Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

CP Air Boeing 737-200 - Rare liveries

I'm always interested in aircraft with unusual liveries. While looking at photos of the CP Air B-737 fleet, I came across one that had been leased on several occasions by CP / Canadian from Britannia Airways.

Original registration G-BJCV was originally delivered to Britannia Airways in April 1982 and named for Viscount Trenchard. It seems to have been leased for most of its early lifecycle.

It was leased to CP Air in November 1985 and re-registered as C-GXCP. It flew in the hybrid livery below until returned in January 1986. 

It was again leased to Canadian Airlines in October 1987, this time re-registered as C-GCAU, returned in April 1988. It was then leased briefly to Air Sul of Portugal from January 1989 to April 1990.

Acquired by Ryanair in 1994, it was re-registered as EI-CJC and painted in Hertz special colours (hard to miss!).

It finished its career registered as OB-1839-P flying for Star Perú and Peruvian Airlines from June 2006. Rzjets indicates that it was withdrawn from service in March 2014 and placed in storage. 

View full lifecycle at: www.planespotters.net

C-GXCP - Photo by Gary Vincent 

Vancouver, November 1985

EI-CJC - Photo by Aero Icarus

Ryanair's Hertz 'logojet' taxiing at London Stansted Airport

May 2003

OB-1839-P - Photo by Lazaro Bugosen

Star Perú - at Lima, March 2007

Submitted by Dave Ayton, 

Back in the day I was trying to get back to my home base in YYZ, on a stand-by pass. In those days at Heathrow, Air Canada and British Airways shared adjacent gates.

Though travelling by myself this particular flight was ram jam packed and getting a seat was very unlikely. Whilst standing at the counter I chanced to glance over to the British Airways gate and I spotted a BA employee I had met once at a party at the home of a friend in Montreal.

She was frantically waving to me and, pushing my way through the crowded gates, I stood before her position at the counter. She must have been able to lipread my predicament at AC's gate because she offered me a ticket to YYZ, 1st class would you believe?

In those days of mutual cooperation between our two airlines, stand-by was reciprocated in the early 80's. I thanked her most profusely and accepting her offer, I dashed off up the stairs to the gate with ticket in hand, departure times were then close together. I cannot now remember her name but I shall always remember her kindness.

Regards Dave Ayton,

formerly CAVT-AME YYZ

Submitted by Andre Lepine,

In your last NetLetter (#1524), that my good friend, Bernie Reid, retired SOC Manager forwarded to me, I am the fellow behind the photo 'Pilots do Windows'.

Indeed, I was a frequent flyer from Calgary, now living in Fernie, British Columbia. Hard to believe that was almost 30 years ago. I was heading home to YYC after a two-week business trip in Europe when I was with Shell Canada.

I went on to a second career as VP Global Sales for an aviation lubricants company in New Jersey. I flew even more miles after that 1994 photo. I now have flown over 1.3 million miles and am member of the Million Miler Group. In all my travels around the world, I knew I was almost home, wherever I was when I would see the Air Canada logo at check-in after a usually very long business trip.

I was not just an Air Canada customer, but Air Canada was also my customer. During my career, Air Canada purchased jet fuel from Shell, I remember dealing with gentleman by the name of John Sosnokowski (sp.??). Air Canada was also a lubricants customer when I was with Royal Lubricants, met many folks at Air Canada then.

My roots and connections go a long way with Air Canada. A cousin, Maurice Labine, now retired at one time was the youngest captain on B-747’s.

I am retired but still consult on aviation lubes, so I still speak with Air Canada folks at various conferences. Three weeks ago, I had lunch with a former school colleague, Carole Trottier, who is a retired FA based a YUL. My next-door neighbour in Fernie and ski friend is a retired FA that was based at YUL and YYC.

I also had a flying career as a commercial pilot (non-airline). My IFR instructor was Ron Distasio, before his Air Canada career he instructed out of CYHU. Now a retired Airbus 330 captain. Even though he trained me almost 40 years ago, I still meet with him whenever I go to Montreal.

So, you see my roots and connections go deep with Air Canada not just a frequent flyer. I can always say 99% of the folks I have met and dealt with from Air Canada over the many years are excellent individuals that have made Air Canada proud.

Best regards,

Andre Labine,
Fernie, British Columbia

Pionairs President, Larry Johns, recently brought the Calgary Mosquito Society to our attention. 

Excerpt from their website:

The Mission of the Calgary Mosquito Society
Retain, Restore, Honour and Educate

The Mosquito:

"Working to preserve the last photo-survey Mosquito"

To serve as stewards for the de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito, RS700/CF-HMS, owned by the City of Calgary. Our plan is to preserve this important piece of Canadian peace-time aviation history, restore it to static condition as it was when operated by Spartan Air Services in the 1950s and to create materials that will educate the public on the Mosquito aircraft and role aviation has played on the exploration of Canada.

The Hurricane:

To serve as stewards for the Hawker Hurricane, RCAF 5389, owned by the City of Calgary. Our plan is to preserve this important piece of Canadian war-time aviation history, restore it to static condition and to create materials that will educate the public on Canadian's contribution to freedom during the Second World War. 

They have been quite active in YouTube posts so we invite you to view their videos beginning with the video linked to the image below.

We wish to thank the following subscribers who have sent in a few complimentary comments on our efforts in creating The NetLetter.

In our view, nothing so enjoyable can ever be hard work. It is a pleasure to share memories with our readers.

Thank you so much for putting The NetLetter together, it looks like a lot of work.

I thoroughly enjoy reading all the articles and looking at the pictures of times past.

Trudy Piccirilli,

YVR Passenger Services, 1973 - 2013

I would like to thank you for all your effort to send us so many great and interesting articles. I am in my 21st year of retirement and always read with interest every article of the NetLetter.

Wish you all a Happy New Year.

Alexander Scheu

Wayne, you are doing a super job. Please keep it up. While The NetLetter has excellent articles, I really enjoy your well researched stories. I worked in both areas, maintenance and sitting in the pointy end.

Merry Xmas to you and yours,

Captain Ranald MacDougall ( retired AC )