Never Was An Arrow

…::: Has THIS ARROW been found? :: In the UK?

2011-12-19T11:35:00.000-08:00

WELL, IT'S MARTIN-BAKER ejection seat certainly has.

Well…maybe not from Arrow 204, but likely Arrow 206!

And that Arrow seat is for sale on eBay for a cool $250,000—or you can make an offer!

Since the 1960s…there is still a rumour amongst the ex-RAF personnel from RAF Manston that an Arrow did indeed make it to that English air base.

The ONLY TWO possible flying Arrows would be Arrow 203, or Arrow 204, that were set aside for the RAE (Royal Aeronautical Establishment).

So, who knows?

Someone knows!

TOMORROW—the ANSWER!

…from Marc-Andre Valiquette, world's foremost Avro Arrow collector, and, of course, leading Avro Arrow expert!

STAY TUNED!!

Oh—and IF an intact Arrow was found—I'd have to call in sick for the entire week, 'cause I'd be sick, intoxicated—with rapturous joy!!

FREEDOM HAS A PRICE: MOST CANADIANS don't realize…Part II

2011-11-23T09:10:00.000-08:00

…the sacrifice CANADIANS made in WW II.

Here's a tiny glimpse into that world, as told to us by some of our Canadian Army veterans.

WE REMEMBER: RCAF 404 SQUADRON

2011-11-23T09:06:00.000-08:00

THE FIRST RCAF SQUADRONS to serve under the British Coastal Command were formed in Great Britain in 1941. Three squadrons, No 404, No 407, and No 415 took part in attacks against German ships along the coasts of north-western Europe.

Equipped with Bristol Beaufighters in the spring of 1943, No 404 played a role in the development of a new weapon, the three-inch (7,6 cm) rocket with a 25-pound (11.3 kg) armour-piercing charge, as it hunted down Axis ships off the coasts of Norway.

SEE: www.404squadron.com/

(accidentally deleted my November 11, 2011 post , 404 was my dad's squadron after the war)

Marc-Andre Valiquette IN PERSON!! Saturday: CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE MUSEUM (Hamilton YHM)

2011-11-10T15:17:00.000-08:00

DON'T SAY I DIDN'T tell you!

AVRO ARROW DAY - Book Launch & Presentation at Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.

NOVEMBER 12, 2011 - 1 pm in the Dome

AVRO ARROW POWER POINT PRESENTATION by Author Marc-Andre Valiquette. Regular admission, FREE to members.

Following the presentation, Marc-Andre Valiquette will launch his latest book on the Avro Arrow, "DESTRUCTION OF A DREAM - Volume 4". Avro Arrow artifacts from Marc's personal collection and the Museum's collection will be on display.

::: The Canadian Air and Space Museum, and the Weight of History ..::.::.

2011-11-08T11:48:00.000-08:00

THERE ARE NOT many places within the City of Toronto that still exist, have significant local and national historical importance, and remain, much as they were "back in the day".

That have the weight of history upon them.

65 Carl Hall Road is such a place.

The former de Havilland Canada manufacturing site (built in 1929) groans under the weight of the Canadian history—it bears witness to. Participated in.

65 Carl Hall Road Canadians fought their war on the home front.

Our soldiers, sailors, and airmen fought the war on the war front.

Here, at 65 Carl Hall, the yet unrealized potential of the emerging industrial might of Canada squared off surely—against the already realized, ominous industrial might of Nazi Germany, back in the late thirties, and early forties.

Here, at ole '65…DHC Gipsy Moth and Tiger Moth production went into full swing.

Canada never seemed able to build a successful homegrown automobile. No matter how many times we wannabes tried.

CANADA HOWEVER has manufactured dozens of very successful homegrown aircraft, sold, to countries the world over.

Most of them have—a 65 Carl Hall Road connection.

Many of these Canadian aircraft or projects were either envisioned, mocked up, or manufactured at 65 Carl Hall and/or at the adjoining de Havilland facilities.

Yes, yes…even the current Dash 8-Q400 family series of airliners (over 1000 sold to date to airlines globally) have a 65 Carl Hall Road connection.

But folks, let's go back to WORLD WAR II.

When Herr Hitler threatened to enslave the world, de Havilland of Canada (then entirely based at 65 Carl Hall Road) responded by producing thousands of military aircraft to supply our great Canadian war effort. Without these very aircraft, the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) could never have gotten off the ground…if you'll forgive my pun. And as you know, or should know, without Canada's BCATP the Allies never would have won the war.

Over a 100,000 airmen were trained in Canada through the BCATP. Even 9000 Americans!

But you can't train aircrews without airplanes!

You can't practice dog-fights with bicycles—although early in the war, the British tried that.

You need AIRPLANES!

DE HAVILLAND of CANADA (located at 65 Carl Hall Road) the largest employer of Torontonians at the time, and for decades thereafter, responded overwhelming with:

• 1,500 DH 82C Tiger Moths

• 375 Avro Anson II training aircraft

• 1,133 DH98 Mosquito fighter-bombers

Merlin-Packard engines for the DHC Mosquitos were even assembled in the main room of the CASM, in the Museum area that opens up behind the gift shop/museum entrance area.

Moving right along, still under the weight of history…after World War II ended in victory, the Cold War began for Canada.

And de Havilland of Canada was there!

DHC produced:

"…the very successful DHC-1 Chipmunk trainer, and the DHC-2 Beaver and the DHC-3 Otter 'bush planes" that opened up Canada's north to be first mapped and then later protected from a first strike by the establishment of the DEW Line. These hardy aircraft were designed and built through project overseeing headquartered at ole' 65.

DHC aircraft are Canada's most successful original aircraft designs from the 40s, 50s, and 60s besides of course the illustrious Avro Jetliner, the famed Avro Arrow, and the secretive Avrocar which were also great successes, but sadly—never saw production!

De Havilland of Canada and the government of Canada donated 200 Canadian-made Mosquitos and Canadian DHC pilots to train the democratic Nationalist China air force fighter-pilots in their war effort bid to suppress the Chinese Communist factions. The Communists did eventually overtake China—the Nationalist Chinese lost, and thus China is still without democracy. But De Havilland of Canada had a very active role in the Allied attempt to suppress Chinese Communism.
SPAR Aerospace, the maker of the Canadarm -- Canada`s biggest contribution to current space technology -- began in Building #1 at 65 Carl Hall Road. Here, again, at ole' 65, Canada's first spacecraft - the Alouette I- was assembled. SPAR also built the innovative STEM antenna for satellites in this very building.

In 1990, the Federal Heritage Building Review Office (FHBRO) completed an historical assessment of this site. The building was assigned the status of Recognized Federal Heritage Building in May 1992 because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value."(CASM, 2011)

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE those Canadians who sell CANADA short.

Just as there are those Canadians who forever think of Canada as a one trick pony.

Good at hockey, or, winter sports.

End of story.

But, that isn't the end of the story.

That's as far as their historical knowledge, and myopic vision of Canada takes them. Of course it's the lowest common denominator vision of Canada.

As if Canadians have had only a hockey focus.

AS IF, we never did anything else. And while a lot can be said for simplicity—absolutely nothing good can be said about simpletons.

And yet that's exactly who the CANADIAN AIR and SPACE MUSEUM (CASM) contends with these days. En masse.

PDP. Parc Downsview Park. Simpleton, central.

You gotta' feel for the CANADIAN AIR and SPACE MUSEUM.

With each passing day…Parc Downsview Park looks for ways to make it harder for the museum to survive.

CASM were even firstly locked out of their own museum by Parc officials. And then they were let back in. CASM was told they need to pay rent arrears—and then they were forbidden from allowing paying patrons to visit the museum, and generate further revenue! CASM were told their museum building at 65 Carl Hall Road wasn't up to code—as if the museum building would suddenly implode—at any given moment—and therefore the only solution recommended by Downsview Park—was to demolish the building!

Still, my biggest concern is that nobody has been able to see the root cause of the problem.

It's David Soknacki and his irregularly set up Crown corporation.

Parc Downsview Park (PDP) is a Crown corporation birthed into being to bypass regular Parliamentary review and the usual accompanying federal government restraints on such an endeavour.

Parc Downsview Park (PDP) to date has blown $100 million of taxpayers money with VERY little to show. This is a 'corporation' that was flagged by Sheila Fraser, FCA Auditor General WAY BACK IN 2002 as to how DPD was spending taxpayers money, and getting around the normal review process.

Today? Nothing's been done.

DPD…still spending…still unaccountable!

If you've ever seen the Lord of the Rings, then you know the deformed hobbit, Gollum, and his sickly obsessive, demented, refrain, "My precious", my precious" .

Switch up to a glowing, eager, PDP's David Socknacki holding an artist's representation of his 'precious', his personally endorsed creation: a 4-plex of hockey arenas right where he imagines the CANADIAN AIR and SPACE MUSEUM (65 Carl Hall Road) won't be, when he's done wrecking Canadian heritage.

All David can see is his 'precious'.

More armpit arenas.

And the only difference between Socknacki and Gollum, that I can see, is that, well…Gollum was…actually…likeable.

These Crown corp execs, like David…….got the grandiose idea put into their head—years back—that they were actually real biz folk, real CEOs and stuff, you know like those commanding free-enterprise biz types whose jobs were on the line with every decision they made.

Poor David. He forgets he retains a government position that is exposed to no risk, whatsoever. Flanked as he is, on all sides by his union—and with the Canadian taxpayer as his safety net.

Oh, yeah—that's real biz, Davey-boy.

David, you'll never be a baron, or captain of industry. Or even a good manager.

Nor should you be.

Any anti-Canadian lunatic who would demolish the site of the oldest notable aircraft manufacturing facility in Ontario, a building dating back to 1929, the actual former site of Toronto's largest manufacturing employer for decades—and anybody who would wave away, wave off the gift of hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours—valued at millions of dollars—from those dedicated volunteers who stepped up and took on the thankless job of painstakingly restoring and even creating (the Arrow) fantastic remembrances of our precious, and honourable Canadian historical past—is not fit for the job of overseeing a convenience store—let alone a 500+ acre Crown park.

And once again—why is the CANADIAN AIR and SPACE MUSEUM even paying rent???

Museums have NEVER been about making money, David.

They've ALWAYS been about preserving and sharing a country's unique past…first, with ourselves, and then, with the world around us.

Go to the great American battlefield of Gettysburg and on many days there are relatively few folk milling about. But the historical aura is still there—because the actual battlefield and wartime buildings have been left standing. Its the very place where the US Civil War took a major turn, an unadorned place that would go on to define America as a nation forever.

And 65 Carl Hall Road is such a place for Canada.

Here, Canadians first embraced complex manufacturing processes. Here, we mastered them. And went on to fight the home front war! Because there was two wars. We have many remembrances of the war front, in other museums across Canada but none left of the home front.

Yet, 65 Carl Hall Road, is such a place. Is such a reminder of our past.

And if you can't see that. Or feel that—there's no hope for you!

Fast forward to today.
Does anyone realize the tens of millions of dollars in specialized work that has been donated by selfless volunteers to create and maintain the CANADIAN AIR and SPACE MUSEUM? All, given for free, by many generous volunteers —in order to FOREVER PRESERVE our uniquely Canadian, aviation and aerospace history, from both the commercial and military sectors!

These are our Canadian stories.

This is our notable past still ensconced at the cozy abode (by modern standards) within 65 Carl Hall Road.

Canadian aviation history holds no value to Davey-boy.

I hope it holds some for you.

Again, as of September 28, 2011…Parc Downsview Park has locked out all staff, volunteers, and visitors at 65 Carl Hall Road.

How can you help?

Go to: casmuseum.org/index.html

Upper left hand corner of CASM's web site, locate, "Send a message", and click.

A letter will appear noting the Museum's concerns, which are every true patriotic Canadian's concerns. Just add your e-mail into the box provided and send!

ALSO, sign this on-line petition: www.petitiononlinecanada.com/petition/longterm-reprieve-a...

Your support of the Museum will be sent to those who can really help save the Museum.

DONATE to the Museum—if you are able.

Thank-you!

(PHOTO: is of the CASM-created, exact replica, of the once mighty and imposing Canadian designed Avro Arrow) Must see LARGE!

iDeath: Steve Jobs, an Unpopular Critique

2011-10-11T06:37:00.000-07:00

PERHAPS THE BEST SUMMARY I heard in relation to the impact of Steve Jobs came from a Canadian journalist who summed up Steve Jobs life with the techie term, 'disruptive innovation'.

Through that 'disruption' Steve changed the world for the better.

iTunes, the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad, the iMac, etc ~

I certainly don't do Windoze…

THAT SAID, all was not well with the much-ballyhooed man who was synonymous with Apple Inc.

In the end our habits own us, and we shouldn't be too surprised that Steve's habit of inter-personal severity owned him, and the resentful petulant man who was forever upset with underlings that failed to impress, but more so upset by being put up for adoption as a baby, later refused every opportunity for amends to be made by the once offending, now, contrite.

Through the years, Steve nursed his rage against his biological father.

Steve did forgive his birth mother for the great heave-ho, and later acknowledged a daughter he too initially rejected—but forgiving an aging father with outstretched arms proved to be too much, too overwhelming for the fastidious nerd who changed the world. And who—eventually learned to take regular showers.

Still, I guess being surrounded by paid accolades who bow to your every whim at 1 Cupertino Loop can set one up with a false dichotomy, whereby your petty personal viewpoint is always right, and the whole rest of the world is terribly wrong.

Except, Steve's father, John Jandali, wasn't another computer or software brand, he was, well—his father.

The man who gave Steve life.

Yeah, that guy.

Whatever false, morally relative construct Steve used—throughout the long years—to shield himself emotionally from his father, will, happily, never replace that seemingly innocuous and obvious command to honour one's father and mother. And with that eternal directive, came the general, temporal promise, of a long life.

Or could it be, as it is in most cases where father-son, father-daughter estrangement occurs, the divorced/separated/offended mother fuels the on-going separation and hostility of her offspring—against their biological father. I do not mean Clara Jobs here. I mean Joanne Carole Schieble, Steve's biological mom.

Or was it a tandem thing? Mother and daughter (Mona Simpson) against John Jandali? This is also often the case.

Steve, and his biological sister Mona (the other offspring of John and Joanne) became best friends after having not known each other until their late 20s. Such can be the fall-out from adoption, and disappearing into the night. After their brother-sister relationship solidified, Mona encouraged Steve to reach out to their mother, now Joanne Schieble Simpson, and Steve later invited Joanne to some Apple events. Mona paved the way for Steve to reconcile with mom, Joanne. However, Joanne had likely so sabotaged Mona and John's continued relationship, from the earliest of times, that the foundation had already been laid for Steve to later follow suit. And so, he too, joined with Mona in rejecting father John.

Good one, Joanne. Good one, Mona.

Divorced fathers this is likely the most famous example you will ever have, of the effects of the negative power-play, your former spouse can exert over your mutual offspring.

If its a stormy break, she'll turn the kids against you, forever.

It's her one final way to hurt you.

Hurt, unstable mothers, are working behind the scenes, sabotaging your chances to keep an ongoing relationship with your son or daughter. The provincial family courts in Ontario, Canada are quite wise to the potential for this extended Mommie-dearist tactic and strongly encourage mediation.

Courts elsewhere—not so much~

Steve Jobs: Incredible visionary! Spectacular inventor!

Good son?

Well, two out of three, ain't bad.

Closing off a homily one Sunday at Mass, I remember one of our parish priests noting, that whatever disasters befall us—short of death—we never did have the right to expect perfect parents.

But apparently, Steve still did.

Good-bye, Steve.

Thanks for the presents.

Your dad never had your presence, but he has one of your iPads. And he lined up like everyone else to get one.

Roll that image through the theatre of your mind, folks.

The closest John Jandali (Steve Job's father) was able to get his son—was to buy one of his son's products—from one of said son's stores.

ABSOLUTELY disgusting. Monumentally saddening.

While Steve Jobs, being a Buddhist, never had access to the treasure trove of Christian admonishment to act otherwise, still the moral law is written on the hearts of all men—even those outside of the influence of Christian revelation.

Still, Jobs loved the Beatles, and he should have, at least, listened to them.

"For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder"
(Hey Jude)

How many letters and postcards from father John Jandali (through the years), went unanswered, Steve?

I hope someone in the Jobs or Simpson family will FINALLY take the high road and reach out to John Jandali, Steve's estranged (not-by-choice) father in these, his twilight years.

But since we're dealing with Buddhists and pagans here—don't hold your breath.

You can't reason with pagans.

The world may praise Steve Jobs all they want. And he certainly deserves their praise—for the amazing Apple products that were brought to fruition under his leadership—for those eager, and consuming masses.

But, and there is always a but… Steve's final denial of his father, even from his deathbed, certainly gives me, great pause~

(Photo: Apple Canada Head Office, take pictures here and security comes out to meet you!)

Parc Downsview Park ::: No Home for the Arrow!

