Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter
Since 1995 Saturday, May 9, 2026
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Bradley Air Services
C-GJVN - Hawker Siddeley HS-748 Ottawa - Carp (YRP) - June 1985
Photo by Alain Rioux |
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Dear Welcome to The NetLetter, established in 1995 as a dedicated newsletter for Air Canada retirees.
We have evolved into the longest running aviation-based newsletter for Air Canada, TCA, CP Air, Canadian Airlines and all other Canadian-based airlines that once graced the skies. The NetLetter is self-funded and is always free to subscribers. It is operated by a group of volunteers and is not affiliated with any airline or associated organizations. The NetLetter is published on the second and fourth weekend of each month. If you are interested in Canadian aviation history, and vintage aviation photos, especially as it relates to Trans-Canada Air Lines, Air Canada, Canadian Airlines International and their constituent airlines, then we're sure you'll enjoy this newsletter. Please note: We do our best to identify and credit the original source of all content presented. However, should you recognize your material and are not credited; please advise us so that we can correct our oversight. Our website is located at www.thenetletter.net Please click the links below to visit our archives and for more info about The NetLetter. |
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 We have welcomed 61 new subscribers so far in 2026.
We currently have 4,602 subscribers.
We wish to thank everyone for the continuing support of our efforts.
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 Back issues of The NetLetter are available in both the original newsletter format and downloadable PDF format.
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We always welcome feedback about Air Canada (including Jazz and Rouge) from our subscribers who wish to share current events, memories and photographs.
Particularly if you have stories to share from one of the legacy airlines: Trans-Canada Air Lines, Canadian Airlines, CP Air, Pacific Western, Maritime Central Airways, Eastern Provincial, Wardair, Nordair, Transair, Air BC, Time Air, Quebecair, Calm Air, NWT Air, Air Alliance, Air Nova, Air Ontario, Air Georgian and all other Canadian based airlines that once graced the Canadian skies.
We will try to post your comments in the next issue but, if not, we will publish it as soon as we can.
Thanks!
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 Events listed in the March Newsletter from the Pionairs Manitoba, Saskatchewan & Nunavut district |
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May 14, 2026 Spring Luncheon -
Viscount Gort Hotel once again will provide a beautiful luncheon of Chicken Parmesan with trimmings, scalloped potatoes, mixed greens salad with mandarin oranges in raspberry dressing.
The vegetarian option is 2 veggie kabobs on a bed of rice also served with soup and salad. Dessert is strawberry cake. Tickets available at $25.00 for members and spouses and $35.00 for guests.
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June 3, 2026 - Take me out to the ballgame -
11:00 a.m. at Blue Cross Park
This game is between the Sioux Falls Canaries & Winnipeg Goldeyes. Yes, we have booked 2 boxes in the shade.
Stay tuned to hear more about reserving your tickets. Cost $25.00 per ticket.
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Take to the skies
 August 1-2, 2026 the skies over Grande Prairie, Alberta will once again come alive with the return of the Grande Prairie Regional Airshow.
Experience the largest air show in the region, featuring thrilling aerial performances, incredible aircraft, and family-friendly excitement for all ages. Tickets are on sale now, so don’t miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable weekend.
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Thanks to John Rodger for sending us these photos of Quebec Pionairs enjoying the long standing tradition of a 'Sugaring-Off' luncheon at the Cabane à Sucre Le Goinfre in Belle-Rivière, about 10K south of Mirabel.
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Thérèse et André Ouimet, Sylvie Ouimet & Louis Beaulieu,
François & Ginette Lapalme
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Michel Dattore, Michel & Diane Grand-Maison,
Danielle Pelletier & Gloria Lefebvre
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West Island Group
Ingrid Young, Laurie Craig, Jackie & Bob Boudreau, June Keen,
Helene Racicot & Rose Page.
Behind the camera Ted Page.
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Nicole Duron, Lucie Champagne (organizer), Gloria Lefebvre, Gérard Trudel & Michel Dattore (organizer)
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Frank Knowlton, Bernard Girard, Michel Geoffroy, right, Serge Brault, Marcelin Deslauriers & Lise Boudreault
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Robert Thibault, Unidentified gentleman,
Val Jukovic & Richard Patenaude.
Robert was celebrating his 88th birthday
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Found in 'Horizons' magazine
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Issue dated March 1998
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The following employees from In-Flight Service in Montreal celebrated 30 years of service.
Front row, left to right: Elaine M. Antoniou, Gisèle Dupret, Shirley Benoit Goyette, Louise Dufour, Lorraine Nantel, Francine Marchand and Carolle Begin.
