Through The Mist Darkly

Terrible quality and too much wind noise but here it is.  A flyby of the Corsair and P51 Mustang from Vintage Wings of Canada as they departed from Downsview Airport during Wings & Wheels last Sunday.

EyeNo Wings & Wheels Canada

Yesterday, my mother “celebrated" her 80th birthday.  The quotes signify exactly how bittersweet the day was.

Maxine spent 2 weeks in hospital up in Midland Ontario and was finally released yesterday.  Her life is changing dramatically as a result of the tests that were run with not all the questions yet answered.  But we won’t dwell on that now.

Mary Maxine Gorman was a young woman in Peterborough when Ted Mist swept her off her feet.  They married and 2 years later I came into the world.  Susan arrived 3 years later.  The next few decades flew by as the family moved from place to place all across Canada driven by a man who was never really content with his lot and was always looking for that one big move that was going to make everything just right.  Maxine followed dutifully bringing up the kids and experiencing all the highs and lows of this nomadic existence.  There were good times and a whole lot of bad times but she’s always been the stoic one.  She made the best of what we had.

She’s been through the death of a husband, a daughter and a partner.  She put up with me in my wild teen years and all the hell that I dished out.  She’s proud of how I turned out.

Years ago she supervised the building of a house outside of Wasaga Beach and she came into her own as it was constructed.  Maxine blossomed.  She became an accomplished artist, she rediscovered her love of tennis.  New friends, new travels, a new woman.

The first day I visited her in hospital, one of the nurses thought I was her husband.  Even in extreme pain that’s how good she looks.

So she’s back home with David and the zoo – Alex, Nicky, Patrick and Fancy.  Now we have to get her back on her feet and ready to face the challenges to come.

Happy Birthday Maxine.  My mother, my love.

EyeNo general Canada, Travel

Lockheed 10A “Electra” registration CF-TCC.

From their website:

On September 1, 1937, Trans Canada Airlines (the forerunner of Air Canada) operated its first scheduled passenger flight – a fifty minute trip from Vancouver to Seattle.
The route had been acquired from Canadian Airways Ltd. along with two ten seat Lockheed 10A "Electra" aircraft. Shortly after, TCA bought three other LI0As, all brand new, direct from Lockheed’s plant, at a purchase price of  $73,000 each. They were dubbed the "three sisters" and bore the registration letters of CF-TCA, CF-TCB and CF-TCC.
After flying for a couple of years for TCA, CF-TCC was sold in 1939 to the Canadian Government, who turned it over to the RCAF as part of the war effort. Then it was sold again, and went from owner to owner during some forty years. One day in 1975, a retired Air Canada employee recognized it at a Texas Air Show when he saw the faded shadow of the registration letters, CF-TCC,  through the paint work.
Air Canada kept track of the aircraft and finally re-purchased it in 1983. The plane was flown to the Airline’s Winnipeg maintenance base where it was rejuvenated and refurbished. Pratt & Whitney Canada arranged for the complete overhaul of its two engines and for furnishing accessories and spares.
In 1986 Air Canada flew the aircraft on a fifty stop "sentimental journey" across Canada with CF-TCC arriving in Vancouver in time for Expo "86.  It was on display there at the Air Canada pavilion complete with sound effects as the engines cranked over.
Today, CF-TCC participates in diverse promotional activities, including conducting flights to raise funds for charitable organizations. It has flown across Canada in the last few years raising money for "Dreams Take Flight".
The aircraft weights 4724 kilos (10,500lbs) with a full payload including fuel. It has a cruising speed of 256 KPH (160 mph) and a cruising altitude of 4,800 meters (16,000 ft).

 

A beautiful memory of times gone by.  Great to see her return to Wings & Wheels.

EyeNo Wings & Wheels Canada, vancouver

The CF-18 Hornet.  Canada’s fighter.  From the 425 Squadron in Bagotville Quebec, the Hornet is a regular visitor at Wings & Wheels.  Pilots and spectators alike love coming to Downsview Airport every year.