2011-09-26T10:08:00.000-07:00

YOU'VE GOT TO WONDER where these condescending Crown organizations find those bureaucratic disconnects who are so far removed from any passionate knowledge of the history of Canada that they would attempt to replace 65 Carl Hall Road with hockey arenas. There are a hundred other sites WITHIN Parc Downsview Park's 572 acres that could house a 4-plex hockey arena, but some yahoo wants to bulldoze the Canadian Air and Space Museum and put it there.

In the old days, at the turn of the last century we use to horse-whip those individuals that dared to sally forth with such tomfoolery.

Now, we actually hear them out.

I'm all for Canada maintaining hockey dominance on the international scene…but not at the expense of our great Canadian aviation history.

Aviation is another area where Canada ONCE dominated, however briefly, and we need to acknowledge that.

Young Canadians need to see and reflect on our past.

And where better than at the actual historic site of the de Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada, right where their first plant was located at 65 Carl Hall Road.

De Havilland first produced British designed aircraft (de Havilland Moths) under licence in order to train up Canadian airmen across the country in the 30s. But, later in the 40s, over 1100 units of the legendary de Havilland Mosquito were produced at 65 Carl Hall Road for action in WW II. In the Cold War, over 200 of these Canadian-made Downsview Mosquitos saw fighting action again, and were involved in Communist suppression in China, by a then-decree of the Canadian government.

Bigger projects were in store for Downsview's de Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada, though.

The De Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada went on to design and manufacture 8 wholly Canadian aircraft.

You might have heard of some of them.

1) DHC-1 Chipmunk
2) DHC-2 Beaver
3) DHC-3 Otter
4) DHC-4 Caribou
5) DHC-5 Buffalo
6) DHC-6 Twin Otter
7) DHC-7 Dash 7
8) DHC-8 Dash 8

The first four designs were exclusive to 65 Carl Hall Road and the nearby hangers. The Caribou, Buffalo, Twin Otter, Dash 7, and Dash 8 were manufactured on the south side of Downsview airfield at the Garratt Blvd facility. The Dash 8 continues on as the Bombardier Q400 which is still in commercial production today.

The Cold War fostered the development of a Canadian Guided Missile Division, located, guess where? I'll give you a hint, its on Carl Hall Road. This era drew a whole new breed of scientists with a whole new agenda. This time in space.

The Canadian-built Alouette I satellite was both designed and assembled at 65 Carl Hall Road. The Alouette I became the first satellite in the world—that would be put into space by a country, other than the USA, or the USSR. SPAR began right here as well. SPAR, you remember, went on to produce the Canada Arm for NASA's space schuttles.

In spite of all this rich history, Parc Downsview Park has the bulldozers on stand-by to level 65 Carl Hall Road. Six months and counting down…

Parc Downsview Park advertises itself as a place for all Peoples. It's just not Canadian friendly.

Isn't it funny that no matter what noble thing people try to do, I'm thinking of the thousands of Canadian Air and Space Museum volunteers that have put hundreds of thousands of hours into restoring historical Canadian aircraft (Tracker, Lancaster, CF-5 etc) or restoring historical Canadian jet engines (Jetliner Derwent, the Orenda 5 etc) building another Arrow(see above photo), or hosting great aviation history commemorative events that even Jim Floyd attended…there's always some Judas waiting in the wings to push his own petty agenda, and ruin everything.

There is one more thing Canadians need to know.

OF ALL THE GTA AIRFIELDS that were a part of Canada's EARLY robust aviation history:

▪ Armour Heights Field 1917-1919
▪ Barker Field 1927-1953
▪ Leaside Aerodrome 1927-1931
▪ Long Branch Aerodrome 1915-1919
▪ Toronto Aerodrome 1928-1939

Only Downsview Airfield 1929–present STILL remains.

That's right, just Downsview!

Downsview remains connected to its illustrious aviation past with one operational airfield still owned and managed by Bombardier Aerospace (the successors to de Havilland Canada) and ALSO through the existence of the Canadian Air and Space Museum at 65 Carl Hall Road who should also be the final tenants at number 65.

The Canadian Air and Space Museum (CASM) resides in the hanger that once was the original manufacturing building of de Havilland Canada. Well, that ongoing historical residence is quite precarious now.

The Canadian Air and Space Museum last week was tendered its eviction notice September 20, 2011 from the Parc Downsview Park (a Crown corporation) because they were $100,000 in rent arrears.

Why the Canadian Air and Space Museum was paying ANY RENT, and why they don't also have the former associated de Havilland hanger unit in their possession…just boggles my Canadian mind.

So I guess the TAM Arrow gets tossed to the curb along with the RAF Nimrod tail Memorial that the Museum has housed for the families of the seven RAF airmen who sadly lost their lives while performing in the Canadian International Air Show, in Toronto, in 1995.

The British are going to love to hear how tiny Canada has become in its mentality.

You have to wonder why a Crown corporation (Parc Downsview Park ) would thoughtlessly damage the museum's reputation and enlist a sheriff to LOCK OUT Museum personnel and CASM members for rent arrears.

Again, WHY IS THE MUSEUM EVEN PAYING ANY RENT, Parc Downsview Park? What has Park Judas ever done to preserve Canadian history? Seems you want to steamroller over it—that's your pathetic 'vision'.

What a bunch of losers.

All last week I have been getting emails (even from Americans) and message appeals asking me what I think? Why this happening to the Museum? Don't Canadians preserve their history? Why is the Museum even paying rent? Why was the Museum not just given the lands—by the Government of Canada? Etc., etc.

Folks, I am just as bewildered as you are!

I have no idea why Parc Downsview Park are such development-obsessed, history-destroying a••holes!

They don't get it. They'll never get it. Stooges never do.

You are dealing with bureaucratic disconnects who promise to save a few bricks from the facade of the Museum and put them in the new four-rink hockey arena.

How thoughtful, how nice.

PUBLC APPEAL: Tonight, Parc Downsview Park is coincidentally holding their annual public meeting at 35 Carl Hall Road at 7;30pm. I know there will be a real temptation to heave tomatoes at these idiots. There ARE a••holes. Don't be one.

Ask them why they are destroying Canadian history.

Accept no excuses—that's exactly what they've proposed.

The arenas can go elsewhere on the site, somewhere, more conveniently located. Like, right on Keele. Why hasn't THAT been proposed?

Even for dummies from the Parc, this alone should be a no brainer…why locate well inside the Park when you can locate on the Park's edge THUS making access much easier for those parents and their kids who will use the future sport facilities.

YOU CAN HELP SAVE THE MUSEUM by watching this video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0TIYNarr2g&feature=youtu.be

AND

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbVYh73-QOQ&NR=1

Now write a brief note to:

Rona Ambrose (Cabinet Minister responsible for Downsview Park), Mark Alder (MP for York Centre where Museum is located), James Moore (Minister of Canadian Heritage), Steven Blaney (Minister of Veterans Affairs), Monte Kwinter (MPP for York Centre), Maria Augimeri (Toronto City Councillor for York Centre) and YOUR Member of Parliament!

(Be sure to copy the museum on any of your communications at casm@casmuseum.org )

Rona Ambrose
Minister, Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Status of Women
Email: rona.ambrose@parl.gc.ca
Telephone: 613-996-9778 (Ottawa) & 780-495-7705 (Edmonton)

Mark Alder
MP York Centre
Email: Mark.Adler@parl.gc.ca
Telephone: 613-941-6339 (Ottawa) & 416-638-3700 (Toronto)

James Moore
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Email: james.moore@parl.gc.ca
Telephone: 613-992-9650

Steven Blaney
Minister of Veterans Affairs
Email: steven.blaney@parl.gc.ca
Telephone: 613-992-7434

Maria C. Augimeri
Councillor, City of Toronto
Ward 9 - York Centre
Email: Councillor_Augimeri@toronto.ca
Telephone: 416-392-4021

Monte Kwinter
Member of Provincial Parliament for York Centre
Email: mkwinter.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Telephone: 416-630-0080

Ian A. McDougall
Chairman
Canadian Air & Space Museum
Email: casm@casmuseum.org

Seen in the picture is the Canadian Air and Space Museum's Arrow replica, loving built from scratch by Museum volunteers for Canadians to enjoy, and help them to revisit our glorious aviation past that was Avro Canada. Bombardier Canada, the other Canadian aviation success story has some very interesting aircraft displays at the Museum.

:::: AMERICANS, go around buildings…

2011-09-23T18:13:00.000-07:00

AS WE REMEMBERED the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 this month, and the needless loss of thousands of American civilians, people who were not combatants, we also remember those nations that have a long history of acting honourably on the world stage (America, etc).

Simultaneously, we note there are other nations, or peoples, who also have a long history.

But, of dishonour. Of treachery. Of civilian murder and civilian brutality.

15 of the 19 9/11 hi-jackers were Saudi-Arabians.

Earlier this year, United Arab Emirates airline demanded flight-route access to every major Canadian city, in order to compete directly against Canadian-based airlines! No—I'm NOT kidding you!! When Harper's government refused to grant that privilege…Canada was then told by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to vacate Camp Mirage. Mirage was the Canadian Forces base in the Middle-East for supporting Canadian Forces active in Afghanistan.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has recently threatened to sue various Canadian TV stations for running Ethical Oil ads which denounce the purchase of Saudi-Arabian oil based on that country's horrendous human rights track record. The ads which are based on facts related through Ezra Levant's book, 'Ethical Oil' note that while processing oil from the oil sands in Alberta, which have a larger carbon footprint, impact on the environment is not the only measurement for one's consumer ethics.

How does a country treat its citizens? How are their women treated? Their minorities? Does the nation in question fight or aid terrorists on the world stage.

Saudi-Arabia FAILS in every category but the environmental one.

To process Canadian oil, some additional refining (more energy is consumed) is needed.

So, is the minor impact on the environment OR the major impact on humanity—more important to you?

CTV pulled their 'Ethical Oil' ads after receiving a threatening letter from 'the Kingdom's' legal representatives.

SUN Media and the Oprah Winfrey Network continue to run the ads.

The Government of Canada is now investigating the recent actions of the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia and their success in stifling the free speech of Canadians.

Ezra Levant (you gotta love that guy) has the the full scoops, from Blazing Cat Fur and Kathy Shaidle:

www.fivefeetoffury.com/2011/09/feminist-hypocrites-silent...

And the update:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=83zUeV1K8ZI&feature=player_em...

CIAS 2011 :::THE A-10 WARTHOG comes to HOGTOWN

2011-09-06T14:44:00.000-07:00

SHE'S A BEAUTY—but she's deadly!

THE A-10 was designed AROUND the GAU-8 Avenger which is basically a 30mm cannon/Gattling gun. Think an impressive 3,900 rounds a minute! Think bye-bye tank, armoured carrier, or column of vehicles. Think Operation Odyssey Dawn and bye-bye Libyan ground forces.

A-10s are famous for taking out enemy supply lines—in 1 to two second canon bursts! That's all it takes.They pounce on and pound their victims!

The A-10 has 1,200 pounds of armour and can fly even after being heavily damaged.

Remember Kim Campbell (not Canada's laughable PrIme Minister) but the USAF female pilot whose A-10 sustained incredible damage during the 2003 invasion of Iraq? With one engine gone on her A-10, her hydraulics gone, she still flew for over an hour in this condition and made it home.

MUST SEE: www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Stories1/001-100/0016_A-10...

The stubby wings are clipped for incredible manoeuvrability at low heights and at low speed.

The A-10—I thought I was watching flew around a 50 foot building, disappeared, and then was on top of us startled photographers—before we could fire off a shot. A camera shot that is!

I said to everyone there, that if this had been war—we'd be done!

We all laughed—but one guy didn't.

I love this airplane. In my top 5 for sure.

You 'gotta love Toronto's Air Show for 2011!

::: CIAS 2011: V-22 Osprey taxis Midfield

2011-09-05T21:46:00.000-07:00

SECOND OF TWO USMC Ospreys to visit Toronto for CIAS 2011.

I'm still see'in' the "84".

SEE: Directly BELOW—

The ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY could use a few of these. Hear Boeing has been showing these around in NOVA SCOTIA to the Feds.

First time for Boeing Ospreys to appear in a Canadian air show.

CIAS 2011: TORONTO'S AIRSHOW starts Tomorrow - Your Education BEGINS Today!

2011-09-03T05:51:00.000-07:00

TOMORROW THE VTOL V-22 OSPREY (inset) will make its first Canadian appearance at a Canadian air show, at CIAS 2011. Insider Jenny of CIAS, hinted about the V-22 being in this years line-up—and sure enough the Osprey's attendance has been confirmed.

If you attended school in Canada—as I did—once upon a time, you likely don't know a damn thing about the 40 year ago C a n a d i a n VTOL precursor to tomorrow's pre-show favourite. Canadian history classes at the high school level are filled with leftist teachers with typical leftist tales about political do-nothings WHILE ACTUAL Canadian achievers are condescendingly ignored.

Leftists have a fascination with dreamers, you know, instead of doers. Think Obama.

So here we go folks…

LONG BEFORE the tiltrotor V-22…there was the tiltwing Canadair VTOL CL-84.

Say what?

Starting in 1957 Canadair carried out research in military aircraft VTOL possibilities. Vertical takeoff and landing, for those not in the know.

By 1963, Canadair had the kinks worked out—and started the construction of three prototypes.

By 1965, on May 7, the first "84" flew at the hands of Canadair Chief Pilot Bill Longhurst.

The CANADAIR crowd loved its newest baby and referred to the CL-84 as the "84".

GENERAL DYNAMICS which had acquired Canadair during the CL-84 developmental process added the moniker "Dynavert".

Unfortunately, after 700 successful test flights (including one where the "84" ended up landing on the White House lawn!) and after rave reviews by over 40 international test pilots, Canada was not able to secure a single purchase order. Not even with its own Canadian Armed Forces!

The Canadair CL-84 Dynavert Project was subsequently scrapped in 1974.

One "84" crashed, and the other two ended up in Canadian museums.

CL-84, CX8402 (pictured above), was retired to the Canadian Aviation Museum (CAM) in Ottawa and sits right beside the remnants of an Avro Arrow. Have you had your irony supplements for today?

NOW, I don't know what you'll be seeing when the V-22 dazzles the CNE crowd—but I'll be seeing the "84".

That's the beauty about a country, and people, like the United States of America—Americans, I repeat AMERICANS don't ever throw away technological greatness, unlike Canada and Canadians whose history is filled with such frivolity.

The original CL-84 photo is mine (purchased) and the colourized treatment was also done by moi.

CRASH! Geneseo!! Brampton Triplane (C-GDRI) NO MORE!!!

2011-07-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

THANKFULLY THE PILOT, Joseph Auger, of Brampton Ontario, was relatively unhurt.

After a rough landing, on Saturday July 9, in which Mr. Auger's Fokker DR-1 Triplane (C-GDRI) did cartwheels through a New York cornfield, the lucky pilot was able to walk away from the crash with only a broken arm! In the 18 year history of the Geneseo Air Show there's only been one other crash. That too involved a World War I replica. A Fokker as well.

As fate would have it, the third accident at this airshow would happen the very next day, on Sunday and involved an Beechcraft Bonanza. That mishap was attributed to pilot error.

All right back to the tri-plane, which is, actually is, a replica.This replica made from Fokker plans was operated by Great War Flying Museum in Brampton. The Fokker Triplane had been participating in an re-enactment dogfight when suddenly the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The pilot was able to bring the plane down successfully…but as she was landing…its wheel snagged something, and then violently flipped over on impact.

The airplane is a complete write off.

The picture I have posted is from BETTER TIMES at last year's Brampton air show (Great War Flying Museum Open House and Fly-In) approximately 9 months ago.

Here's a crash photo: www.airliners.net/photo/Fokker-Dr-1-replica/1949320/L/

Thank God, the pilot is all right…but it still remains a very sad loss of an absolutely fantastic airplane.

A flying replica this grand, this precisely detailed, is the result of thousands of hours of devoted work, both by its owner and Museum club members. Sad, indeed ~

::: HAMILTON AIR SHOW 2011::: The Arrow and Marc-André Valiquette

2011-07-19T18:35:00.000-07:00

YOU KNOW that's the one thing about an air show, hardly anyone ever talks about—you just never know who's going to show up. Who…you may run into.

It's not just about the airplanes.

An air show is also about the people who attend. Some attendees will be the guy next door. Others, could be celebrities. Others, could be world-renowned collectors.… And, hey that's just who I ran into. Marc-André. Yes, that MA—the world's premier Avro ARROW collector! Marc-André Valiquette. Right there, at the show! If he doesn't have it—he's seen it!

SO if you also ran into Marc-André, you have have been able to buy any of his three Arrow books (the third in the series is in the pic above) and get them signed. Marc-André also has a very nice embroidered Avro Arrow sewable patch that he has designed, and has made available to the general public.

But folks, we're just scratching the surface here.

REMEMBER Marc-Andre is the world's premiere collector of all things Arrow and/or Avro (Canada).

This guy has the control yoke from Arrow 205!

And there it is in the pictures. That stick was the main drawer to Zura's flying office, the Arrow.

