jumbo Stay Hotel is a retired Queen of the Skies that opened in 2009 and is parked next to a busy taxiway at Stockholm's Arlanda Airport, giving guests panoramic views of the airfield.

This aircraft was originally delivered to Singapore Airlines in March of 1976 and has flown for several airlines before being withdrawn from service in May 2007.

It flew for Singapore Airlines, Pan Am, Canadian carrier Nationair (as registration C-FNXP), US charter company Tower Air, and Swedish airline Transjet Airways.

See full history at: www.planespotters.net

It has been preserved at Stockholm Arlanda Airport since January 2008.

There are several onboard guest accommodations, including 33 rooms that can be either private or shared.

Source:  www.businessinsider.com

Website: www.jumbostay.com

Charter carrier Nationair Canada Ltd, headquartered at Mirabel International Airport (YMX), was founded in December 1984 and ceased operations on April 1, 1993.

The fleet had consisted of (5) B747-100, (4) B747-200, (8) 757-200, (9) DC-8-50/60 and a Fokker F100.

Source: planespotters.net

Britain's 'Jumbo' airliner - years ahead of its time.

With UK aircraft production solely concentrated of military requirements during World War II, the provision for the production of transport aircraft was the province of the American allies, who produced such notable designs as the DC-3, DC-4 and C-69 Constellation.

With the coming of peace, this left Britain with no modern commercial aircraft either in production or at the design stage other than the simple conversion of military transport aircraft.

Nevertheless, a committee (under Lord Brabazon of Tara) set out the specifications for a number of civil transport types and delivered a report now known as the 'Brabazon Report' calling for the production of aircraft in 4 design configurations.

• Type 1 - a very large trans-Atlantic airliner
• Type 2 - a short haul airliner
• Type 3 - a medium size airliner for European routes
• Type 4 - a jet-powered 500 mph airliner

Bristol Aeroplane Company had already gained experience in the design of heavy bombers during the 1930's although the war had diverted its attention into the production of military aircraft such as the Beaufort torpedo bomber.

Following the publication of the report it embarked on the most ambitious of the categories (Type 1) calling for a trans-Atlantic airliner – the design that was to emerge was the Bristol Type 167 Brabazon I.

Nowadays it is difficult to appreciate the sheer size of the Bristol 167 Brabazon - a tailplane span of 75 feet perhaps speaks volumes, as much as the 230 feet wingspan (19 feet greater than a Boeing 747-400).

The undercarriage track was 55 feet (the undercarriage development requiring the assistance of its own Avro Lincoln test aircraft!). The sole prototype (G-AGPW) was flown for the first time by A.J. (Bill) Pegg at Filton on 2nd September 1949, fitted out with test equipment rather than passenger seats.

To the surprise of some sceptics, the Brabazon proved easy to fly, and to maneuver on the ground.

Capacity: 12 crew and 100 passengers.

Editors' Note: The Brabazon attracted no orders and the single prototype that flew was scrapped in 1953, and a second prototype intended to use turboprop engines was scrapped before completion.

Source: baesystems.com

Sigrun Cowan sent in -

I would like to add a picture of the Air Canada Silver Broom tournament mentioned in NetLetter #1482.

I was fortunate to be the official Air Canada Flight Attendant presenter of the trophy ? 1985 in Glasgow. It is a part of our Air Canada history.

Sigrun Cowan,
Retired Flight Attendant, YVR

Editors' Note: Look for more stories about the Silver Broom in our next edition.

Dave Edward sent us this memory -

It was great to see the post from Mike Horan in the latest NetLetter #1482.

Mike was station Manager in Shannon Airport (SNN) while twelve of us, furloughed pilots '61 to '65, flew with Aer Lingus based in Dublin.

Mike used to go out of his way to accommodate any of us when we attempted to plus home for a visit. When the recall came in '65, he was inundated with boxes and trunks and tea chests (in my case) of goods and chattels to be shipped home to Canada.

I never had a chance to properly thank him for the way he looked after all of us.

Thank You, Mike. "Cead Mile Failte".

As an aside, my dad, Captain Gath Edward, used to comment on the efficiency of EINN... (SNN) due to Mike's hard work.

Dave Edward

Submitted by Ian Buchanan -

Regarding Roger Kovalyk’s reference to the TCA Roadshow in NetLetter #1482. I was part of that with a folk group for a couple of years. The Rock Band then was excellent. The leader was “Bev” and he, with Bob Keeping, did all the technical production.

There was a magician and a chorus line and the whole thing was quite professional. I think it was funded by the early recreation group. The funding ended after a disastrous show at a hospital in Montreal when a major snow storm prevented many of the cast and crew getting there.

We should have cancelled the show and what we did was very disjointed. We had some great times entertaining the armed forces and at hospitals and there were some great stories. Not everyone worked for the company but I think someone in the Rock Band did.

I still get a smile on my face when I think about The Maple Leaf Revue.

Ian Buchanan