One of the highlights of past shows has been the opportunities to see the CF-18 beside the museum’s CF-105 Arrow replica.  Separated by nearly 50 years, both aircraft represent the apex of aviation technology for their respective times.

CF-18s have served in the first Gulf War as well as in the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.  Approximately 80 still serve in an air defence role across Canada and the fleet is undergoing a modernization project.

Wings & Wheels provides an opportunity to get very close to both the aircraft and their crews.  “Cherry”, standing, was extremely friendly and great with the hundreds of kids who got a cockpit view during the 2008 event.  His arrival and departure was a real treat (especially the special manoeuvres on arrival).

At least one CF-18 will be at the 2009 Wings & Wheels Heritage Festival.

(BTW, the plane in my masthead picture is Cherry’s Hornet performing a “runway check” last year)

EyeNo Wings & Wheels aviation, Canada

(note: not the plane in question)

So Adam Leon, 31, is charged with stealing a Cessna 172 from a flight school in Thunder Bay Ontario and leading authorities, including a pair of F16 fighters on a merry chase before finally landing 6 1/2 hours and 783 miles later outside a little town in Missouri.

A strange story for sure but what I’m wondering is how did he fly so far for so long.  I don’t have the POH (Pilot’s Operating Handbook) for the C172R that I’m taking flying lessons on with me but those figures seem a tad on the high side.  So I decided to do some Googling to see what I could come up with.

First let’s look at the distance.  For flight purposes, we always work in nautical miles while the 783 would be “normal” miles.  We calculate that out to be:

783 miles = 680 nautical miles

Now it’s off to the POH.  I don’t know what model of Cessna Mr. Leon was flying or whether or not it had extended tanks.  Calculating range and endurance is based on so many factors – fuel load, pressure altitude, throttle settings, winds aloft……… that you can’t just pull a number out of your ass but let’s take a look at a “typical” entry from the book.

Some reports had him flying at 14,000 feet which is crazy unless the aircraft is equipped with oxygen so let’s use the 12,500 figures.  If he ran at 2200 RPM then he could keep it in the air for 6 1/2 hours as reported but his range is less than 550 nautical miles, about 130 short of the reporting distance.  So, we have to assume that he either had a larger fuel capacity or one hell of a tail wind or the news services have it all wrong (no voting!!).

The unfortunate thing here is that this will probably lead to stricter controls over general aviation, especially for those of us who fly fairly close to the US-Canada border.

EyeNo Flight Instruction, Flying Is Fun, aviation aviation, Canada

The headliner of this year’s WWHF is “Hawk One”.  A lovingly restored Canadair CL-13 Sabre 5, Hawk One comes to us from Vintage Wings of Canada in Gatineau Quebec.

Here’s Hawk One in flight

Unfortunately, regulations prohibit aerobatics over the city of Toronto so it will be on static display but I’ll definitely be there, camera in hand, for the arrival and departure.

EyeNo Wings & Wheels Canada, Toronto

Not much to do on a dreary Sunday afternoon so I took a picture of a wall.  Actually it’s part of one wall in my home office.  Shows how much of an aviation nut I really am.

Clockwise from top:

A picture of a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 series 20 that was given to employees in celebration of its first visit to Toronto in September 1972.  Back then the plant was officially called “Douglas Aircraft Company of Canada Ltd” and was located at the Northeast corner of the land now owned by GTAA (Pearson International Airport).  The buildings, which were torn down a few years ago, were also once home to Victory Aircraft (Lancasters were built there) and Avro (home of the Arrow).

Western Airlines promotional poster from 1961.  Western Airlines (1925-1986) started off carrying mail and died when purchased by Delta.  In between they flew all the aircraft shown on the poster – from a Douglas M-2 biplane to the Boeing 720B.  The tag line is interesting “From Biplane to Fanjet, 22 Aircraft Types Have Carried the Colors of Western Airlines, America’s Pioneer Airline”  An eBay find.

Opening the TSX.  A recent addition to the wall.