Just don't think for a minute that's the only Arrow part he owns! But it is DAMN significant, isn't it!!

After I held the 'stick' and was flying the Arrow high above Hamilton, Marc-André snapped me back to this world by telling me a secret about the Arrow that I didn't even know!!

I know that, in and of itself—that's kinda' hard to believe since I've been inhaling stuff about the Arrow ever since I was a newborn—but he shared an important secret with me that I captured in the above photos…but will remain mum about!

It affects Arrow collectors everywhere.

Ain't I, a *whistle, *whistle, !@#$~

Sorry.

And then Marc-André told me something that I had only dreamed about. That I hoped would somehow come true. And it has. It did.

There are a few collectors, outside of the regular Arrow collecting community who have, well, between them…about half an Arrow.

How could that be, you ask? Well, when you aren't married—you don't have a wife to answer to—and you can get away with stuff. You know, stuff like storing the front landing gear of one of the Arrows in your living room, keeping a Sparrow missile in your kitchen, etc. Before you know it‚ you've squirrelled away half the airplane on your property!

Now THAT is the kind of hoarding I like to see!

But, you better let him tell you that story…

Marc-André will be releasing his fourth and final book in his Destruction Of A Dream series about the demise of the Arrow and Avro Canada in the fall (the readership are cued for a round of applause at this point). THIS SERIES would be better described as the Encyclopedia of the Arrow! And remember each book is rendered simultaneously in both official languages of the Dominion of Canada, that is, in both French and English.

Marc-André Valiquette will be be promoting his fourth book when it is released this November.

MA has informed me that he will be going on tour with his Arrow parts, his books, and other Avro related artifacts starting in the fall.

MA will be giving his Arrow presentation next year at the Brampton Museum when it officially re-opens to the public. That opening should be in the spring, upon completion of its incredible two year restoration odyssy. Can't wait! Not only will Marc-André's Arrow presentation be great, once again, you never know who will show up at these things! Remember that.

::::: FUNNY, never did figure out…

2011-07-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

…what she was looking' at ~

::: HAMILTON AIR SHOW 2011::: Here Comes Trouble!

2011-07-18T10:28:00.001-07:00

=☆= The MEMPHIS BELLE =☆=

The Belle makes a grand landing.

It ain't often CANADIANS get to see a real live B-17 at a Canadian air show. Hamilton was visited by two!!

Very few people know that the RCAF took on strength and operated six B-17s in bare-metal finish during WW II!

WARBIRDS! ::: HAMILTON AIR SHOW 2011

2011-07-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

From VINTAGE WINGS of CANADA,

"The Hurricane Mk 4 of Vintage Wings of Canada is painted in the markings of RAF 6 Squadron, “The Flying Tin Openers”, which operated the Hurry in the “tank- busting” and ground attack role. Many Canadian pilots flew the cannon-equipped tank-buster variant with 6 Sqn. on operations in North Africa."

Last Mark Hawker Hurricane IV in existence!

::: HAMILTON AIR SHOW 2011 :: FIREFLY Gets the Girl

2011-07-18T10:21:00.000-07:00

Yup.

::: HAMILTON AIR SHOW 2011:: HELLDIVER

2011-07-18T10:19:00.001-07:00

THE HELLDIVER doesn't land so much as it belly flops…

(just kidding)

Cool Naval airplane.

And the ONLY ONE still flying today! Comes to the Hamilton Air Show in CANADA to usher in Hamilton's return to the air show world.

What the readership may not know is that CANADA made Curtis SBW-1 Helldivers during WW II at our Canadian Car and Foundry plant in Fort William, Ontario. The first one rolled out of the factory on July 29, 1943.

HAMILTON AIR SHOW 2011: RCAF Harvards and the BCATP

2011-07-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

ASK CANADIANS about the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and they haven't got a clue.

HOWEVER it was under the BCATP in WW II that Canada grew up as a nation. We would never be the same again.

CANADA, a nation of only 11 million at the time…was entrusted with training the air power arm of the British Commonwealth. So from all over the globe British subjects came to Canada—and left as trained airmen to fill up positions in the squadrons of the RAF and the RCAF (6th Group).

It was Canada's greatest test as a nation. And we passed it graciously. It was Canada's finest hour!

WINSTON CHURCHILL called Canada the "linchpin of the Commonwealth". Without Canada supplying trained airmen, without the Canadian Army stomping all over Europe, without the Canadian Navy keeping the supply lines to Great Britain open, and without the efforts of the Canadian Merchant Marine—the British Commonwealth would have unravelled.

Four hundred years of history and heritage would have been lost.

The leftist wingnuts can read and rant all about Louis Riel—but my Canadian history books start with WW II and the BCATP and end in 1962 with the formal death of Avro Canada.

TWO SUMMERS ago my neighbour came over to borrow a book on gardening. As he perused my mighty book collection he noticed a book on Canadian history.

"Hey Arrow, somebody has vandalized your book, here. Seriously, man!"

"Someone has ripped out like about three quarters of its pages! Who would brutalize a book like this?"

"A true Canadian" —I responded.

"Care to explain this?!"

"No."

(If you don't get it now, you never will)

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) springs to life again at the Hamilton Air Show 2011!

I thoroughly enjoyed the HARVARDS. My dad (deceased) in his early RCAF years spent a lot of time with these 'yellow birds'. So a son comes to an air show to remember a father who never failed to take him to an air show—every single summer.

USAAF's 'Memphis Belle' arrives in style: HAMILTON AIR SHOW 2011

2011-06-26T10:08:00.001-07:00

YOU'LL HAVE TO WRITE your own commentary—I'm too tired!

I will say this.

Very few people know that the RCAF took on strength and operated six B-17s in bare-metal finish during WW II!

'nuff, said—

HAMILTON AIR SHOW 2011: Babe and the B-17!

2011-06-25T12:08:00.000-07:00

HAMILTON AIR SHOW 2011: Babes and Warbirds!

2011-06-25T11:59:00.000-07:00

HAMILTON AIR SHOW 2011: :::The Present Contemplates the Past :..::..

2011-06-25T11:56:00.000-07:00

:::The Present Contemplates the Past :..::..

DISINTERESTED BUDDY had no idea his girlfriend knew so much about BALL-TURRETS on a B-17G!

Now—you know!

<<<:: The MAKO SHARK ::>>>

2011-06-25T11:52:00.000-07:00

The JET AIRCRAFT MUSEUM (JAM) came to the air show and brought their 'new' Mako Shark T-33.

KIDS loved this 'T'!

Some kids (as you can see) really understood the Mako Shark.

When it was all said and done ::: The HAMILTON AIR SHOW (2011)…

2011-06-20T12:13:00.001-07:00

…was a lotta' fun—

TOO LONG has ::: the HAMILTON AIR SHOW ::: been gone from the scene.

Previously run by a third party, the immensely popular regional air show became a losing venture. So it had to end. Once the middleman took his cut, there wasn't much left for the museum.

AND that—just wasn't right.

So the CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE MUSEUM did what it always does…MADE THINGS RIGHT! It took over the event, it took back control, and hosted its own air show!

Proceeds will go to CWH this time. As they should. What great work they do keeping Canadian history alive!!!

Great job Warplane!!

I had an EXCELLENT time!

For those who DIDN'T go…we don't hate ya', we'll just never forgive ya' ~

::: HAMILTON AIR SHOW 2011 :: June 18 -19

2011-06-17T11:37:00.000-07:00

PLUS, LOTS, LOTS, MORE…

• Canadian Memorial Flight (Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane)
• Mock dogfight by World War I replica aircraft
• Aerobatic act of Bill Carter including his trademark inverted & knife edge ribbon cut (Pitts S2S)
• Salute to the British Commonwealth Training Plan by Tiger Moth, Stearman, Cornell, Finch and up to a 10-plane Harvard formation
• HEAVY BOMBER FORMATION of Lancaster, two B-17 Flying Fortresses & B-25 Mitchell
• Formation of two rare Canadian Lysanders
• Hamilton Sport Parachute Club skydivers
• Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team
• Many rare World War II aircraft including Helldiver, P-40 Warhawk, Firefly, Corsair & P-51 Mustang
• Victoria Cross Flight (Lancaster, Canso, Corsair)
• Almost 20 additional static aircraft on ground display
• PLUS aircraft rides, flight simulators, food vendors & souvenirs available onsite

BE THERE…or BE SQUARE!

JAN BURTON: Self-Directed Flight 621 Researcher

2011-06-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

A LOT OF AIR CANADA DC-8 artifacts take a little research to identify original form and function.

Rarely do any scream Douglas DC-8.

Even more rarely would any pieces of DC-8…that we find…be READILY identifiable by the general public.

Well—here's one.

Everyone knows what this is…what this was.

JAN BURTON found this only a week ago…

It is the air conditioning nozzle that can be found right beside the overhead lamp that is available to all passengers from the comfort of their seats. AIR CANADA DC-8s had two interior styles. The Second Douglas Jetliner Interior, or the update, placed these air nozzles ABOVE the passenger seats. In the original Air Canada DC-8s the air nozzles were found in the seat backside, directly, in front of you.

MIKE MENTZER: Deceased, 10 Years Ago Today

2011-06-10T19:07:00.000-07:00

BODYBUILDINGS GREATEST LOSS…so many would say when he stopped competing after the 1980 Mr. Olympia. But Mike, Mr. Heavy Duty, went on to dazzle the weightlifting masses with his controversial training plans. Fit for Life is loosely based on Mentzer's HEAVY DUTY™ System. Less is more. 45 minutes a day in the gym, 4X a week. Not three hours a day, six days a week, like Arnold and the 'boys'. Later on, Mike trained Dorian Yates who went on to become Mr Olympia for 6 years running.

Mike was born and raised in Pennsylvania, by mom and dad, who were Mennonite descendants! And Mike, himself, was ex-USAF!

I met Mike and talked to him almost 31 years ago which was captured in the picture on the left at Vic Tanny's SUPERFITNESS in Rexdale, Ontario.

Toronto.

I wasn't putting on much size or weight, was somewhat at a standstill…until I met Mike here and purchased the first draft of his training programme. A little over a year later, I was thirty pounds heavier, and had problems sleeping because my arms were too big! Mike's intense, highly disciplined system didn't work for everybody—but it worked for me!

Ten years ago today June 10, 2001 Mike finished filming his new DVD, Mike Mentzer's HIT (High Intensity Training) Exercise Video (with Markus Reinhardt). Mr HEAVY DUTY™ was dead a few hours later! Mike, an avid fitness and philosophical writer, was found slumped over his typewriter by his bodybuilding brother, Ray.

Sadly, Ray also died two days later from complications of Berger's Disease!

The Mentzer's took the bodybuilding world by storm when they arrived, and yet again when they died suddenly in 2001. RIP Mentzer brothers—

UPDATE: Accidentally DELETED my original post which WAS uploaded on June 10, 2011.

New MENTZER photo generous courtesy of famed bodybuilding photographer, Garry Bartlett. Garry took the RIGHT SHOT , which I think was one of the best Mentzer photos ever —when Mike competed in an IFBB event in Montreal in 1979.

(left photo taken, by me, with a horrendous Agfa 110!)

:: Collide ...

2011-05-24T08:09:00.000-07:00

WHEN THE TORONTO ARGOS crash and burn this year (and they will crash and burn)…remember…there's always the cheerleaders…

THE RUNNER STUMBLES: Arnold and Maria…better times in Toronto—30 years ago

2011-05-20T15:39:00.000-07:00

TAKEN IN REXDALE, sometime mid 1980, at Vic Tannys, in the very same plaza that William Shatner shot one of his famous commercials for Loblaws. And this plaza was across the street, and down the hill from the former secretive Briarcrest mansion—the last hold-out of the Arrow and Avro Canada.

The 80s. Weightlifting. Health food. Girls. Not enough, girls.

No matter.

Heady days indeed, even, for me.

But this piece is about Arnold—not me.

Even 30 years ago Arnold was no stranger to controversy. At this bodybuilding event, Arnold announced he could come back and beat anybody, anybody, in the highly competitive world of bodybuilding with only 6 weeks of training. Everyone, some very serious bodybuilders were in attendance, became instantly enraged! To Arnold's delight. Soon derogatory comments were hurled back at Arnold. Even more to Arnold's delight. Rarely have I seen Canadians act in such unison. Schwarzenegger had long retired from the barbell scene five years previous, when he had won his 5th, and final Mr Olympia.

Still, the rumors started.

Immediately.

Was Arnold coming back? Would he compete in the 1980 Mr Olympia? Arnie had been seen training but that was for one of his cheesy movies right? Right?!?!? And why was the Austrian Oak pumping iron all covered up—so no one could see what he looked like?

True to form Arnold did come back 12 weeks later—and he did win his sixth Olympia!

Everyone said the contest was rigged.

Mike Mentzer, who had won the Mr Universe contest, the previous year, with a perfect score of 300 (which has never been done since) swore he would never compete in bodybuilding again. There was no way Arnold should have beaten Mike. And although everyone tried to reason with Mike about the unfairness of life etc., true to his word he walked away from the sport, and never. Competed. Again.

The scandalosa would be re-visited through the years, but when Mike's brother Ray became quite sick and was near death, Arnold called the hospital and told Ray that if he needed anything— Arnold would get it for him. And for a while Ray's health stabilized.

The road to healing had begun—Arnold and Mike even talked on the phone a few times after Mike found out about Arnold's generous overture to his brother.

Life was good again.

Will Maria and Arnold make it back from the abyss? Can their marriage be saved?

One thing is sure—forgiveness is a direction.

And THAT is the hand that Maria will have to play out—it's all up to her now, and no one else—

And another thing is sure—Arnold's 'rendezvous days' are over—Maria can't go back to that, he'll be on a tight leash from here on in.

Arnold has to decide if he can actually do that~

(Here the happy couple is pictured together in Toronto…about five years before they married)

(photo taken, by me, with a horrendous Agfa 110!)

FLIGHT 621 Crash Site: And so it begins…

2011-05-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

…the process to develop the former crash site of Air Canada FLIGHT 621 where 109 passengers and crew lost their lives when their four-engine Air Canada "Stretch" DC-8 crashed into a Brampton farmer's field.

When the field has been developed, an irregular Flight 621 cemetery will be located right over the crash point (where the airplane went nose-first into the ground), a memorial gardens dedicated to the ill-fated flight for the victim's families will be in place, and a park for visitors will have been established .

Barb Winckler, FRIENDS of FLIGHT 621, walks the lower end of the site's perimeter fence.

This is a double fence which has hay bales filling in the centre?!?!

Flight 621 was a connoisseur flight of Air Canada's that flew Montreal-Toronto-Los Angeles (YUL-YYZ-LAX).

FLIGHT 621: Brampton's WORST AIR DISASTER marked off

2011-05-14T15:58:00.000-07:00

WELL, THERE IS no mistaking it now. Flight 621's crash site and the crash arena are now clearly marked and fenced in.

And the crash site is within the developer's site which is also now surrounded by a developer's site fence.

The bottom end of the field has a very bizarre double fence which I will show you soon enough.

Tomorrow I meet with the Brampton Fire Department Headquarters to discuss my most recent field finds which are related to their firefighting work of 41 years ago.

The bulk of the crash was contained within the fenced off area. I talked to an OPP officer who was given this eastern section to catalogue. He found human remains even this far from the impact point.

There was a torso of a male teenager that was found even farther away however, 1100 feet from the DC-8's ground impact point. The forces of destruction which come into play, in a crash of this magnitude, are just incredible—and merciless.

:::TORONTO HISTORY::: Destruction of a Dream: The Tragedy of Avro Canada and the CF-105 Arrow.

2011-03-29T09:46:00.001-07:00

AS I MENTIONED last week, Marc-André Valiquette's 3rd book…in his four book series…about Avro Canada, the illustrious Arrow, the mighty Orenda Iroquois etc., entitled Seeds of Suspicion can be found at AVIATION WORLD on Carlingview Road in Toronto, sometime, during the first week of April.

SEEDS OF SUSPICION covers the final weeks of the Avro Arrow and Orenda Iroquois programs, right up to Black Friday, February 20, 1959.

Marc-André Valiquette is perhaps Canada's most famous AVRO CANADA collector and now he is sharing his fine collection of rare artifacts, advertisements, memorabilia, and photos…with the Canadian public through this four volume series of books.

In this, new for 2011, THIRD VOLUME expect hundreds of new Arrow photos, one's that have not been published widely before this release!

And you can read Marc-André's commentary in French, or English!

For your Canadian convenience—HIS BOOKS are Bi-Lingual!

So burn down, your town!

Get on the blower…call Aviation World: 416-674-5959 to reserve your copy!

'nuff, said!

New "AVRO ARROW" Book for 2011!

2011-03-25T19:09:00.001-07:00

WELL TODAY, March 25, 2011 is the launch of iPad 2 in Canada.

More importantly though is what is happening TOMORROW in Canada.

Tomorrow on March 26, 2011 Marc-André Valiquette is releasing his 3rd book in his four book series…about Avro Canada and the illustrious Arrow, entitled Seeds of Suspicion.