Second row: Nicole Simard, Robert Brunet, Donna Vissa, Suzanne Brunet, Diana Brien, Andrée Benoit, Anna Maria Berschl, and an unidentified male.
Third row: Chirstiane Grenon, Michelle Leroux, Ingrid De La Loyere, Silvia Kollamann Trépanier, Françoise Falvet, Marie-Claude Matthews, Monique Tremblay and Jacques Lusignan.
Top row: Jacqueline Paré, Molly Lessard, Suzanne Geoffrion, Suzanne Proulx, Thérèse Perreault Bossardt and Carol la Ferte.
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These employees from Customer Service in Toronto recently celebrated an important service anniversary.
Front row, left to right: Bruce Bodium, Joe McRobb, Dave Houston, Joe Venafro, Bob Colamatto, Larry Cufino and Al Horney.
Middle row: Forbes Nelles, Cam Baker, Bob Hainstock, Barry Smuck, Paul Ferguson, Neil Ronan and Brian Carey.
Back row: Paul Van Eyk, Al Davies, Paul Paterson, Reg Harris, R. J. Bailey, Ken Murray, Norm MacDonald, Gerry Heinen, Rick Irwin, Terry Houston, Bob Nelson, Peter Morrison, Gerry Pipe and Jim McWilliams.
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Issue dated April 1998
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A Golden Moment
Canada's Women's Olympic Curling Champions 'brought home the gold' from Japan on Air Canada flight 890. Purser Marlene Tansley and the Cabin Crew ensured it was a golden moment for everyone on board.
After take-off and a champagne toast, many passengers visited the champions to extend their personal congratulations. For most on board it was a thrilling experience to see and touch an Olympic Gold Medal, and shake hands with the team who made it happen.
Pictured here are Flight Attendants Marlene Tansley (Purser), Marge Cymbala, Denise Wills, Barbara Buchanan, Rae Naku and Ojaksu Tsujimoto who had the pleasure of meeting the Canadian ladies Olympic gold medal champions Sandra Schmirler (Skip). Jan Betker (Third), Joan McCusker (Second), Marcia Gudereit (Lead) and Atina Ford (Alternate).
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President Lamar Durrett's visit to European stations.
During a 1998 European visit, President and CEO Lamar Durrett took the opportunity to meet with many of our Air Canada colleagues in England, France, Germany, Scotland and Switzerland.
The informal visits gave employees a chance to ask questions and gave Mr. Durrett an opportunity to thank employees for their support.
London - in the Load Office, left to right: Mike Waterer, John O'Connor, Paul Marriner, Lamar Durrett, Pete Kemp and David Gunderson.
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Paris - left to right: Lise Marie Turpin, General Manager, Passenger Sales, France Belgium, Spain; Laetitia Lesieur, Ticket Agent; Lamar Durrett; Geneviève Brigout, Principal Coordinator; Roger Sarti, Ticket Agent.
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Glasgow - left to right: lan Dawson, Cargo Sales & Service Coordinator, who reached 25 years in February 1998; Lamar Durrett and Willie Kerr, Commissary Catering Coordinator, who reached 30 years of service in 1997.
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Zurich - left to right: Certificated Technicians Bruce Kirk and Peter Huddlestone; Fritz Urweider, Senior Station Attendant; Daniela Ghirlanda, Passenger Agent; Lamar Durrett; Roger Rüegg, Airport Services Manager, Switzerland, and Rolf Weinmann, General Manager, Passenger Sales, Switzerland, Austria and Eastern Europe.
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CP Air / Canadi>n People Gallery |
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From Canadi>n Flyer magazine
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Issue dated October 1997
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CDN wins gold at Games
Teamwork, planning and good weather added up to a successful operation for Canadian Airlines and the Canada Summer Games in Brandon, Manitoba.
It was a bitterly cold day in February when Brendan Doyle, Manager, Charter Operations, Cliff Beck, Flight Ops Engineering, and Gord Bowers, Airport Operations Procedures, arrived in Brandon.
Their mission: to do an airport site inspection and determine how Canadian Airlines could operate a satellite base for our contract for the 1997 Canada Games.
CDN was awarded the contract to be the host carrier for the Canada Summer Games, and as such was responsible for carrying 4,200 athletes and coaches and their equipment to and from this southern Manitoba city in August.
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Quebec athletes show their colours as they arrive in Brandon.
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Dorval employees during 1997
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Cargo Agents, left to right: Boris Dagenais, Marcel Gelinas, Nick Petrella, Anna Miniaci, Therese Desilets, Charlie Beharrysingh and Andre Cardin.
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Customer Service Agents, left to right: Pat Hawa, Raymond Der Arakelian, Fernand Demers, Norma Morin and Lynn Gearey huddle at our domestic check-in counter.