Autographed picture of CF-18.  One of my photos that I had autographed by the pilot who flew it in for Wings & Wheels 2008.  “Cherry” was a great young man, very professional and friendly.  And he likes to fly the Hornet low and fast!  The shot was taken as he ran one of his runway “checks”.  Since you can’t fly acrobatics over Toronto, Cherry announced that he was a little heavy on fuel and was running a series of runway checks to look for debris or obstructions before landing.  Very low, very fast, very loud. Along with his signature it reads “Keep the blue side up” and I’ve tried to keep that in mind during my flight training.

Nearly every wall, cabinet and piece of floor has something aviation related.  Every piece tells a story.

EyeNo Flying Is Fun, photo aviation, Canada, Toronto

Right off the bat, let’s clear up the misconception that Sir Sandford Fleming is responsible for this mess.  Sir Sandford brought us Standard Time and I think we all agree that this was a pretty good idea.  Little known fact – he came up with the idea after missing a train!

The culprit here is William Willett who first came up with the stupid idea in 1907.  Some say it was Benjamin Franklin but he only suggested it as a joke.

From Wikipedia:

Using his own financial resources, in 1907 William published a pamphlet "The Waste of Daylight" In it he proposed that the clocks should be advanced by 80 minutes in the summer. The evenings would then remain light for longer, increasing daylight recreation time and also saving ₤2.5 million in lighting costs. He suggested that the clocks should be advanced by 20 minutes at a time at 2 am on successive Sundays in April and be retarded by the same amount on Sundays in September.

I guess it’s a good thing that the 80 minute thing didn’t catch on.  We all got used to it up until a couple of years ago when the US (thanks Bush Jr.) decided to switch to DST earlier and switch back later.  Of course Canada wagged its tail and followed suit.

Supposedly, DST was adopted to help farmers and others who depend on daylight to perform their work but  arguments covering everything from the fact that more french fries are sold during the day (helping the Idaho potato farmers) to more daylight = more time for outdoor sports (Sporting Goods Manufacturing Coalition) have been used to support a practice that, in my opinion, is no longer necessary.

This diagram shows what areas of the world use, or do not use, DST.  In Canada, Saskatchewan never changes the clock.  Last time I looked Saskatchewan has a lot of farmers so there goes that argument.

So we spend the next few days in a sleep deprived state as our body clocks reset and I have to remember that Switzerland is only 5 hours ahead instead of 6 (most of the civilized world doesn’t change for another couple of weeks).

(images from Wikipedia)

EyeNo general Canada

Monday marks the 100th anniversary of the first powered flight in Canada.  I’ve just had it confirmed that I’ll be part of a group from the museum who will be opening the Toronto Stock Exchange on that morning.

Though not as prestigious as ringing the closing bell on Wall Street, it’s still exciting.  Who knows, it might just be the stimulus that the Canadian economy has been waiting for. Or just a whole lot of fun.

Of course, I don’t think we’ll have any giant pandas in attendance like the World Wildlife Fund did when they opened the market.

EyeNo general Canada, Toronto

Just over 4 hours until we depart Zurich for the 9 hour flight back to Toronto.  Another crummy night’s sleep but today I don’t care.  Tonight I get to sleep in my own bed again. 

I’m really upset that I’m missing the big press event at the museum today.  We finally unveil the new name – Canadian Air & Space Museum – and kick off our celebrations of the Centennial of Canadian Flight.  I hope that the place is packed and everything runs smoothly. 

Time to get ready to go.  Grab a quick shower.  Finish the packing.  Grab the shuttle bus to the airport.  Buy the chocolate (I can’t leave Switzerland until I buy chocolate). Check in at Zurich is always a pain as they never seem to have enough people on the desks.  Air Canada farms out their passenger services to an outside company and I’ve never been terribly impressed with their customer service skills.  Once I endure that it’s a quick trip through passport control (why, oh why can’t Canadian Customs be so efficient) and the 2 minute train ride with the mooing cows and yodelers.  If you’ve ever been through Zurich airport you know what I’m talking about.