Now, let me stop right here.

If you haven't purchased Volumes 1 and 2 of this series, you are missing out on quite a lot!

Marc-André has put together a great series here…about Avro and the Arrow. There are almost a THOUSAND RARE photographs included in the already released two volumes of this series!

MANY of these photos, I had never seen before!

And that is saying a lot!!!

Marc-André has even included National Steel Car and Victory Aircraft Ltd. photos. Both aircraft manufacturers were based out of Malton, and were the precursors to Avro Aircraft of Canada. In fact, when Avro Canada was formed in December of 1945, they acquired the million square feet of manufacturing facilities from Victory Aircraft Ltd, which had already replaced National Steel Car.

Four short years later, Avro Canada had produced the all-Canadian C-102 Jetliner, which, in my opinion was the first jet airliner to fly! The deHavilland Comet "hopped" down an English runway 13 days previous to Toronto's Jetliner, but the DH Comet wasn't taken into the air! Not when the press was there! After the hops, the DH Comet returned to the apron. The press was told no further "flights" were possible. That was Wednesday morning, July 27, 1949. Later, in the evening, the Comet came out for an additional flaps-down hop. Then, while the press was writing the first flight "hops" story, the Comet actually flew for 31 minutes—with no press in attendance!

Rumour has that De-Havilland performed this "hops stunt" because they knew that Malton's Jetliner was close to being ready for its maiden flight. No telling how soon. Being the first in the air, with the world's first jet-engined passenger airliner was a highly coveted honour, so the Comet hopped down the manufacturer's runway to secure that accolade.

On its first flight, the Avro Jetliner came out and deliberately flew around Toronto skies for over an hour…it flew folks…it didn't hop! Avro Canada didn't even think about hopping their aircraft. The Canadian C-102 Jetliner didn't accidentally fly as an afterthought…it roared right into the air without hesitation! With the press in attendance.

But, I digress, folks…you'll see lots of the Avro Canada Jetliner in Marc-André books! No need for me to tell any part of that story here.

Also in one of Marc-André volumes there is a pic of an ad from my dad's company, Garrett Manufacturing of Canada! Garrett had published an ad congratulating themselves on their participation in the CF-105 Avro Arrow program!

Mr Valiquette has included everything in his two 100 page book volumes. Lots of stuff, others haven't included in their Arrow books. And Marc-André related the Avro Canada story, both in English and in French! His books are BI-LINGUAL

Yup, the Jet Lancaster even appears in the first book! Doubt, no more. Several pictures of that bird…so I am vindicated. The C-102 Jetliner and CF-100 programmes are nicely covered. The PS-13 Orenda Iroquois engine program is there in all its glory. The laughable Bomarc Missile, Diefenbaker's replacement for the Arrow, is also covered by Marc-André.

And so MUCH MORE!

Far too much to list.

And NOW, the third volume, Seeds of Suspicion has been released!

Get it!

AVIATION WORLD in TO, near YYZ, will soon have it!

Marc-André Valiquette is perhaps the most famous AVRO CANADA collector worldwide and now he is sharing that fine collection of rare artifacts, advertisements, memorabilia, and photos with the Canadian public through this four volume series of books.

Each book will run you between $20 - 25 Canadian.

Here's the official blurb:

THE SERIES IS BI-LINGUAL (a first – English and French) and tells the story of the Malton plant, from its birth in 1938 to its demolition in 2003 (also a first). The series is entitled: "Destruction of a dream, the tragedy of Avro Canada and the CF-105 Arrow".

- The first volume A. V. Roe Canada’s “Per Ardua Ad Astra”, recounts the rise of the company, from its birth as National Steel Car up to the manufacturing of the CF-105 Arrow. The subjects covered include Second World War achievements, post-war adaptation, Jetliner, CF-100, CF-103 and the start of the CF-105 project (96 pages).

- The second volume Supersonic Dreams – At the dawn of a new era, is dedicated to the Arrow, from its rollout to the RCAF’s acquisition of the Bomarc missile (96 pages).

- The third volume Seeds of Suspicion, deals with the last weeks of the Arrow project until “Black Friday” (Launch March 26th 2011, 104 pages).

- The fourth and final volume, Master in our own House?, discusses the project cancellation, the destruction of aircraft, engines and materials, post-Arrow projects, “Avroites” reunions and work at the Malton plant, including Orenda, until its demolition in 2003 (Launch Fall 2011, 128 pages).

RECOGNITION eludes Toronto Area CASM artist…but Donald Trump knows what to do!

2011-03-22T09:46:00.001-07:00

Yup.

THIS UNKNOWN ILLUSTRATOR should be famous. Look at the detail in that Canadair Sabre.

This is AMAZING work! His illustrations can be found at the CANADIAN AIR & SPACE MUSEUM located at 65 Carl Hall Road in Downsview, Toronto. The museum is located across from Bombardier Aerospace Toronto.

55 YEARS AGO this Canadian-made (under license) Sabre was beating up Toronto skies under the Toronto based RCAF 400 SQN banner, taking to the skies, from right there, in Downsview.

No more.

The LIBERAL PARTY of Canada has been gutting the Canadian military since the hippie-dippy sixties. Soon Canada will be reduced to defending Canadian soil with kites and canoes; you know like we did back in the 1700s!

For the longest time, the United States of America has been guarding Canadian airspace. Sure CAF CF-188 Hornets intercept Russian bombers that approach Canada from international airspace, and just skirt our border…but if there was trouble, who would respond? It would be the might of America, and Canadian Forces units would dovetail in with America's response. Does that sound like independence to you?

FRANCE which has roughly double the population of Canada (at 65 million) is the World's Third Superpower behind the USA and Russia. The reader needs to really ponder that fact.

France has aircraft carriers, missiles, bombers, warships, submarines, thousands of fighters, and nuclear bombs…to protect its tiny (in comparison to Canada) land mass. And its sovereignty.

Canada has luck.

Or Canada goes hat in hand, to America's doorstep, to ensure ongoing Canadian freedom. Ever since the Cold War years. Disgusting.

There is NO REASON we (CANADA) can't be just like France.

Independent, by our own resolve.

I see some Y-35s and some new mark Arrows that need to be built.

The LIBERAL PARTY of Canada frittered away CANADIAN SOVEREIGNTY a long time ago.

Canada doesn't need a smaller military…we need one about 10X its' present size!

I like presidential hopefuls, THE DONALD, or Allen West, for 2012.

DONALD TRUMP, who is hawkish on the military, has stated that countries which rely on American military might…need to pay for it! Apparently, the non-business type clobberheads in the present, and recent past, American administrations have been giving away American military assistance for free!! All, on the American taxpayer's dime!!!

Prosperous oil or mineral rich countries that COULD EASILY pay for the American military intervention they got…were never asked to pay up!!!

Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Libya, South Korea, South Vietnam, Afghanistan etc. or CANADA (yes, CANADA!) have never been asked to pay their FAIR SHARE!

Users, abusers, and losers, I say.

America came to Great Britain's and Russia's aid in WW II, but the Brits and Russians had to eventually pay for all that military support and hardware received through the Lend-Lease programme.

FYI…CANADA was never under the Lend-Lease programme.

In WW II, CANADIANS paid up front for military equipment, or produced it ourselves, and gave it away FOR FREE to the people of Great Britain in their hour of need. Here's some Hawker Hurricanes produced in Fort William, Ontario…courtesy of the city of Oshawa, for ya'…to aid the British war effort. Here's million Lee-Enfield rifles. Load them on the ships, and send' em over boys. Now, you get the picture.

You mean a glorious nation like Great Britain was charged back then, and some of these scrub nations of today, haven't been?!?!

What?

Are you #%$@&*^ kiddin' me?

The AVRO ARROW Mark 5 : What SHOULD Have Been…

2011-03-11T11:30:00.000-08:00

A CANADIAN DEFENDER for Canadian skies.A CANADIAN DEFENDER for Canadian skies.

PICTURED is a Mark 5 Arrow from the CAF, not RCAF (unfortunately), from 409 (Nighthawk) Squadron based in Comox, BC.

Yes…what should have been~

THE ILLUSTRATION is from an unknown Canadian aviation artist who has created a lot of fantastic SIDE-VIEW illustrations of just about everything that has donned the RCAF or CAF roundel. I added "movement" to the Arrow and a dimmed-out RCAF roundel (in the background) from another work he also created.

Who is the mystery artist?

Don't know.

Unlike EVERY OTHER ARTIST alive…he doesn't sign his stuff!

Some of his creations can be found at the CANADIAN AIR & SPACE MUSEUM located at 65 Carl Hall Road in Downsview, Toronto. The museum is located across from Bombardier Aerospace Toronto.

Check out the museum…home of a life-sized Arrow…and check out the museum's ultrafine gift shop. There you can purchase illustrations by this featured, unknown artist, and lots of other rare Canadian aviation stuff!

Remember the Avro Arrow, powered by her two homegrown Orenda Iroquois engines, would have been the most advanced interceptor of her time in 1959. And remember, she was designed, created, and screeched through Toronto skies…back in that illustrious day!

Most of the engineers from AVRO AIRCRAFT OF CANADA Ltd. went south when the Arrow and Iroquois engine programmes were cancelled—and made significant contributions to NASA. They helped put America in space.

In order to reduce mounting costs…the USAF offered to provide the weapons systems for all existing 27 Arrows, free of charge, IF the Canadian government would keep the two cutting-edge programmes afloat.

John G. Diefenbaker, then Prime Minister of Canada, said no.

Curtis-Wright of the USA ordered 12,000! Orenda Iroquois engines from Avro Canada.

Diefenbaker cancelled the order and told them to forget it. His government also cancelled the French Air Force's order of 300 Orenda Iroquois engines.

The USAF then offered to buy FIVE existing Arrows from the Canadian government's inventory, shortly after the two programmes were simultaneously cancelled on February 20, 1959.

The Canadian government NEVER ANSWERED that tabled offer from the USAF.

So much for all those conspiracy theories that ~~really dumb~~ (loads of) Canadians believe about America sabotaging the Arrow.

America tried to save the Arrow and Orenda! MANY TIMES!!

I can't tell you how many spooky Canadians whisper, "it was those Americans" whenever the demise of the Arrow is discussed. I know Canada is a free country and all… and it's your democratic right to remain stupid…but certainly, after a while, it should be embarrassing to you when the facts absolutely negate your anti-American sentiments.

Like Jim Floyd, former Vice President of Avro Aircraft Canada (hey—remember JIm?), has said repeatedly, about who is at fault for the demise of the Arrow and Iroquois,

"We (Canadians) did it (killed the projects) to ourselves."

ex-AVRO CANADA EMPLOYEE CANADIAN BOMBSHELL…slams Canadian Prime Minister!

2011-02-26T10:19:00.000-08:00

THE CBC WAS INTERVIEWING Avro Canada employees at the end of their final shifts. The day? February 20, 1959. In the morning, Prime Minister John G Diefenbaker announced in the House of Commons that the Arrow and Iroquois programmes were cancelled, and Avro Canada president, Crawford Gordon, promptly fired everyone at Avro that afternoon. No airplane or jet engine, to build…no work!

No one blamed Crawford Gordon for the firings.

EVERYONE blamed Dief, including this Canadian blonde bombshell captured by the CBC interviewer. I looped the clip for 3X play since it is so short.

WHO WAS this Canadian wonder woman?

I wonder if anybody out there in cyberspace knows who she was?? Curious.

She got it. And she sent her thoughts right up to the Prime Minister.

But Dief was arrogant.

A Jack. Stupid. Ass.

So he plowed ahead like every idiot would…throwing good business advice to the wind…because…well, he knew better. And so he destroyed Avro Aircraft of Canada Limited.

The blonde woman typifies CANADIAN WOMEN in general.

Here's YOUR debriefing:

"SWEET GIRLS come from the south, Barbies come from California, but Canadian girls have fire and ice in our blood. We can drive in snow and mud, handle the cold, beat the heat, be a princess, throw a right hook and drink with the boys! We can cook a wickedly good meal and if we have an opinion... You bet your ass your gonna hear it!!!"
(Janice Gattie)

And now, you know!

©1959 CBC

THE ARROW isn't coming back, folks…

2011-02-20T21:28:00.000-08:00

AND NEITHER IS the Orenda Iroquois PS-13…

"IT'S THE CLOSET THING CANADIAN INDUSTRY has to a love story and a murder mystery.

THE AVRO ARROW, a sleek white jet interceptor developed in Malton, Ontario in the 1950's, could have been many things. It might have become the fastest plane in the world, Canada's best defence against Soviet bombers, the catalyst to propel Canada to the forefront of the aviation industry. Instead, it became a $400-million pile of scrap metal, and the stuff of legends.

Not long after the 1958 start of its flight test program, the development of the Arrow (including its Orenda Iroquois jet engines) was abruptly and controversially halted before the project review had taken place, sparking a long and bitter political debate.

The controversy engendered by the cancellation and subsequent destruction of the aircraft in production, remains a topic for debate among historians, political observers and industry pundits. "This action effectively put Avro out of business and its highly skilled engineering and production personnel scattered...

The incident was a traumatic one... and to this day, many mourn the loss of the Avro Arrow."
(unknown)

Cancelled February 20th, 1959…52 YEARS and counting…

FLIGHT 621 ::: The Lost Photographs

2011-02-13T10:01:00.000-08:00

FOR THE LONGEST TIME, I thought the Terry Waddington photo was the only photo in existence that captured CF–TIW, the Air Canada Stretch DC-8 that crashed in a Castlemore farmer's field on July 5, 1970.

But…I was wrong.

There were two other photographs taken of the ill-fated aircraft. On the very day of the accident!

The Terry Waddington photo was taken just a month or two before the aircraft was delivered to Air Canada. That photo, which is the top photo depicted here, shows us the brand-new Air Canada DC-8 (tail fin number 878) Canadian registration CF-TIW doing engine run ups amongst a host of other pre-delivery DC-8s at the old Long Beach, California McDonnell Douglas aircraft plant.

But, back to the other photographs…

Apparently, a travellor racing along in a cab on his way to the airport (somewhere in the northeast corner of Mississauga) snapped two photographs of the disintegrating Air Canada DC-8—just as it was beset with three explosions, and just as it really started to break apart. Timeline about 25 seconds before it actually crashed.

After these photographs were taken of the fatal flight, the photographer knowing he had captured something significant…turned them over to the proper authorities, likely the RCMP, when he arrived at Toronto International Airport in Malton.

One problem though—nobody knew where the hell he had taken them from! And no one thought to ask the photographer before he departed on his flight!

I mean…where was the racing cab barrelling along, where was it actually located, when the telltale photos were snapped? Back in the 70s, it was rare for folk to be walking around with a camera! Not like today! On top of that, it was even rarer for photos to be taken of an airliner moments before it crashed. It takes a certain presence of mind, and a steady hand to capture such a horrific and fast-moving event. It's there…and seconds later it's gone. And camera settings were not automatic, back then! Let's remember the skill level involved, shall we?

Of course, everyone remembers the ominous grainy photo of a 180 degree banked, sideways flying American Airlines DC-10 ( Flight 191) as it passed over the terminal at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, only seconds before it crashed. I mean that photo was famous! And here, we have not one, but two(!) photos of an airliner in crash sequence and these never make it to the Toronto papers, were kept secret at the time, now can't be found, and no one even knows where to look!

Oh, the secrecy! In Canada with our multiple layers of worthless bureaucracy, it isn't enough to say the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing…it's more serious than that! It is more accurate to say the right-handed thumb, doesn't know what the right-handed index finger is doing!!

Anyway, before I lose my marbles at the sheer stupidity of that fact which is resettling in on me, and before my BP reading goes right off the dial…lets return to the subject of the missing Flight 621 photos.

Mississauga Roads and Construction with copies of the photos in hand, were sent out to determine the exact spot the photographs were taken from. The photographs were incredibly important to the crash investigators, because miraculously, these photographs were able to certify, beyond any doubt, investigators assumptions that three explosions had indeed taken place aboard the struggling airplane moments before it crashed in Castlemore, Ontario.

The diagram in the lower right-hand part of the book page was created from the two, now missing photos. Investigators noted that the three explosions were visible within the photos as "puffs of smoke".

Engine #3 is seen separating and falling to the ground, followed thereafter by the starboard wingtip, and finally joined by Fuel tank #4's upper plating. Then the still brand-new DC-8 crashed. I've taken the liberty of adding Air Canada DC-8s to the diagram, in the approximate position and angle, the photographer would have captured the crashing airplane in—for the benefit of the reader.

One final mystery remains to this day. No two! Who was THAT photographer? And where the hell are these photographs today?

We have the diagram…but we don't have the photos!

That—could only happen in Canada!

.

ADDITIONAL
How did the stewardesses, look back in 1970? SEE: www.flickr.com/photos/70fashion/3353308678/in/pool-100737...

The FLIGHT 621 stewardesses had these exact uniforms with one noted exception. Some of the stewardesses on board that day, the day of the crash, would have had the Galaxy-themed uniforms which would be the same style, but they would be blue in colour, not Air Canada red! CF-TIW was a Galaxy-themed DC-8.

