Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Our cartoon is from the 'CP Air News' magazine issued March 1981 - submitted by Fernando Moure.

The caption reads all I asked was “What’s the ceiling today in the cigateria?”

 Embraer ERJ-175

The introduction of a new fleet always brings out some degree of controversy and the surprising decision to purchase regional jets from Embraer in the early 2000's was no exception. Delivery of the original 15 commenced in July 2005 with the arrival of C-FEIQ (Fin #371) and continued in quick succession to January 2006 with arrival of C-FFYG (Fin #385).

The fuel efficient new model ERJ 175 series were acquired at a favourable price and were just the right size to open up new trans-border markets while the company was still going through a restructuring. 

Maintenance and the availability of parts were a cause for concern in the chatter I was over hearing. I specifically remember some issues about the aircraft's performance in cold weather (cabin doors freezing etc.).

My first flight on an E175 was in 2007 when I was travelling for IAM training at the Winpisinger Center in Placid Harbor, Maryland. I was excited to fly on this aircraft, even though I had to fly all night from Vancouver to Toronto first (continuing on to Washington D.C.).

Since I was travelling on a business pass, I knew that I had a seat up front and this was also my first opportunity to play with the newly installed Thales entertainment system. I was impressed with the aircraft as it was quite comfortable for a regional jet.

Despite the initial concerns, these 15 aircraft have continued to be workhorses approaching 20 years of service.

Air Canada leased the original aircraft to Sky Regional Airlines in 2013 under a service agreement (another 10 aircraft were then added to the fleet). In a controversial business move, all 25 aircraft were transferred to Jazz Air in 2021 and are currently operating under the Air Canada Express brand.  

Click the image below to view an E175 trip report by our favourite videographer, Alex Praglowski (don't forget to subscribe to his YouTube channel).

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

Wasaya Airways

Imagine the quantities of food, clothing, hardware, building materials, gasoline, heating fuel, boats, motors, snowmobiles, medical supplies, school and office supplies that are required to meet the needs of over 25 communities with populations of 500 to 4,000 people.

Now imagine having to air transport all of the supplies in to these communities which do not have road access to southern markets, suppliers and manufacturers.

The fleet consists of Beech 1900D, Cessna 208B, Hawker-Siddeley 748, Pilatus PC12 and Dash-8.

Wasaya Airways incorporated by Wasaya Corporation (now Wasaya Group Inc.) in 1989 for a requesting group of Northwestern Ontario First Nations, whose purpose was to acquire controlling interest in what was known as Kelner Airways.

In 1993, the Kelner Airways name changed to Wasaya Airways Limited. It holds 100% ownership of Wasaya Airways, thus making it 100% First Nation owned.

Source: www.Wasaya.com/

Iraqi Airways To Auction Old Boeing 747's

As reported first by FlightGlobal, Iraqi Airways is putting up for auction two Boeing 747's which were employed by the airline decades ago.

These planes were taken out of commercial activity in the aftermath of the Gulf War. One plane is a Boeing 747-200CM and the other is a B-747SP-70. Both were manufactured in 1982 and have Pratt & Whitney JT9D engines.

Source: SimpleFlying.com

Boeing 720 (modified).

Introduced by Boeing in 1959, the B-720 is a smaller capacity, lighter, medium range variant of the B-707, one of the most successful airliners of the 20th century. C-FETB is the B-720 flying test bed operated by Pratt & Whitney Canada until 2010.

One of 154 model B-720's manufactured by Boeing between 1959 and 1967, C-FETB was the single remaining operational Boeing 720 in the world. On May 9, 2012, the aircraft made its final flight, travelling from Montreal Saint-Hubert to CFB Trenton – the last flight ever of a B-720.

Source: airforcemuseum.ca

Joby Aviation says that it has successfully flown the production prototype of its in-development electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for the first time.

Joby Aviation intends for its air taxi to enter service in 2025. 

Source: JobyAviation.com

UK Large Model Association Shows and Events
Festival of Flight

Shuttleworth (Old Warden) Aerodrome,
Old Warden, United Kingdom

September 16 - 17, 2023.

Times: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.