Seat 21K today.  On a Boeing 767-300ER this puts me squarely over the wing.  Smoothest seat on the plane.  Catch a few catnaps, watch a movie or read a book and then I’ll be home.  Home.  What a wonderful word.

EyeNo Flying Is Fun, Travel Canada, Toronto

Actually got a good sleep last night.  Very surprised when the alarm went off this morning.  It’s a good thing I got some sleep because the subject of today’s meetings is very, very boring.  It has no relevance to the business we do in Canada but it’s mandatory that I learn it.

The snow finally stopped overnight and, while not sunny, the sky is much lighter than yesterday which helps the whole staying awake fight.

EyeNo Travel Canada

At 6:20 pm tonight Air Canada 878 lifts off from Pearson Airport and I’ll be tucked into seat 25K. In just under 8 hours I’ll arrive in Zurich Switzerland. Big farking deal. I’ve made this trip about a dozen times and usually I’m excited, but not this time. I never thought I’d ever feel nothing about traveling but I could really do without this one. It’s another week of training and meetings – been there. It’s another couple of flights in economy – definitely been there. Staying in the Hotel Drei Konige in Einsiedeln – ditto. Everyone thinks that being able to travel overseas on business is the greatest perk available. Everyone, that is, except those who have done it a number of times. Airports are a hassle. Aircraft are cramped, uncomfortable and either too hot or too cold. Trains, even the excellent Swiss trains, just roll along. I’ve seen the scenery and it’s pretty but no longer exciting. Walking to the hotel in snow – hell, I could do that here. Day after day of meetings. No fun there. This could very well be my last trip to Switzerland for quite a while. The economy has my company seriously looking at curtailing these trips. Conference calls, video conferencing or good old emailing are being looked at as alternatives. I don’t blame them. I’ve sometimes felt guilty about wasting their money. I’m not even taking my big DSLR. When the possibility of grabbing pictures of the beauty of Switzerland doesn’t get a rise out of me, then you know the magic is gone. Perhaps I’ll get more excited as departure draws near. Right now, I’m doing laundry and packing – as usual. *SIGH*

EyeNo Travel Canada, Travel

It’s been a while since I’ve written anything about the Toronto Aerospace Museum.  I’m spending a lot of time there and some big things are happening – some I can talk about right now and others that will have to wait.

I’m honoured to have been chosen as Chairman of the Wings and Wheels Heritage Festival committee.  Wings and Wheels is our largest public event and we’re hard at work planning for the 4th year.  Mark your calendars for May 22-24 and come on out to see me at Downsview Park in Toronto.

As the name suggests, the festival is comprised of two main components.  Wings covers anything that flies, or used to fly.  Military, civilian and general aviation is always well represented.  Last year, the Canadian Forces joined us with a CF-18 Hornet, a CP-140A Arcturus, a Tutor trainer in Snowbird colours and a helicopter. 

Vintage Wings of Canada brought down their Waco Taperwing and Bombardier brought over a few of their planes.

On the Wheels side, we had a nice collection of custom and classic cars from local clubs as well as some military vehicles and vintage motorcycles.  I think this picture really captures the theme of Wings and Wheels.  In 2009 we’re really going to try to play up this side more.

Of course, one of the stars is always our Arrow.  The only full-size replica of the famous CF-105 fighter.  It’s the most spectacular piece in the museum’s collection and is always a crowd pleaser.  Everyone is amazed at the size and the quality that shows the thousands of dedicated volunteer hours that went into its construction.

We’ve already got some incredible aircraft coming but I’ll hold off on making any announcements until we’re ready to officially release the news.

There’s other museum news coming that I’m not at liberty to disclose at this time.  Suffice it to say that we’ll be moving in new directions that can only enhance our reputation as one of the finest aerospace museums in North America.  Stay tuned.