(As with all my articles…this is a first post that will be revised several times in the weeks and months ahead.)

FLIGHT 621: the LAST WINTER (2011) of the DIASPORA

2011-02-06T17:51:00.000-08:00

HOMES SPROUTING UP all 'round the 621 Field…

You knew it had to happen one day. And that day swiftly approaches…and for better, or worse…development will steamroller its way through the hallowed 621 field in only a few months. Yes, in this forgotten field where 109 people, strangers to each other, died, together, in 1970.

But that impending development is for the better, folks.

The skeletal remains of these unfortunate victims can still be found in the field. But by spring…that will…no longer be the case. Thankfully.

The three acres of topsoil containing most of these human remains will be gathered up…and entombed in a FLIGHT 621 Cemetery that will be located right at the crash point.

Right where AIR CANADA'S DC-8's nose entered the ground.

I pause, as I have so often before…and snippets of the victims lives, the part of their lives that I have come to know about, race through my head. And I see the faces. Even in the bitter cold and the silence, there is time for that.

I share some thoughts with the Great God, who is always present. And I release my sadness back to Him.

Otherwise, it would be too much for me, for anybody, to bear.

For many of the Flight 621 families who lost cherished ones, it has been just that. Too much too bear.

So often in death, we get lucky…we have a warning. We have time to spend with an ailing family member, or, friend. Time to mend things, time to say those things that need to be said, we have time to say our good-byes…and to let go.

Gradually.

With so many of the surviving family members of Flight 621…it is a feeling of being cheated.

So, if you go to the Flight 621 Cemetery in Castlemore, when it officially opens in 2012, bear that in mind.

You may run into family members. This is their place.

Most will want privacy. Some may want to talk. There is no roadmap. All you can do is discern in that very moment what is the loving thing to do, or be.

And if you're Catholic, like I am…that's all your religion, and your God is asking you to do. Has been asking you, your whole life—

God, is not as far away, as you think.

And your neighbour is, almost as close…

(The visible post coincidentally is at the most eastern edge of the crash arena. The treeline takes you down to ground zero)

:.::. LYNN SILVERTHORN : Toronto's First Family

2011-01-30T13:19:00.000-08:00

GOING THROUGH old 8mm video… I discovered this poorly-shot gem!

It brought back two memories.

Man, I HATE horses.

And there really are HORSE PEOPLE.

Back in the early 90s, Lynn Silverthorn tried to teach me how to ride, on an old mare, deemed safe for beginning riders…

Well, the reality was a little' different I'll tell ya'!

The horse bolted and threw me off IMMEDIATELY! My shoulder bothered me for about 6 months after that—I never inconvenienced a horse again~

I had met Lynn at a friend's church, and after a church singles canoe and camping weekend event we sorta' hit it off. I was a bit put out originally—I had been asked to join the event because I was an experienced canoeist with some Coureur de bois blood running through my veins. I didn't really want to go, but what are friends for, right?

I ended up in a canoe with Lynn and was surprised to find that Lynn was quite the capable canoeist, herself. She was Christian, tall, attractive, cheerful, and financially independent. Wow…what more could a man ask for?

For one, a man could ask to meet a woman who wasn't a HORSE PERSON…

As I would later discover…to our mutual dismay.

Lynn's extended family at one time owned parts of southwest Toronto and southeast Mississauga. Hence a secondary school, a public school, a park, etc. named after Toronto Township's oldest family. And hence the family wealth which they kept quite quiet about. You'd never know they were loaded.

CHERRY HILL HOUSE is Mississauga's oldest surviving house. And Cherry Hill was owned by Joseph Silverthorn, a United Empire Loyalist, and Lynn's great, great, grandfather. The children of Joseph and Jane were the first white children to be born in Toronto Township! Believe it or not, that fact remains true—

The Silverthorns were always accommodating of the thirteen Indian tribes that were in the Toronto-Mississauga area and roamed through their lands. At Cherry Hill, "white man and redskin" shared sup and shelter, according to a blurb from Taste in the City.ca.

And yes, Cherry Hill is haunted. By Jane Silverthorn, Joseph's wife and by some of the natives who had stayed at the home in the early 1800s. The house was moved eight hundred feet from its original foundation in the early 70s, and that's when all the trouble started! The house had to be moved because it was discovered to be located on an Indian burial site!!

SEE: www.mississauga.com/community/article/817243--is-cherry-h...

Global News VIDEO: sopsinvestigations.com/sops/?p=139

While Lynn placed third in one Hunter Hack event at this horse show, and fifth in two others, she was a first-class investor. I remember a year or two before we met and went out, Lynn acknowledged she had purchased some 17,000 shares of Microsoft at less than a quarter a share! This, amongst all her other investments. Lynn was a buy and hold type…so when Microsoft hit $127 USD just seven years later…well, you do the math!

But alas, for us, it was not to be. I was a evangelical Catholic, and she an Evangelical.

I was an AIRPLANE PERSON and she was a HORSE PERSON.

I remember my landlord saying at the time, that he had never been able to make it with a HORSE PERSON. They were different people.

No truer words spoken, John! They really are.

ADDENDUM

WHY was it called the CHERRY HILL HOUSE?

It sat on a hill…and cherry trees encircled the homestead for an entire mile as well as lining the driveway up to the house!

A Trip to Bountiful: TI-CATS STAY in HAMILTON!!

2011-01-24T10:14:00.000-08:00

AS WE ALL KNOW…Leslie has been working behind the scenes to keep the CFL in Hamilton. Ti-Cat owner, Bob Young, had threatened to move the ancient franchise to parts more hospitable. And not necessarily anywhere in Ontario, either!

Hamilton City Council was selecting a new stadium site for the 2015 Pan-Am Games expecting good ole' Bob would just go along with THEIR dictatorial decision. Nope.

Finally, some council members realized they were dealing with a football guy, not a ballerina guy…

AND YES you would have to finally listen to BOB'S CONCERNS you tiny people!

Pretty soon all the hippies will be dead. I wish we could say that about all the Commies.

And the site of the new Pan-Am Games 2015/Hamilton Ti-Cats Stadium is IVOR WYNNE STADIUM!

Wait, that's where the stadium is located NOW!!

Exactly.

With promised stadium building cash busting out from coffers everywhere…The City of Hamilton, The City of Toronto, the province, the Hamilton Ti-Cats, and the private sector…someone realized that it would save everyone a lot of cash if they just rebuilt IVOR WYNNE!

No kidding.

Bob's happy. Leslie's happy. I'm happy.

Is Hamilton City Council happy?

Who cares?

And remember Bob Young's aunt donated $40 MILLION to the Hamilton Community Foundation in June 2000 to improve Hamilton area health facilities! That money came from his aunt's initial stock investment in Bob's software company, Red Hat Inc.

Considering all the contributions the Youngs have made to the Hamilton area, a new stadium should be built WHEREVER Bob wants it to be built…except the site of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum… just saying…

(Roger's Centre lighting sucks…Leslie will have to stay greenish…because to remove the green cast kills the other colours! [Sigh].)

FIRST FLIGHT: CF-100, 61 Years Ago and One Day…

2011-01-20T12:50:00.001-08:00

HIGH ABOVE SPARSELY populated Toronto…

On its maiden flight January 19, 1950. Dressed in experimental black!

The top reprocessed photo is my copyright.

The bottom CF-100 photo showcases the "Clunk" in day-to-day duties.

THIS PHOTO is taken from the fabulous second volume about the Avro Arrow entitled… Supersonic Dreams – At the dawn of a new era, which is dedicated to the same, from its rollout to the RCAF’s acquisition of the Bomarc missile (96 pages) written by well-known Avro Canada Collector Marc-André Valiquette, who now is an Author, and Publisher.

TWO BOOKS in the series have been produced so far by Marc-André. With lots of interesting photos and info that only a serious lifelong collector would have.

Do yourself a favor, run out and buy both volumes today which can be found at aviation world, in Toronto, and other fine bookstores everywhere.

The third volume, Seeds of Suspicion, in this four volume series…comes out March 26, 2011.

FLYING! Sooner than you…

2011-01-15T18:31:00.000-08:00

…think.

AND WHEN it does, it will be the only flying Bristol Bolingbroke in the world!

Put that in your pipe and smoke it!!

COAST PROTECTORS and TRAINERS… that's what these twin-engine bombers were used for in Canada.

RCAF CANADIAN BOLINGBROKES were manufactured by Fairchild Aircraft Ltd., Longueil, PQ. Canada. The Quebec factory built a total of 687 Bolingbrokes between 1939 and 1943.

The Pic shows us the FUTURE, the PRESENT, and the PAST.

SEE Assembly Video:
www.thespec.com/news/local/article/307111--monumental-ass...

DOUGLAS A-26 And then came the crazy...

2011-01-15T18:27:00.000-08:00

As I said before…WE MAY never know:::…WHY SOMEONE thought it was a good idea to put a DOUGLAS A-26 INVADER WW II bomber atop the Mackie Transport Company building in Oshawa (see: www.flickr.com/photos/78215847@N00/352999167/ )

Something about…I just bought one…let's put it up there…and put you…on the map!

That it did.

And there it sat for 26 years.

WHY I let this guy talk me into going on someone else's roof without asking…

Something about …"I've done it lots of times…if he (the owner) was here…he'd let us, etc."

Okay, then.

However when I'm finally up there with all my camera equipment, I hear...

"Don't go near the bubbles."

"Why?"

…the people inside will see you!"

Oh, well…the contradictions, I did want to see the regionally famous Invader on the roof up close, after seeing it forever from afar since 1979…and it was a great photo-op, also it was probably worth being arrested for—

Currently this A-26 Invader is down south, South Dakota on a US military base being restored to FLIGHTWORTHY condition, according to the Guild, the last Canadian owners.

From Flickrer, bauple58:

Serial #: 44-34659
Construction #:
27938
Civil Registration:
N9163Z
Model(s):
A-26B
TB-26B
Name: None
Status: Restoration
Last info: 2003

History:
National Flight Services Inc, Toledo, OH, 1963-1964.
- Registered as N9163Z.
David Voltz, Phoenix, AZ, 1966.
Aircraft Specialties Inc, Mesa, AZ, 1969-1973.
Kenting Aviation, Toronto, Ontario, 1973-1974.
Struck of U.S. Civil Register May 30, 1974.
Mackie's Moving & Storage Co, Oshawa, Ontario, 1974-1999.
- Displayed on warehouse roof.
David Grainger/Guild Of Automobile Restorers, Bradford, Ontario, Oct. 1999-2003.
- Removed from roof for static restoration.

>:>:> HAPPY NEW YEAR .. 2011!!!!

2011-01-03T12:43:00.000-08:00

Will LESLIE STEWART, here pictured as an Toronto Argonaut cheerleader (my illustrious capture), but now coaching the HAMILTON TIGER-CATS CHEERLEADERS be able to keep the Ti-Cats in Hamilton?

A new stadium has to be built BUT can Leslie convince city council members to consider the location wishes of the anchor business (the Hamilton Tiger-Cats) in their selection of a new site?

Hamilton City Council (the Commies) want to build at one location…but the Ti-Cat's owner (Bob Young) is saying he won't relocate there, so like true Commies who dictate and never listen…they're steamrolling ahead with their silly Council plans anyway. Who cares if you can't fill the stadium with a suitable tenant after it's built for the Commonwealth Games. Only anti-biz Council proclamations matter.

Good luck Leslie, with that—

::..: AND SOME…::

2010-12-30T09:18:00.000-08:00

…jus' get into LIFE more than others~

THIS is a TI-CAT FAN. This IS NOT a BLUE JAYS fan—

Thank-you.

Will Hamilton still have the Ti-Cats in 2012????

Is 2011, the VERY LAST YEAR at IVOR WYNNE and the very last year of the HAMILTON TIGER-CATS?

Will a 150 year (almost - 1873) football tradition really end?

Will Head Coach of the Ti-Cats cheerleaders LESLIE STEWART save the day?? Again???

Golfer MARLENE STEWART STREIT and Brampton's Christmas Miracle of 1954!

2010-12-25T13:25:00.001-08:00

MARLENE STEWART STREIT, Order of Canada, was born on the farm, in Cereal, Alberta on March 9, 1934. Two years later her family abandoned the family farm because of the unrelenting locust hordes of the past two years. These locust storms had consumed all their crops. The Stewarts resettled in Ranier Alberta, in the irrigation district, where crops were bountiful with fruits (like melons) and vegetables they had never even seen before.

So far, so good.

Eventually, horrendous sand storms killed crop production in Ranier, so the Stewart family in 1941 again pulled up stakes, and moved to Fonthill near to the US border at Niagara Falls, Ontario. Marlene's father, Harold, had tried to join the RCAF but because her dad was a skilled electrician he was immediately dispatched to work for Fleet Aircraft of Canada, there in Fonthill.

Still, good.

Starting off as a golf caddy for a friend of hers, Marlene learned how to play…and really win at the game…from golfing master and pro Gordon McInnis Sr. at Fonthill's Lookout Point Golf Club. Putting spikes into her street shoes, and rewrapping her golf club's because Marlene's hands were so small…McInnis taught Marlene the techniques showcased in Ben Hogan's book, Power Golf.

Tiny Marlene, she stood only five feet tall, was so persistent and so damn determined. She got golf right, and right from the start immersed herself in the game, practising golf day and night. Soon she started winning tourneys. After she won the Ontario provincial championship, before financially committing to take Marlene to the Amateur level, Harold Stewart asked McInnis to fairly assess his daughter's potential future success.

Marlene's dad asked the seasoned McInnis, "How far can she go?"

McInnis thought about the father's searching question, and honestly responded, 'She can go the limit. She can be the best.'

And that's exactly what she started to do…

By December, 1954, at a mere 20 years old, and standing only five feet tall with tiny hands, Miss Stewart had garnered some pretty spectacular golfing achievements for a young Canadian lass.

Have a looky for yourself:

▪Ontario Junior Girls (2-time winner)
▪Ontario Ladies' Amateur - 1951
▪Canadian Women's Amateur - 1951, 1954
▪CLGA Close Amateurs - 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954

EXCELLENT!! Way to go Marlene!

But on December 17, 1954 Canada's brightest golfing star boarded a triple-tail TCA Super Constellation in Tampa, Florida with…Canada's worst pilot, Captain Norman Ramsay, at the helm.

Oh. No.

Marlene, not good~

I can't look. Quick, take another afternoon flight!!

Too late folks, airborne now…

Trans-Canada-Airlines newest type airliner took flight on a route straight north from Tampa to Malton airport, now known as Pearson International or YYZ.

At 9:32pm, Mount Pleasant - Brampton, Ontario time, Captain Ramsay vectored his large and brand-new 1.5 million dollar Constellation to line-up with Malton airport's northwest runway. He coaxes the graceful bird into position, drops his wheels, drops his flaps, throws his canteen out the window, and brings her in to land.

Trouble is…Norman and his TCA Constellation…are 12 miles from the airport.

Very soon, Norman's Super Constellation's fuselage and delicate underbelly is being ripped up by the very rough, and very frozen, unforgiving farmland fields of Mount Pleasant in Brampton.

All 27 passengers aboard the TransCanada Airlines flight had only just been told, and had only begun to prepare, moments before, for landing at Malton…when their unexpected disaster struck.

On the descent, the Super Constellation struck several trees which sheared off one of the wings of the ill-fated airliner. Good grief. The speeding airliner stared sliding along the frozen Brampton tundra for nigh of a 1000 feet. When the botched-landing airplane came to rest, it was on the farmland of Clure Archdekin. And fortunately, for the passengers and crew, Clure was right on hand to give help.

Some of the passengers were able to escape through the large fuselage hole created when the Connies' wing was torn away. Other dazed survivors just jumped to the ground unassisted from the former aircraft, while Clure got the rest of the passengers, and all three crew members, out from the other end of the burning wreck. Everyone survived, and as they ran from the fire engulfed airplane, it proceeded to explode sending a huge ball of orange flame that went a hundred feet into the air.

At the time, 1954, it was the most miraculous escape in Canadian aviation history.

Marlene Stewart, herself, sustained only slight injuries from the accident. Not only did everyone survive, but miraculously…no one was even seriously injured!

These TCAL air crash survivors were cautiously sent to Brampton and Weston hospitals. Brampton firefighters who had rushed to the scene mostly assisted the crash survivors by getting them into arriving ambulances, as they were not able to save the burning airplane. TCA's pride of the fleet, the Lougheed Super Constellation, was stuck 1000 feet from the nearest road, on frozen, rough farmland…and remember Brampton at the time did not have the elaborate fire hydrant system that it has today. In short, the firefighters were not able to get any significant amount of water out to the airplane, in order to save her.

Very shortly after this crash, Malton Airport's flight approach route was altered, so that descending airliners would no longer take this approach…and fly over the centre of Brampton.

Good idea.

This Trans-Canada-Air-Lines crash, and Hurricane Hazel's terrible October flooding of Brampton two months earlier, convinced Brampton politicians that the city needed full-time firefighters, modern equipment, and a disaster plan for this growing community of British and Portuguese immigrants.