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Flight Attendants, left to right: Rosa Herygers, Michel Pilon (CSD), Barbara Tekker-Brzezinski and Sue Agostino.
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Agents, left to right: Johanne Riopelle, Marcel Rondeau, Manon Gravel, Paulo Maffei, Helene Tremblay, Mirella Cafaro and Genia Beylerian highlight the fact that YUL Res has several specialized support desks.
These include Meda Desk, which handles medical requests and Off-Schedule Operations (OSO), which takes care of customers affected by irregular operations.
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Station Attendants Doug Allison and Harvey Bronstein sandwich Ramp Service Manager Karen de Volpi at the food court.
Doug noted the transfer of international flights to Dorval increased many reduced-time employees (RTEs) on the ramp to 30 hours a week.
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The sights and sounds of the Snowbirds have long been a familiar thrill for Canadians, echoing across the skies from coast to coast. Now, a piece of that history has touched down for good on Vancouver Island.
Source: CHEK Media YouTube channel.
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More defunct airlines of Canada
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Mober Aviation
Mober Aviation was a Canadian commercial air service based in Drummondville, Quebec, operating between roughly 1970 and 1984.
Known for operating aircraft such as the DHC-2 Beaver and Douglas C-47A (DC-3). The company was authorized for specific point commercial air services.
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C-FWTV -Douglas C-47A Skytrain (DC-3)
Montreal - Mirabel International (YMX) - May 27, 1984
Photo by Alain Rioux
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Millardair
Millardair was founded in 1963 by aviator, Carl Millard and was based in Toronto, Ontario. Operations began using the Douglas DC-3. The main business was flying automotive parts and other cargo.
In 1970 the DC-3s were used to fly passengers on third-level services, and in 1972 the four-engine Douglas DC-4 joined the company's fleet. Operations ceased May 31, 1990.
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CF-WTV - Douglas C-47A (DC-3)
Toronto Malton Airport - July 27, 1975
Photo by RuthAS
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Bradley Air Services
We have done a few stories on airlines operating in Canada's north, including Canadian North and First Air, which merged under the Canadian North name in 2019. Canadian North began as a division of Canadian Airlines International in 1989, serving northern Canada routes originally operated by predecessors Pacific Western Airlines and Nordair. Canadian North became an independent airline in 1998. First Air was the marketing name of Bradley Air Services which has a long and distinguished history. We thought it was time to pay homage to the original airline.
Bradley Air Services, now operating as Canadian North, is based in Ottawa. It serves communities in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Nunavik region of northern Quebec. Southern destinations include Edmonton, Winnipeg and Ottawa. It also has an interlining agreement with Air Greenland.
Later operating under the trade name First Air, Bradley Air Services was founded by Canadian aviation pioneer Russel (Russ) Bradley, and began operations in 1946. Beginning as a flying school in Ottawa and moving in the fall of 1946 to Carp, Ontario, First Air started scheduled services in 1973 between Ottawa and North Bay, Ontario.
Below are a few historic photos of aircraft in Bradley Air Services livery.
Sources:
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CF-TAE - Beech G18S
Toronto (YYZ) - April 1970
Photo courtesy of George Trussell
from the Mike Ody Collection
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C-FTVL - Douglas C-47B Skytrain (DC-3)
Ottawa - Carp (YRP) - June 1985
Photo by Alain Rioux
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C-GNDO - De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter
Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador - April 1993
Photo courtesy of Gary Vincent
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Note by Gary Vincent: Here's a Twin Otter that has been flying in Canada's north nearly it's entire career. It was delivered to Nordair for arctic routes in October 1974.
It was sold to Air Inuit and continues to fly north out of Montreal at the time of uploading. |
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| Terry's Trivia
& Travel Tips |
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Terry Baker, co-founder of the NetLetter scours the internet for aviation related Trivia and Travel Tips for you, our readers, to peruse.
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NASA spent nearly a decade secretly developing a 300-passenger supersonic jet faster than Concorde before quietly abandoning the entire program in 1999.
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From Canadian Flyer magazine
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Issue dated June 1997
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Wayne, Ken & Terry Richmond, British Columbia - December 2019
(Bob Sheppard was not available for the photograph) |
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Wayne, Bob & Ken Richmond, British Columbia - December 2023
(Terry Baker was not available for the photograph) |
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We wish to honour the memories of
Vesta Stevenson and Alan Rust. They remain a part of every edition published. |
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E&OE - (errors and omissions excepted):
The historical information as well as any other information provided in the "NetLetter" is subject to correction and may have changed over time.
We do publish corrections (and correct the original article) when this is brought to our attention.
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