Jan and I were married. 27 years and it seems like yesterday. Well, not quite yesterday but you know what I mean.
Happy Anniversary baby, I still love you.
Today in personal history – August 20, 1982
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Monthly Archives: August 2009
Today in aviation history – August 20, 1941
RCAF No. 415 Squadron was formed at Thorney Island, Hampshire, on August 20, 1941, and until the summer of 1944 had a torpedo-bomber role and served with Coastal Command. Originally flying Beaufort I’s, it progressed through Hampdens, Wellingtons, Albacores and Halifax bombers.
The squadron was disbanded in 1945 and re-formed in 1981 to fly CP-107 Argus, CP-140 Aurora and CP-140A Arcturus reconnaissance aircraqft based out of Summerside, PEI. The 415th made an appearance at the 2008 Wings and Wheels Heritage Festival for the Canadian Air & Space Museum.
One of my shots of the CP-140A on its arrival.
Today in aviation history – August 19, 1871
Orville Wright is born in Dayton, Ohio. Orville, of course, is credited along with his brother Wilbur with the first sustained and controlled flight of a powered airplane. Wilbur lost a coin toss so Wilbur got to make the first flight.
Today in aviation history – August 18, 1932
Jim Mollison completes the first solo east-west Atlantic crossing in a de Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth (similar to the one shown in the picture).
Today in aviation history – August 17, 1978
The Double Eagle II becomes the first balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean when it landed in Miserey France, 137 hours and 6 minutes after leaving Presque Isle, Maine.
Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman accomplished the feat after 13 other groups, spanning more than 100 years, failed. Newman had originally planned on hang glide from the balloon to a landing but the crew was forced to drop the glider a day earlier as ballast.
The balloon was a massive 160,000 feet while the gondola, named “The Spirit of Albuquerque” measured 15 x 7 x 4 1/2 feet. The name took on extra significance when French officials closed Le Bourget Airfield where Charles Lindbergh landed The Spirit of St. Louis. For safety reasons, the crew decided not to try for the airfield but continued on to land in a barley field about 60 miles north of the city.
The gondola is displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington’s Dulles Airport.
40 years? Where has the time gone?
Woodstock happened 40 years ago. I was a young hippie in Vancouver and heard that it was happening but didn’t have the balls to hop a ride to New York State.
Lots of postings all over the net in commemoration of the anniversary and here’s my take. The Crosby Stills and Nash song “Long Time Gone” was used at the start of the movie showing the tranquil site before it became a sea of mud and humanity. Always loved this song and the images.
1969. Man walked on the moon and the Summer of Love was in full bloom. The future looked bright.
Today in aviation history – August 16, 1947
First flight of the de Havilland DHC-2 “Beaver” at Downsview Airport in Toronto.
One of the most important and recognizable aircraft ever built, hundreds of Beavers are still in the air even though production ceased in 1967.
The picture above shows CF-FHB, the very first Beaver now housed at the Canadian Aviation Museum in Ottawa. I took it last year during my visit.
Here she is as CF-FHB-X (for experimental) on one of the first test flights.
The building behind now houses an indoor soccer pitch and is located next door to the Canadian Air & Space Museum.
A picture I took last year in Vancouver of 2 working Beavers near Vancouver airport. There’s nothing like the sound of those big Pratt & Whitney Wasp Jr. radial engines.
Today in aviation history – August 15, 1940
Squadron Leader E. A. McNab becomes the first RCAF pilot to record a kill in the Battle of Britain. McNab was Commanding Officer with the No 1 (RCAF) Squadron and shot down a further 6 aircraft during the war. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on the 22nd of October, 1940 before returning to Canada. He was also awarded the Czech Military Cross.
He retired in 1957 and passed away on January 10, 1977.
Nicest weekend of the year – for some
Summer weather has finally arrived in Ontario. Sunshine and temperatures in the high 20’s. Everyone’s so excited except for me. A major system test will have me in the office on Sunday at 6am for a few hours and then stuck in the basement at home monitoring systems until after dinner.
Sometime’s being in the IT business really, really, REALLY sucks!
Today in aviation history – August 14, 1941
First flight of the all-Canadian built Anson II in Amherst Nova Scotia.