Only 16 short years later that very disaster plan would have to be put into effect for another large airplane that would crash in Brampton, this time, at the other end of the city.

That would be Air Canada Flight 621 on July 5, 1970.

Only this time there would be no miracles, because there would be no survivors.

Marlene Stewart Streit as we know survived the forgotten Trans-Canada-Air-Lines crash of 1954, and went forth to become the most accomplished Canadian amateur golfer…in Canadian history, male or female. Marlene also became the only golfer in world history to have won the Australian, British, Canadian and United States Women's Amateur Golf Championships.

In total career wins Marlene won 11 Canadian Ladies’ Open Amateurs, nine Canadian Ladies’ Close titles and four Canadian Ladies’ Senior Women’s Amateur tournaments. She won the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1956, and again in 2003.

When Marlene was 69 years young she became the oldest person to win a USGA championship.

She claimed her third US Senior Women's Amateur Championship at this time.

Today, she is 76 years old.

In 2004, Marlene Stewart Streit was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame becoming the first Canadian to be so honoured.

Marlene resides in Florida, but was not able to be reached for comment related to this post. I hope to do a follow-up piece interviewing Marlene about herself, and her TCA experience.

A special thanks to Carolyn Crawford who helped me find the location of the accident, and provided me with some background details about the community at the time of the accident. Carolyn's father resided on the farm beside, and south of Clure Archdekin's. Both her aunt and her father boarded their tractor that fateful evening, and drove out to the accident to see if they could lend a hand, only to find the passengers rescued, and the airplane burning out of control.

An additional special thanks to former Brampton firefighters who helped me identify the "famous" golfer who was aboard this flight, and to Rhonda Glenn, for additional details about Marlene's career.

The TOP photo is a TCA Super Constellation
LEFT photo is part of the crash in Mount Pleasant
CENTRE is Marlene at 20
RIGHT is the location of the crash arena in Mount Pleasant, Brampton

FAMOUS QUOTES from Marlene:

"Don’t be a spoiled brat; get out there and do it. Beat everybody. Don’t go around with a chip on your shoulder. Just beat ‘em."

“When you write about me, don’t forget Canada. Canada (fist clenched, tapping it on her heart) is right here!”

THIS CRASH Part 1: www.flickr.com/photos/78215847@N00/4066337145/

THIS CRASH Part 2: www.flickr.com/photos/78215847@N00/4066337145/

+++++MERRY CHRISTMAS to ALL in 2010!+++++

(As with all my articles…this is a first post that will be revised several times over time.)

:: THE HAUNTED TANK : a Kid's Christmas ::

2010-12-22T15:15:00.000-08:00

'COURSE CHRISTMAS wouldn't have been right if I didn't get a coupla' Haunted Tank comics for Christmas.

Yup, there in my bedroom reading comics (or building models)…safe away from that whip-snap cold of our Canadian winters just outside my window.

Good times, for sure…

And remember, they DON'T come up with creative story-lines (a Civil War ghost general aiding an American tank crew during WW II) like this anymore~

Rock-Paper-Scissors - the Airbus Version

2010-12-21T07:11:00.000-08:00

THIS ANCIENT CLASSIC hand game played by two, or more people, has, not surprisingly, evolved into a modern easy to play, aeronautical, version.

It's the new Airbus version.

Here's how it goes.

PAPER covers rock.
ROCK beats scissors.
SCISSORS cuts giant Airbus A380 wing root.

Rock-Paper-Scissors - the Airbus Version…has the same ole' 5 count, and is still used as a selection method.

If you win, your Airbus flies.

If you lose, well, like the giant Emirates A380 airliner did on December 7, 2010 at Toronto's YYZ…a catering truck's scissor lift collapses, and drops it's heavy load on the leading edge of your Airbus, slicing through precious wing as only falling scissors can…right into the very wing-root of your mega-big super Jumbo!

Then your Airbus gets to sit around indefinitely, right out there, in the harsh Canadian winter (as seen, yesterday), losing a half million in revenue daily, while local air techs build silly treehouse structures around your airliner, supposedly, to more effectively work on your Airbus…even though these guys haven't ever worked on anything larger than a Dash 7.

Good luck with that—

What will happen in the end, when all this "playing" is done…is this A380 will be written off as a complete hull loss.

Then this fatally wounded Emirates A380 will re-appear next summer as a fully taxiing, flashing lights extravaganza "700 seat kiddies airplane ride", complete with with a jazzy new ride name, and its own newly built 3000 foot mini-runway at Vaughn's Canada's Wonderland. Cool, eh?

Kids, you can start screaming right away…

Buy those Wonderland Season Passes early.

You've been warned.

Canadian TAIL-GUNNER: The MAN. His OFFICE!

2010-12-14T14:29:00.001-08:00

FOR 3 YEARS. In WW II. In the RCAF.

He beat the odds.

MOST, didn't.

Now a free man…in a free world. A freedom he helped win for generations of Canadians to come after the war.

THEN, aboard Halifaxes and Lancs.

The average lifespan of a rear-gunner, or tail-gunner, was about 10 missions. Being generous here.

I talked to him about the Halifax heavy bomber vs. the Lancaster heavy bomber…you know, which did he like better?

Hands down the Mighty, Mighty Lanc.

Seems it boiled down to the shape of the Lanc's wings which meant the Lanc was highly manoeuvrable in tense situations, compared to the lumbering Hally.

And safer.

Caught in a Nazi spotlight?

No problem.

The captain of his Lanc would dip the Lanc's wings to a 90 degree angle (to the ground) and proceed to drop, slicing downwards through the air…for hundreds of feet…effectively losing the lifetaking spotlight.

And then complete the bombing run.

I was so immeshed in our conversation (which had gathered a small crowd), I forgot to ask our homegrown hero what his name was!

AND, I wasn't the only curious one! As I left, another guy appeared and was rifling questions at this guy like there was no tomorrow.

So…what do we know about him?

Our tail-gunner was assigned to Bomber Command, of the illustrious All-Canadian Group 6: RCAF 428 Squadron, Ghost Squadron. The "Ghost" moniker was earned through its many night bombing ops. And through the death and destruction which the Canadian squadron meted out to the Nazis, and to their incessant efforts at war production. The squadron badge depicted a skull in a shroud…a chilling death head.

Squadron 428 flew in night and tail-gunner was responsible for being on the lookout for any approaching enemy fighter-planes.

RCAF Lancaster bombers flew as solo aircraft, while American bombers flew in formation.

Therefore when the tail-gunner, rear-gunner, or "Tail-end Charlie" as they were interchangeably called, spotted an enemy night-fighter he radioed his captain who would then engage in radical flying maneuvers like a corkscrew roll, etc. to escape. When all else failed…the tail-gunner would cock his machine-guns and open fire on any pursuing enemy aircraft!

This gentle warrior comes out to CWH every year for Remembrance Day. To remember his fallen buddies.

Wouldn't be anywhere else.

What do we know about the 428 of the RCAF?

Hailfaxes of 428 Squadron, flying at 15,000 feet carried out the first highlevel bombing of Brest with mines!

In June 1944, the squadron struck their Handley-Page Halifaxes off charge… and were re-equipped with Canadian-built Mark X Lancasters…which were made in Malton.

After the war 428 was stationed in Yarmouth Nova Scotia, until the 5th of December when the squadron was disbanded.

RCAF 428 Squadron re-formed mid-June 1954 as a night-fighter squadron flying CF-100 Canucks and was scheduled to be the first Canadian squadron to receive, and put into operational status, the never-to-be Arrow.

In 1961, specifically May 31…the squadron was again disbanded, for a final time.

:.:..: RCAF CANSO…somethins' a foot .::.:.:.

2010-12-14T14:26:00.001-08:00

STOP. THE. PRESSES.…just in…

THAT'S an ORIGINAL CANSO. The one in tatters…

The white one just behind this bare-metal beastie is how most Cansos and Catalinas look today! But not during WW II, folks! They had a gun turret in front! And here's the CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE SECRET…CWH's flying Hornell Canso will have that turret mounted onto her airframe and be flying anew by summer!

Is there anything these CWH guys can't do?!

Methinks that this is quite an amphibious, no, sorry…quite AMBITIOUS winter project.

PLUS…Transport Canada has demanded an additional mod…a new door on the side of the Canso…see the green tape outline!

If I was Prime Minister of Canada, I would put CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE MUSEUM in charge of getting things done, especially the improbable. Just when you think they've done all they could…they come up with this!

Can't wait!!!!!

††† GLORIOUS ††† is Our LANC

2010-12-14T14:23:00.000-08:00

MADE IN MALTON. Made in Toronto. Now residing at the old, former, RCAF Station: Mount Hope in Hamilton, Ontario.

One of the best Allied tools for ensuring our freedom, used by free men, to maintain a free world…a world that we inherited…and are to maintain.

Remember, need I say it again…"A new war is coming…"

Canadian Military Stuff Like This?

2010-11-18T12:56:00.000-08:00

FOR A BRIEF WHILE, the CF-100 was the only all-weather fighter jet stationed in Europe for NATO.

About a year and a half.

Everyone else's fighter was a FAIR WEATHER fighter only.

Now, you know.

(The LARGE SIZE of this photo is…well…REALLY LARGE!!)

HERE!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/78215847@N00/5186381677/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Hey...REMEMBER when stuff was...Made in Canada?

2010-11-18T12:40:00.000-08:00

GREAT, military stuff ?!?!?

VICTORY AIRCRAFT of CANADA Ltd

2010-11-12T20:33:00.001-08:00

IF YOU LOOK CAREFULLY at the women in this photo you'll see them saluting using Churchill's V for Victory sign. So the sign has double meaning for staff atop the Lanc!

OUR FREEDOM today in Canada was purchased with Canadian blood spilled all over the world in the two great wars, the War of 1812, UN peacekeeping, the Korean War, and Canadian NATO or participation all over the globe, during the Cold War years right up to the present.

Lest we forget.

But freedom is a joint effort between the airman, the seaman, the soldier…and the factory worker.

The ABOVE pictures an Avro Lancaster Mark X being rolled out of the Victory factory in Malton, Ontario, Canada that was ONCE located at the northeast tip of the YYZ property. Pictured here is a Lancaster being rolled out sometime in late1944.

By war's end a Lancaster a day was being turned out of the Victory Aircraft factory.

Today, the former Victory Aircraft of Canada Limited manufacturing facility spread across land that is partly in Toronto, AND partly in Mississauga. The Mississauga land portion is now barren.

Victory Aircraft, a federal government venture was closed down after the war.

The factory soon thereafter was purchased by A.V. Roe and became Avro Aircraft of Canada Limited.

But, back to the war.

World War II was a different sort of war for the nations involved. It was the first time superior technological power (Germany, Italy, Japan) would lose to superior industrial (the Allies) might! For instance, German tanks were way better than the lowly Sherman and Stuart tanks the Allies had in number, but we overwhelmed the Axis powers by producing so many of them.

Same with the jet fighters and V-1 rockets the Nazis produced.

They had better.

We had more.

As I was in a motorbike accident almost a month ago, getting around has not been easy with my leg in a leg brace.

Especially, on my motorbike!

Still, I went to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum on Remembrance Day as any true Canadian would. As I was walking through the museum's displays, after the ceremonies, I came across this famous VICTORY AIRCRAFT of CANADA Limited photo that I had only ever seen in very low-rez.

I always hoped I'd see the large version one day, and today was that day.

The historic photo was stuck in a display case, encased at an angle…and it was large…about 3 feet long. There, dream come true. WOW!

So, as I was flopping about the floor, screaming in agony from knee pain, while contorting my body ridiculously trying to beat the reflected light that was blowing out parts of the photo…an alarmed woman approached me, and said first in French, then, in English,

"Before you hurt yourself further, why don't you ask someone if they'll just remove it from the display for you, so you can take a better pic?"

Oui.

Somehow, that felt like I was being scolded by my mom…even at my age…but soon enough I was being assisted by Caillin Kowalczyk, the Interim Curator of the CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE MUSEUM, who allowed me to photograph their original photo, with the museum's kind permission, of course! Out of the display case. Did I mention Caillin's dutifully going through several key rings, to find the "one" that held the missing key?

Great guy.

While this retouched photo will suffice for now, I intend to redo the photo to get an even better, and more detailed result.

Thanks, Caillin!

AND REMEMBER, the original photo, and much other historical warplane related stuff can be found at the CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE MUSEUM in Hamilton. CWH is home of North America's only flying Lancaster and Lysander!

CANADA: Still Looking at Afghanistan Thru Rose-Coloured Glasses…

2010-11-09T09:34:00.000-08:00

Lt. Col. Allen West (US Army, Ret.) who I hope will be US Prez one day…is taking about Canadian Armed Forces Lieut. Trevor Greene.

Greene is still recovering from the Afghan insanity of that day.

Greene's STORY can be found here:

www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/03/04/canada-afghanistan06030...

Note the intended attack upon the Canadians through this collaborated move,

"A few minutes before the attack, someone moved all the children about 20 metres away – but none of the Canadian troops noticed anything unusual, Schamuhn said."

Best West quote, sad but true, "This is the level of people that we're dealing with over there…"

CANADA lets down CANADIAN ARMY: Mostly, Now…

2010-11-05T07:58:00.000-07:00

Lt. Col. Allen West (US Army, Ret.) who I hope will be US Prez one day…tells it to us, Canadians, quite plainly.

The CANADIAN ARMY (Canadian Armed Forces-ground troops) has the will…but the Canadian Government hasn't provided the equipment. Don't blame Harper though, blame the Commie left…active in Canada through the Bloc, the Liberals, and the wacko NDP for the gutting of our Canadian military.

Blame that idiot Trudeau in the 60s and 70s. That's where it started. If we had St Laurent, a true liberal instead, through those two critical decades, our military wouldn't be in the poorly equipped shape it is in, today!

As West noted—CANADA could have gotten the job done in Kandahar province, Afghanistan…BUT we don't have fixed wing aircraft or rotary wing aircraft.

In other words Canada, we don't have A-10 tank busters, or helicopter gunships to smash the Taliban with. And finish the job.

The Lt. Col. recognizes the Canadians have the will…to fight (unlike some other countries)…but are without the necessary equipment to actually WIN the ground battle!

CANADA lets down CANADIAN ARMY: Then and Now

2010-11-05T07:51:00.000-07:00

LIFE IS chock full of ridiculous ironies.

If you're a Canadian…here's one you should never forget.

This WW II CANADIAN ARMY VET from the documentary "D-Day - Canada's 24 Hours of Destiny" is complaining about Canada sending him off to war, with inferior equipment. He wished the Canadian Army had been outfitted with American rifles which were semi-automatics…not single shooters.

Do you think a Canadian soldier running into the heat of the battle, toward a slew of Nazis, has time to cock his gun before… EVERY. SINGLE. SHOT. HE. TAKES?

No?!

Seems kinda' crazy, right?!

Well, then you might be surprised to learn the Canadian government of WW II, expected, exactly that.

Are you sitting down Canada?

Are you sitting down America?

Is everyone, in the United Kingdom, also sitting down?

The American guns our Canadian vet is talking about…the ones he wished he'd had on D-Day in Juno, France instead of the inferior British designed Lee-Enfield bolt action rifles…weren't even American guns at all!

He's talking about the M-1 Garand, here, folks.

And the M-1 Garand was designed for the American Army, by a French-Canadian, from St. Rémi, Quebec, named John Garand!!!

How do you like them McIntosh apples?

A incredible, groundbreaking, general issue gun designed by a Canadian, certified for use in 1936, acquired and used by the entire U.S. Army that same year…but a gun…unavailable to enlisted Canadians during WW II.

Go figure—

Don't ever ask if your Canadian government knows how to wage a war. They don't.

The Lee-Enfields the Canadian Army used (No. 1MK-IVs) were made in Long Branch, at the Long Branch Arsenal in Toronto. Millions were made there!

WHY? Why…we weren't making M-1 Garands there, instead…I'll never know?!?!

The M-1 GARAND, lauded by General Patton as the "greatest battle implement ever devised" was historically the first semi-automatic rifle to be issued, as the standard service rifle, to the infantry of any nation, specifically the U.S. Army.

The M-1 replaced the immediately outdated bolt-action M1903 Springfield in 1936.

REGARDLESS of Canadian soldiers being ill-equipped for D-Day, how'd Canadians do on D-Day?

"Before dawn on D-Day, 230 heavy bombers from RCAF No.6 Group pounded German shore batteries with 860 tons of bombs. And in the daylight hours, RCAF fighter squadrons flew top cover for the invasion beaches. Fifty Canadian destroyers, frigates and corvettes assisted in covering the invasion, providing anti-submarine escort and bombarding shore targets.

14,000 CANADIANS STORMED ASHORE on Juno Beach and were the only force to capture all their initial objectives that day, at a cost of 1000 casualties, of which 350 were fatal." (© WWII.CA-CANADA AT WAR)

:::: Canada's CRAZIEST PILOT! ::: James Doohan

2010-10-08T16:36:00.001-07:00

BORN IN Vancouver, BC.