EyeNo Flying Is Fun, aviation aviation, Canada, Toronto, toronto aerospace museum

Painting Connie CF-TGE

Bob Bogash of Seattle’s Museum of Flight updates the rebirth of the ex-TCA (Trans Canada Airlines) Constellation Super “G” that spent so many years rotting away near Pearson Airport outside Toronto.

I’ve posted a few times on the back and forth struggle that resulted in the airplane leaving Canada (that’s how Bob and I started our correspondance).  Managed to get some photos as she was being dismantled

She looks a lot more beautiful now.

EyeNo aviation airplane, aviation, aviation history, Canada, Connie, Constellation, Toronto

Yesterday, I spent a most enjoyable day helping to celebrate the 90th birthday of Mr. George Neal.  I wrote about Mr. Neal a couple of weeks ago and his contribution to Canadian aviation and it was great to see so many people come out to a party at the Toronto Aerospace Museum.

Greetings from the Premier of Ontario, Prime Minister of Canada and Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (on behalf of the Queen) were given.  A cake was presented and a general good time was had by all.

I spent a few hours helping set things up and one of my tasks was to work on a Powerpoint presentation that played throughout the festivities.  Made up of pictures of Mr. Neal and his aircraft, it also contained transcripts of emails from wellwishers from all around the world.  Most poignant were those from ex-military pilots who credited the de Havilland Caribou with saving their lives in Vietnam. 

de Havilland Canada built the DHC-4 Caribou for the US Army where it was designated as the CV-2.  With the remarkable STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) capabilities developed for the Beaver and Otter, the DHC-4 was ideally suited for operations in jungle conditions where “runways” were hastily hacked out of the fast-growing vegetation. George Neal was the test pilot for the prototype and production models and the pilots credit him with demonstrating the incredible properties that convinced the Army to purchase more than 170 airframes.

A live auction was held for the chance to go flying with George in his vintage Chipmunk.  I seriously considering getting myself an early Christmas present but the bidding for this once in a lifetime opportunity quickly outstripped my budget.

The chance to celebrate a living legend does not come very often.  It was an honour to be a part of this happy occasion. 

EyeNo Flying Is Fun, aviation aviation, Canada, general, Space, Toronto, toronto aerospace museum

Ypres, Somme, Vimy, Passchendaele, Sicily, Korea, Afghanistan and a hundred other battlefields where Canadians served, fought and died.  Remembrance Day comes again with our Armed Forces still in harm’s way.

The old warriors are fewer every year.  They polish their medals, brave the cold of November and march once again.  They tell their stories and share their memories of the times that forged Canada’s identity in a crucible of fire and destruction.

They fought, and still fight, on the air and sea and in the air.  They brought and still bring pride and pain to their families, communities and country.  They lost and still lose their youth and innocence on battlefields thousands of miles from their homes and many, far too many, lost and continue to lose their lives.

So November 11th comes once again.  The ceremonies are repeated and a single trumpet will sing its sad song.  The old and young will mingle once more as the wreathes are laid in solemn tribute.  The entire country will pause for a minute or two in silent contemplation of those we have lost.

We owe our soldiers more than we can ever pay.  They are the instruments of our national will and conscience.  We send them to fight far, far away so we don’t have to fight at home.  The very least we can do is remember them and their sacrifice.

“In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.”

EyeNo 1 Canada

I dropped into the Toronto Aerospace Museum today just to see what was going on and to see if any projects had been planned for me while I’ve been travelling.  Luckily, I brought my camera.

Today we took possession of a 1956 de Havilland DH87B Hornet Moth that has been purchased from George Neal, a member of the museum.

Mr. Neal (middle) flew his airplane in for the handover and it was truly a special and bittersweet day.  Here, he poses with Claude Sherwood (museum CEO, left) and Paul Cabot (curator). The Moth may never fly again as it’s scheduled to go on permanent display.  Mr. Neal, at the tender age of 90, sold the aircraft to finance a project where he’s building a Hawker Fury.  He’s a member of the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame (inducted in 1995) and holds the distinction of being one of the first Canadian pilots to be qualified to fly the RCAF Vampire, our first jet fighter.  Neal’s testing and demonstrations of aircraft such as the Beaver, the Otter, and the Caribou, allowed them to be successful around the world . He retired in 1983 as Director of Flight Operations of de Havilland Canada.