Attended high school in Sarnia, Ontario…at Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School (SCITS).

Was a Canadian Army cadet.

Became known and loved worldwide as Scotty, the Chief Engineer of the USS Enterprise, from the blockbuster, science fiction TV show hit, Star Trek.

Remember, "I am giving it all she has got, Captain!"?

And,

"Beam me up, Scotty!"

What so many Canadians don't know is…long before Scotty arrived to command the Engineering section of the USS Enterprise, he had almost died after landing on JUNO BEACH to fight for CANADA on D-Day!

Scotty, rather JAMES DOOHAN was a lieutenant in the 13th Field Artillery Regiment of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.

When the war started for Canada, in 1939, Doohan joined the Royal Canadian Artillery. In 1940 he was sent for supplemental training to the United Kingdom. He didn't actually see any action though until four years later! That was on D-Day ( June 6, 1944) when James was among the Canadian landing forces that stormed Juno Beach in Normandy, France.

After taking out two German snipers, James led his regiment right through a sea of anti-tank mines, up to higher ground where they took up their first-day defensive positions against the Nazis. At day's end, just before midnight, James left his command post after wrapping up a planning session with other regiment leaders—when he was intercepted there in the dark, by a Canadian sentry.

The Canadian kid was extremely nervous, hot on the trigger, and subscribed to the personal philosophy of machine gun first…check credentials later.

James Doohan, Scotty, was hit by six bullets. Down, he went.

Four in the leg.

One to the chest that was miraculously stopped cold—by a silver cigarette lighter that had been a parting gift from James's brother. It saved Scotty's life.

The final bullet went through his middle, right, finger…which had to be amputated.

And James Doohan who was more worried about his potential for drowning, when the landing crafts were bringing the Canadians ashore, than about being shot by the Nazis, was now in the fight for his life.

It took a while, but James did recover from his injuries. At that point, he was received his new orders and was trained as a pilot in 666 (wtfd?) AOP Squadron, RCAF.

Doohan retained his status as a Royal Canadian Artillery officer in support of Number 1 Canadian AGRA (Army Groups Royal Artillery). All three of the Canadian AOP-RCAF squadrons were manned by Artillery Officer-Pilots, of which Doohan was one. Canadian Army, and RCAF personnel, flew with these special artillery pilots, while only serving as observers.

And one day came the crazy…

Doohan, in the late spring of 1945, north of RAF Andover, on the Salisbury Plain slalomed his Taylorcraft Auster Mark IV—between mountainside telegraph poles and the mountain…to the utter amazement of numerous witnesses in attedance.

Nobody had thought the b** s*** crazy aerial feat could be done.

Doohan was true to his word. He did it…just like he had told everyone, he could.

Finally, when he landed, James would have to endure a serious dressing down.

As news spread of his flying stunt, Officer Doohan was thereafter appropriately saddled with the moniker, "the craziest pilot in the Canadian Air Forces."

But, most didn't realize that James Doohan had remained an officer in the Royal Canadian Artillery, even as a pilot. Doohan served many times alongside the RCAF, but was never in it.

Canada's WORST PILOT

2010-10-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

Captain Norman Ramsay.

THERE YOU HAVE IT…the only known photograph of TRANS-CANADA-AIR-LINES L-1049 Super Constellation (call letters, CF-TGG, as seen in the RARE photo) that crashed in Brampton 56 years ago in 1954, at Norman's hands. Norm was attempting to land in Toronto!

No one was hurt, but there was a famous golfer on board the TCA flight. The Connie, however, burned to the ground!

Location of photo is approximate crash location.

FULL STORY, here: www.flickr.com/photos/78215847@N00/4066337145/

Only 3 YEARS LATER, August 4, 1957…Norman, now working for another airline, flying another airplane, a DC-4 for Maritime Central Airways, authored the worst crash in Canadian history (at the time) that would leave 79 passengers and crew dead in a remote spot near Issoudun, Quebec.

Norm flew his airplane INTO an active cumulonimbus cloud, that included heavy rain and strong gusty winds. Most pilots fly around severe weather conditions.

I DID significant post-production work on this photo.

© 2010 Special Projects In Research, © 2010 Paul Cardin

AVRO AIRCRAFT of CANADA 1959: STUFF That Didn't Fly Then…

2010-09-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

…and stuff that wouldn't fly now!

To the LEFT…a snow-melter powered by Avro's Orenda 10 jet engine for the Germans.

To the RIGHT…husband's and wives's duties at breakfast time. I have no comment, here.

The original state of the magazine is coloured with age, is a little beat up, and readily observed in the centre.

THE ORENDA Magazine published for the Orenda Engine Division of Avro Aircraft of Canada Limited…is sadly dated January 30, 1959. Three weeks, exactly, from the cancellation of Avro's main projects, the Arrow and Iroquois programmes, by the treacherous Diefenbaker government.

None of these folk saw it comin'.

Everyone, all 14,500 workers, were let go.

Must view LARGE to read floating articles…

...:::.. I LOVE Canadian Aircraft ..:::

2010-09-24T10:19:00.000-07:00

YOU KNOW, when its all said and done, I do.

You know its true.

I LOVE CANADIAN AIRCRAFT!

When I first saw the "I love Canadian Beef" ads put out by the Beef Producers of Canada, I knew their message was good. Oprah had slammed beef on national TV, and her worldwide zombies hang on every word.

But others slammed beef too. Mad Cow, you know.

SO the Beef Producers of Canada did the one thing I like best about Canadians, they fought back at the disinformation. Right away.

I knew THEN…the "I love Canadian" concept had be taken to higher ground.

So I designed MY OWN bumper sticker. The Arrow illustration is fantastic, but not my own.

Now, in case there was any doubt, everybody, past, present or future…knows where I stand.

'nuff, said—

::::: We All Need Answers…

2010-09-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

…it's just you're not likely to find them at an air show~

::: In CANADA, in 1955…the FUTURE was WIDE-OPEN! ..::.:.

2010-09-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

…and don't let anyone EVER tell you otherwise.

And ALTHOUGH these men gave us the C-102 Jetliner, the CF-100 Canuck, the Avrocar, the CF-105 Arrow and the Orenda jet engine line-up including the mythological Iroquois…although these men gave us their all, their everything…one man would throw it all away!

Hey, these folks could take the hint.

When the, then Prime Minister of Canada, John G. Diefenbaker (I can't even bear to repeat his name), cancelled the Avro Arrow Interceptor and Orenda Iroquois engine programmes only four years later in 1959, these guys took it all in stride.

They knew it. They weren't wanted.

And what did these aeronautical engineers do? Where would they go?

Fall back into obscurity?

Flip burgers somewhere?

Lie down, and die?

Are? You? KIDDING? Me?

The Brits and the Americans knew what these ex-Avro guys were capable of!

And British and American aviation firms came right to the parking lots at Avro Aircraft Ltd. in Toronto, and hired these guys on the spot…as they wrapped up their last few days of employment at Avro. Jim Floyd, Vice-President of Avro Aircraft of Canada Ltd. even placed some of these designers, his own team, himself… with the explicit intention to woo them back when the Diefenbaker nightmare finally ended.

It didn't end.

But justice is always sweet. So we threw away these guys in 1959…but by 1969, they had their ominous revenge.

In 1969, the Concorde flew with well-documented contributions towards that Anglo-French SST achievement coming from Mr. Jim Floyd, himself.

And again in 1969, Ex-Avro engineers, in only a few months after the 10th anniversary of the demise of the Arrow and the Iroquois…were watching deep within the confines of NASA, from their command posts, as their newest creation, Apollo 11 landed on the moon. Then for the very first time in world history a man descended down a ladder on the lunar module, and proceeded to walk on the moon.

These extraordinary aviation and aerospace feats, made possible, because of SIGNIFICANT contributions from our ex-Avroites (ex-Avro employees)!

Just 10 years previous these guys were at Avro in Toronto!

Arrows to the moon, baby…Arrows…to the moon!

If you don't understand that last quip, back to sleep, Canada.

And I, am, outta', here!

Good night, Canada!

TORONTO! You'll NEVER…have a finer hour~

(This version of the photo: © Paul Cardin - Special Projects in Research)

IRAN ::: a time for Reapers

2010-09-10T00:37:00.000-07:00

::: JOE FIORITO: Phony as a Three Dollar bill .:.

2010-09-10T00:32:00.000-07:00

MY NEIGHBOUR called up the other day asking,

" Do you by chance have any diagrams of the C-102 Avro Jetliner's Pilot's and Co-Pilot's side panels?"

I responded,

"Do you just need diagrams, or the actual side panels?"

"YOU HAVE THE ACTUAL SIDE PANELS!?!?!?"

(kidding)…but it would be nice.

My buddy goes on…"Hey, did you see what that hammerhead Toronto Star columnist said the other day about cancelling the air show (Toronto-CIAS)?

"Yeah, I read Joe…who? (we laugh, *inside Canadian joke*).

Just another zero unCanadian whose mouth is a yawning grave.

It's sad really. Canada used to hang Communists, now we allow them to write for the city newspaper.

CIAS (Canadian International Air Show) has been held for the final three days of the C.N.E. since, I dunno, 1949…a mere 60 years! A proud Canadian tradition. An actual Toronto tradition. The Avro Canada C-102 (seen in the photos above) flew in one of the first air shows, although the ever famous Arrow almost…but, never did. The Jetliner's spectacular (and loud) air show appearance is one of the few memories we still have of the illustrious Canadian airliner, that was once the heartthrob of millionaire Howard Hughes.

That very proud beginning beckons to us today to continue the irrepressible air show tradition.

But it must be a real air show.

And air shows are never polite.

Doubtful, if Joe even knows what the C-102 was, or about its chief designer and still Toronto resident, 96 year old Jim Floyd—nope, not even on Joe's radar…but if two parking lot attendants are scrapping it out…he'll will be right there with the complete story!

Saints preserve us!

Fiorito's reasons for wanting to end the air show are as asinine, and incredulous, as they come.

Hey, he needed fodder for that day's column. His column's air show commentary, quickly descends into a sheer kaleidoscope of intended (and therefore phoney) stupidity, including these gems:

"Canada has no need of American fighter jets…"

Well, Joe exactly one F-16 fighter jet from the USAF participated in CIAS this year, and we really don't need to hear your veiled anti-American slurs.

Most Canadians like Americans…and a lot of us have American relatives. And we do need American fighter-jets Joe, because past do-dos like you cancelled our homegrown Arrow interceptor programme a long, long, time ago. We now no longer make the best, or even make an air defender. We still need to buy the best, the F-35*, to defend our borders which are STILL the largest in the world, last time I checked.

"Unless, of course, you think it is useful and instructive to remind your neighbours, many of whom come from war-torn countries — Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq — that they are lucky to live in Toronto, except when the jet fighters are in town."

Pretty flimsy reason, suggesting, no conjuring CIAS as a PTSD trigger.

I know…but these Politbüro types, well, this is the stuff they try to float…to the masses.

"…the planes turn swift and low over our rooftops, loud enough to rattle windows, wake babies, disturb the elderly, frighten dogs, prevent shift workers from knitting up the ravelled sleeve of care, and cause the sick at St. Joe’s to roll over in their beds of pain."

What, and emergency vehicles disturb no one?

With that line of reasoning…we should also end the disruption of the peace caused ANYTIME 24/7, 365 days of the year by reckless emerg vehicles…because dogs, babies, and some elderly people, somewhere, maybe even in Toronto…could be adversely affected by these screaming mimis.

We know mealy-mouthed sissy types can be offended or even frightened by such loud vehicular displays of assertiveness. At the CNE, or elsewhere, in TO.

Park your ambulances and squad cars boys, someone with early on-set senility doesn't embrace sirens (noise), or progress.

Therefore, ditto, we must also ban the hundreds of daily scheduled airline flights going in and outta Pearson, and similarly, from the same airport, the myriad of daily biz jet flights with their gratuitous displays of raw jet turbine power.

Joe, no likey.

Next, ban all freight and commuter trains that sound the horn of warning, and trigger those pesky, noisy, train-crossing standards.

…and ban citywide construction.

And all industry.

Noise, folks, noise, upsets Fior-io-io-io.

And masculinity.

"Because we do not need to bask in the militarism of the past…"

Actually, we do Joey.

Proud Canadians never forget, nor trivialize those who really sacrificed their tomorrows…for our today. You will, of course, but most Canadians remain decent.

There is no way we can repay those true Canadians who literally gave all.

The Canadian International Air Show is one of the few remaining ways we still publicly tip our hat to these patriotic Canadian warriors, whether past or present, and give them their due. Hence, this year's 100th Year Canadian Naval Celebration display at CIAS 2010.

BUT because of femboy ninnies like Fiorito, the HMCS Fredericton's guns couldn't actually celebrate by firing her guns into Toronto harbour…in recognition of the Navy's 100th.

No, them guns remained quieter than worthless fans at a Blue Jays game.

Besides…Joe's Parkdale disconnects would probably have thunk the city was under attack, anyway.

And jammed TO's emergency lines. Or flood texted Joe to help'em.

So, as usual, the eclipse-of-reason minority green freak agenda crowd ruined it for the rest of us, the majority~

And that's why we had a toned down air show this year.

And why I never went.

I support authentic Canadian traditions…not Kyoto makeovers.

SEE the complete stupidity, here:

www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/857067--fiorito-it-s-tim...

*The F-22 is better than the F-35, but only the USAF gets to purchase the F-22 Raptor.

JILL HETHERINGTON : Streetsville Secondary School ALUMNI

2010-08-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

WHEREVER, JILL HETHERINGTON is tonight…she still adorns the athletic wall at Streetsville Secondary School in the City of Mississauga. Streetsville was once, the "City within a City", but we'll leave that for another day. And a school that should remember her…doesn't have a clue~

Jill, now head coach of the Washington Huskies tennis team…had an illustrious tennis career (for a Canadian) gathering 14 pro doubles titles. Doubles play was her forte. Jill became the first Canadian player to reach the semifinals and finals in Grand-Slam tournaments, the semi-finals at Wimbledon, and the 1988 final of the US Open. These were some of the highlights of her tennis career, certainly not the whole story.

The Huttonville girl's potential gift for tennis was first spotted by a tennis coach at Brampton Tennis Club where Jill's family had gone to play family…badminton.

Extraordinary hand-eye co-ordination. Speed. Enthusiasm. And soon she was attending high school, but was allowed to cut classes to bus it down to Cobblestone Courts for specialized tennis instruction.

There was some loudmouthed guy at Streetsville who once challenged Jill to a tennis match…stating he could beat her. So why wouldn't she prove to everyone that she could beat him, if, she was so good, etc. Blah, blah, blah…

Of course, he could only win in such an arrangement. All the pressure would be on Jill.

However, Jill's coach soon "fixed" that guy.

Her coach told him that Jill would indeed play, but for money. $1000!!

So Jill's coach would put up Jill's $1000, and the challenger would put up a matching grand, with winner taking all!

Suddenly, Captain Tennis wasn't so keen on the arranged tennis match! He backed right down, and out.

My connection to Jill came because I used to weightlift with her brother, Phil.

Jill became the first person any of us knew who actually owned a Sony Walkman at the time. I listened to Phil Collins on that marvel and couldn't believe the excellent sound quality! I had asked Jill to pose as my girlfriend once to save me from the affections of a rogue female who lived next door to me at the time. So we struck a bargain.

I never followed through on my end.

Jill, I'm sorry I didn't take you to the Dominion Dance as promised.

It's been a few years…but I'm going to go out on a limb here…all is forgiven, right?

Right? Hello…?

:::: Will AIR CANADA Keep Crashing? ..:::..

2010-08-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

Apparently.

You know for any business, and certainly for an airline PR is usually a big part of the biz package considering it encompasses how you present yourself to the community, and the rest of the business world at large. Getting public relations right is usually a biggie.

But NOT always.

Certainly NOT with Air Canada.

Air Canada Flight 621 (DC-8-63 registered as CF-TIW) crashes in Castlemore, Ontario on July 5, 1970.

Everyone is killed, all 109 pax (passengers) and crew.

In the most horrendous way possible.

In a 150 tonne missile that went nose first into a Castlemore farmer's field at 400mph. All occupants onboard…absolutely terrified right up to the very end. And then crushed, or worse, atomized.

Three minutes previous these people were safely landing at Toronto International Airport…for the first leg of their long journey…and now they were high in the sky above Castlemore, until finally nosing down toward the ground…when the spent DC-8's structural integrity finally burned away the last secured section of that airliner's starboard wing.

The fatally crippled jet now lurched downward on its final descent. Yes, now these people who were almost safe at Toronto International moments before…had actually touched momentarily on Toronto's 33L runway…just 180 seconds previous…now all these people suddenly, unexpectedly, were going to die.

When I recalled aspects of this tragedy to a friend, I added an unusual question, and the response was venomous.

Harsh. Instant.

How could I even say such a thing…even suggest such a thing?