The day was superb, the winds were light and George performed a perfect landing in a perfect example of this rare airplane.

EyeNo Flying Is Fun, aviation, photo airplane, aviation, Canada, Space, Toronto, toronto aerospace museum, Travel

I loved this picture as soon as I saw it in the viewfinder.  Vintage Wings of Canada’s WACO Taperwing watching the sun come up in the hanger at the Toronto Aerospace Museum.  One of the best parts of being a volunteer there is the chance to roam around before the public shows up.

I’m honoured that Vintage Wings of Canada saw fit to include this their online article “Eye of the Beholder”.

EyeNo Flying Is Fun, photo Canada, Space, Toronto, toronto aerospace museum

Just spent the last week in Switzerland for yet another training session.  When is my company going to learn that trying to train me is like trying to train a rock?  Actually, as these things go it was a productive week.

Flew with Air Canada last Saturday night stuck in cramped economy and then had to hop a train for a one hour trip to the town of Einsiedln which is famous for it’s Benedictine monastery.  Which, of course, means bells – lots of bells – all night long bells.

The monastery has two bell towers and they’re not quite synchronized so at certain times of the day and night you’re subjected to duelling bells.

Yesterday, it was off to the airport at 4am Toronto time and then  to Montreal on a Swiss Airlines A330 which is configured like the worst low-cost charter plane.  The idiot in front of me decided to slam their seat back without warning which caused a glass of red wine, that I was trying to enjoy, to spill all over my jeans and coat.  Lovely stain patterns that I had to put up with for the rest of the day.  We arrived in Montreal at 3:30 and an hour later it was home to Toronto on an A320 that felt positively palatial in comparison.

So now it’s Saturday morning and I have 48 hours to rest and get ready for a flight to Hartford Connecticut for 4 more days of training (they’re not getting it). 

EyeNo Flying Is Fun, Travel airline, Canada, Toronto

Although I’m usually lucky enough to get business class when I travel to Europe, domestic travel is always in cattle class.  In order to help dull the pain, I pay a fair amount of money every year to for a "Maple Leaf Club" card with Air Canada.  This allows me to use the lounge and executive class check in facilities.  It’s been a good deal but I’m starting to think about whether it’s worth renewing next year.

I got to the airport in Toronto this morning with plenty of time to check in, go to the lounge and then wander down to the gate.  Or so I thought.  There were about 30 people in line waiting for one harried Air Canada agent.  I finally got through and heading off to go through security.  It was hell but that’s not Air Canada’s fault.

Got into the lounge without problem and immediately noticed a few things:

1. Coffee machine out of order
2. Real glass glasses had been replaced with plastic.  Not only is this wasteful but it sure sends an incredibly cheap message to your best customers.
3. The entire lounge was messy.  Lots of staff standing around, just no one doing anything.  Where are the supervisors?
4. The men’s room (usually a treat when compared to the standard terminal facilities) was out of toilet paper and messy.  Hello?  Doesn’t anyone check these things on a regular basis?

The flight was fine.  Flight deck was unusually chatty which is always a good thing.  Watched Caddyshack and had a good laugh and saw some incredibly high thunderheads which were stirred up by Hurricane Ike.  Left rainy Toronto and landed in sunny Vancouver.

Air Canada, you’re letting the beancounters ruin what was once a proud, great airline.  You’re sacrificing decades of goodwill to save a few bucks.  I know times are tough but you need to think these things through.  And don’t even get me started on your Jazz affiliate pulling all the life vests off their airplanes.  Somehow the phrase "penny wise and pound foolish" is stuck in my mind and won’t go away.

EyeNo Flying Is Fun, aviation airline, airplane, Canada, Toronto, Travel, vancouver