I had asked the seemingly disrespectful question, what if Air Canada's Flight 621 crashes again??

Seemingly being the operative word.

Because my question was a very real question, a very pertinent question…in the world of Air Canada.

It is not common knowledge, but… AIR CANADA, unlike JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER airline in the world (as my friend assumed, incorrectly) does not, I repeat, DOES NOT, retire the affected flight number when one of their own flights crashes…with lives lost.

Say , what?

You heard me.

Well, why would they?

Why treat your customers with the ultimate dignity and respect…and as the irreplaceable human beings that they actually are by solemnly retiring flight numbers? So, silly~

As it turns out, Air Canada no longer uses Flight 621, though!

There is just too much on the internet NOW connected with that flight. None of it good. So I guess that flight number was set aside out of utility, not respect.

But what about other deadly Air Canada flights?

TCA (the precursor to Air Canada) Flight 831(118 lives lost), Air Canada Flight 797 (23 lives lost), and Air Canada Flight 189 (two lives lost) continue to fly again…as a DIRECT INSULT to surviving family members of all the victims, on all these ill-fated flights.

But Air Canada will AT LEAST change the flight route. The start point, and/or destination.

How thoughtful.

So Air Canada Flight 831, 797, and 189 keep flying today!

And yes, THEY COULD crash again or have loss of life!

Can you believe it?? Can you actually believe it??

It gets better, folks.

No, I won't tell you here about the Air Canada Flight 621, and the Alfred Hitchcock connection, since that will be saved for the book, but…

AIR CANADA, back in1970, had promised a memorial to the crash victim's families of Flight 621…ON SITE!

Yes, at the crash site in Castlemore!

AIR CANADA later changed the memorial location to adorn the Mount Pleasant FLIGHT 621 cemetery plot in the centre of Toronto. There, a little over 50 of the victim's bodies are buried to this day.

Yes, the promised memorial is there, in Toronto, some 30 kms away.

NOT where, or what, the Flight 621 families were promised at the time regarding said memorial.

But when you aren't even retiring flight numbers when tragic death is involved, can an airline like that really be expected to honour promises of on-site memorials that were to be a token and permanent sign of consolation, made in good faith, to the then-grieving family members?

C'mon, get real.

In fact, from July 5th to October 1970 over a hundred people a day were visiting the crash site. Many indeed were family members.

But there's more…

Eric Weiczorek, who lost his stewardess wife, Gundi, in the Flight 621 crash can be seen in the incomplete heart-wrenching film clip above. Taken at the 40th Anniversary ceremony last month, right at the crash site, Eric relays his grief at being so shabbily treated by Air Canada at the time of the crash.

He wasn't the only one.

A phone call, a limousine, a letter, and (hey!) Air Canada's duty to Eric was done!

Linda Fishman (author - Repairing Rainbows), who lost her mother and two sisters on that flight made a recent overture to Air Canada just before this summer's 40th Anniversary event. An olive branch extended, if you will, to AC a week or so, before the event.

When does the dawdling airline get back to her? Two days before the actual event. And they have conditions you, know. They want to meet with Linda and any other victim's family members only two hours before the start of the event! And whatever the outcome of that meeting…they are to be allowed to attend the 40th ceremony!

Habitually posturing, using pressure tactics with the still grieving, even after all these years, as if AC is still in the driver's seat… still trying to unsuccessfully manage the continuing fallout from Flight 621 without actually doing something new. Something uplifting, something positive.

Well, in short order, because of the disrespect, once again shown to the families…Linda told those AC execs to well…go fly a kite.

Because…we know they can't fly airplanes.

Well, actually they can…they've kept a pretty clean record since…its their public relations that won't fly!

I do want to be fair to Air Canada. They were named best North American airline for 2010.

AC was also capable of doing some good leading up to the Flight 621, 40th Anniversary Ceremony event.

Bruce Sultan, who lost his wife and two kids was given free tickets by Air Canada to fly up to Toronto to attend the 40th Anniversary. Lucie Raymond, who lost her father on the flight was also given tickets to fly to the ceremony. Both parties were thankful for the olive branch offering. There may have been others, as well.

These people, the victim's families, are being quite reasonable in their final demands.

If I was running Air Canada, I could solve this festering PR disaster in one day.

In a single day.

And here's how I'd do it.

1) Pay for the new monument at the crash site, plaque, benches etc.

2) Assess where the deficits are and issue formal apologies to all the victim's families acknowledging those especially wronged. Many wanted a genuine apology at the time. Eric saved the apology he received from the Navigator's Association at the time. It was handwritten, the writer expressed sorrow (likely by placing himself in Eric's shoes*hint*) and thoughtfully and earnestly attempted to reach out to Eric in his time of sorrow with offers of emotional support.

Air Canada sent him…an open, unsigned, letter of condolence!

How important is a current apology from AC, admitting as an airline that maybe we got some of the process wrong, back then? Is it important, even after forty years??

Well, one widower turned down over $200,000 in compensation from Air Canada for the loss of his whole family BECAUSE the financial recompense offer DID NOT COME with a written apology from the airline. He walked away from the table, never to return. Judas kept the money, and Mr. –––––––– kept his dignity.

So yes, a new apology would make a huge difference. Put your teams of lawyers away, no one is looking for money, people want acknowledgment that they were treated shabbily. If you doubt me, meet these people! Stop hiding behind your lawyers, and an unforgivable wall of silence.

3) Give all victim's family members free flights to the official opening of the Flight 621 memorial in 2012. The Castlemore on-site memorial process is going forward regardless. Air Canada has to decide if they want to be a part of the remaining healing process of 621 families, or not. As Air Canada CEO for a day, I would decide that we do want to be a part of that process.

And we, as an airline, don't need to lead the way. We can walk with these people in their sorrow. And not just for PR reasons. Because its the right thing to do. Now.

Remember the present "open" status of Flight 621 is most unusual. It won't be resolved until 2012.

There are still victim's bones being unearthed in the crash field to this day. And that is not Air Canada's fault. One has to look to the Office of the Coroner for that one. But AC could certainly commiserate with the families on this delicate issue. It wasn't only customers who were lost July 5, 1970. It was also some of the Air Canada family that was lost. AC employees.

4) Officially retire Flight 621, and all other Air Canada flights that crashed and/or resulted in loss of life.

That Flight 831, Flight 797, Flight 189 still fly to this day is a horrendous and UNBELIEVABLE lack of respect for the families who suffered untimely loss of their cherished loved ones. Did their untimely deaths not earn them this, at the very least? Is Air Canada run by communists, or Canadians?

Air Canada does a lot of good works in the community, helping aviation museums nationwide with notable donations, which I personally consider quite important.

More importantly though, Air Canada is "involved in a broad range of initiatives to improve the lives of children" through their KID'S HORIZON'S program.

So why leave these crash flight situations, unresolved…a recurrent black mark when it could so easily be resolved!

Air Canada can't bring those family members back…but they can ensure these people are properly acknowledged by additional positive action taken today.

Amen, brother.

Addendum: CF-TIW crashed and killed all 109 occupants. C-FTIW was reregistered and flown again.

In 2007 C-FTIW crashed killing the sole occupant.

SEE: www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/2007/a07q0063...

And C-FTIW flies again today as a chopper. Sheer stupidity. Yup, those are call letters I would want!

The Crash of AIR CANADA FLIGHT 621 : The First Hour : The Mike Quatrale Collection

2010-08-28T19:20:00.000-07:00

HERE IS SAD HISTORY, that you're looking' at. On July 5, 1970 Air Canada FLIGHT 621 crashes in Castlemore. It would become the worst accident in the Toronto region with 109 people killed.

Within the first hour, Mike Quatrale, Emergency Services, was there.

And here is the first roll of pics that he took. This is the contact sheet that was hastily created so that photos could be selected for worldwide publication. Four of Mike's photos were published internationally.

I came across Mike's photos first in the Montreal Gazette. And through further research I was able to find Mike who is now retired and resides with his wife, Audrey, in Brampton. I was welcomed into his home to see the rest of his Flight 621 photos. Mike's photos appear in the Documentary: Disasters of the Century: Out of the Blue episode which covers the story of Flight 621.

Mike's photos have been invaluable to our Flight 621 research, in putting some of the pieces together.

Mike's photos are unique because he was the only media photographer allowed to photograph throughout the entire crash arena. Within the cordoned off crash site, itself. Other local photographers took photos using zoom lenses. Mike was right there amidst the crash, he didn't need to.

::: AIR CANADA’S WORST CRASH: Flight 621, DC-8 Radome Artifact ..::..

2010-08-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

IT'S STILL HARD to believe, what one can find…even now.

With Apple iPhone 3GS in hand I find a nosepiece of Air Canada's "Stretch" DC-8, CF-TIW that was lost on July 5, 1970. A part of the radome, specifically. I photo capture the GPS co-ordinates. At almost 9 pm at night. July 2, 2010, almost 40 years after the crash.

FLIGHT 621 has remained AIR CANADA'S WORST aviation accident with 109 lives lost in Castlemore, Ontario. Seven years previous, TCA lost 118 people, in St. Therese du Blainville, Quebec.

But that was Trans-Canada-Air-Lines…not Air Canada.

What's a RADOME??

The RADOME is usually found on the nosecone of any aircraft.

FLIGHT 621's Air Canada DC-8, numbered internally 878, it's radome housed the jet airliner's radar antenna and thus protected the aircraft's sensitive radar from the elements, both at 40 below and at 600 mph. The spherical covering also reduces drag so that DC-8 is more aerodynamically streamlined as she hopscotches across the continent.

By the numbers…

1) GPS co-ordinates of the actual radome find.

2) Thin, crushed, painted black metal of 878's radome. Remember, only a very small section of the Air Canada's DC-8 livery was painted semi-gloss black. The upper nose portion, as pictured. The fuselage aluminum just up from the nosecone, or radome area, is about double the thickness of the radome aluminum and is tempered to a harder standard.

3) ORIGIN AREA of the radome artifact, its actual area of location…as highlighted on an Air Canada DC-8.

FLIGHT 621 : Brampton (Toronto/GTA's) WORST Aviation Disaster - Denise Goulet

2010-08-02T17:03:00.000-07:00

MY RESEARCH PARTNER out in Quebec, Pierre Tremblay, who has done extensive research on all Flight 621 victims from the province of Quebec, disclosed to me that he had actually known Denise Goulet (pictured above) back in the summer of 1967!

Pierre had spent a good part of his summer at EXPO 67 which was being held in Montreal. He went several times to the Bell Canada Telephone Pavilion, and there chatted with the ever cheerful hostess Denise, as he was then fascinated by telecommunication.

And maybe a little by her, as well.

The crash of Flight 621, of course, was front page news in the Montréal-Matin on July 6th, 1970, the day after the crash.

Pierre saw the Montréal-Matin crash headline, and was immediately riveted by the coverage of this unexpected Air Canada crash that had occurred the previous morning, on the clearest of days, somewhere in the Toronto region. Still in a state of shock and wonder about the horrific DC-8 crash that had claimed all 109 lives, he quickly read through the front page coverage and followed up on page three. There, his eyes fell on those ominous row pictures of the now deceased Air Canada flight crew, and its stewardesses.

One picture stood out.

Pierre was floored!

There was Denise!!

Oh, poor Denise—

While Pierre had met the exotically attractive Denise when she was then working at the EXPO 67 Bell Canada pavilion, she had already applied to, and been accepted to take the stewardess course. Immediate employment for Denise in the fall, at Air Canada, once EXPO 67 had wrapped up in October.

Aviation, not tele-communications, was Denise's first love.

At 17, Denise already had her first parachute jump under her belt.

And while Miss Denise Goulet had been working as a stewardess for Air Canada for almost three years, she had set her sights on being a pilot!

And guess what? Her father, Henri-Paul, was a pilot!

I guess the apple didn't fall too far from the tree, as they say…

When her father was reached for comment on his daughter's premature death, he told the media,

“Denise always dreamt of aviation. Aviation was in her blood.”

Mr. Goulet, himself a pilot for 25 years, was on duty the morning of the crash when he learned about the terrible tragedy. Henri-Paul was a pilot for the Yvon Fournier company from Trois-Rivières, and had to sprinkle insecticide on the transmission lines of Alcan in Lac St. Jean.

Denise, who was to be 23 on July 12, died seven days short of her birthday.

She had made special arrangements to be aboard the Air Canada "California Galaxy" (Montreal-Toronto-Los Angeles) flight, one of the airlines' new connoisseur flights, in order to meet with her brother, Andre. She was looking forward to journeying to Los Angeles to see her brother, who now resided there. She was going to take a few days off.

In August, Denise was quite excited to be travelling to Paris, with her mother, on an already arranged vacation for the pair.

It was not to be.

On July 10th, sadly just two days before she was to have turned 23, a funeral mass was held for Denise at 10.00 A.M. at St. Odilon Catholic Church, in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec. There was a large turn out of family and friends to pay their final respects.

Had Denise not died that day, today she would be 62 years old.

And now she looks back at us from eternity, forever only twenty-two…

FLIGHT 621 | Brampton's LARGEST Air Disaster

2010-07-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

FLIGHT 621 | Toronto's Largest Air Disaster *** REVISED ***

ONE OF A FEW book cover mock-ups I'm considering for my book about Flight 621.

This is the only one I'll be showing. For now. I like another mock-up I did… that I feel is much better, more sombre, reflective… but I'm always curious about feedback.

So have your say, below, if you wish.

I was reviewing an OPP police photographer's 40 year old Flight 621 crash photos recently, when I saw something in one of the photos.

So I called Mike and said, "Mike, tell me, tell me, THAT ISN'T what I think it is."

After, both his wife, Audrey and he looked over the photo in question, the sad response came back.

"I think you're right, Paul."

I thought to myself, God… always prepares the way. And you won't see that until you're right in the middle of it. If you see it at all. Whatever He has, later for you… to be right in the middle of.

Only six months ago I was watching the excellent series about World War II, entitled, "The World at War" which, of course, is the definitive documentary about that war. Had I not seen the plentiful war stills of the battleground deceased, I might never have spotted "the clue".

But half a year later, there I was… now "prepared" to make an unsettling discovery.

"Paul, you're right… it is a little girl. I don't know how I didn't see that before!"

Mike had taken the photos forty years ago, yet had somehow missed that sad detail.

Those World at War documentary stills had captured so many soldiers, then at rest, with deceased hands launched in so many distinctive angles and positions that I guess my mind was imprinted with these sad images.

When I chanced upon similar in Mike's photo… I was compelled to look closer.

So, in the Flight 621 photo, I saw her peaceful hand, emerging from a sleeve, and lifelessly draped over an inner tubular structural piece of smashed DC-8.

I followed the hand to its source.

Somebody's little girl was sitting there, right there… in her final resting spot.

Her thick black hair, untossled. A defiant, thick, white hair tie-back-clip could readily be seen, keeping her hair perfectly in place amidst the horror!

The clip, however, could actually be one of those funky 70s style pair of big glasses pulled back over her forehead.

We'll never know.

I sat, in silence, with that photo for quite a while.

The picture was taken in the first hour of the crash. There are police officers and first responders busily walking around in the background, obviously, oblivious, to her.

I bet that didn't last long.

She is right out in the open, but also concealed within a medium sized mangled piece of fuselage wreckage! And somehow, she remained INTACT!

INTACT!

How did that happen?

I imagine that within the second hour, maybe the third, after these first hour photos were taken, she was found.

Likely, someone just walking by who had to do a double-take.

What a horrible, horrible, discovery.

It certainly was, for me. And I was only looking at a photo.

I'll be interviewing an OPP first responder this weekend. John Cooper. He was there the first day of the crash and also the second.

I'll keep you posted.

Finally, THE COVER above…that's how 621 looked seconds before impact. She corkscrewed over onto her back. This remains the primary reason why there are no crash photos of the wrecked Air Canada DC-8-63 with her tail readily seen… as one can see in most airliner disasters these days. The tail is usually spared in every airline disaster.

Nothing was spared when Flight 621 crashed in Castlemore, Ontario on July 5, 1970.

::.:. FLIGHT 621: 40th ANNIVERSARY - Two Boys, a Cat, and a Dog ::..

2010-07-07T07:08:00.000-07:00

The Last Will and Testament of brothers Jacques and Jean Belanger

"IF WE DIE, WE GIVE…"

POUPONNE, MY CAT, I leave to Mionne Mallette.

Sports equipment to Daniel and Benoit Maillette. My typewriter to Evelyne Mallette, and my coin collection from Expo´67 to Jason Gagnon. Jacque's tape recorder to Norman Dupres. Handkerchief to Denis Perrault. Jean's Apollo XI rocket to Pierre Guertin…and so on…until all of his toys and possessions, and those of his younger brother, Jean (12), were given up to his friends and cousins.

Jacques (16) was mesmerized with the progress of aviation at the time.

The teenager knew about aviation, first hand, as his father was currently an Air Canada mechanic. So Jacques was really excited that he, indeed his whole family, would be flying on a brand new DC-8 "Stretch'…the very largest, and most advanced airliner at the time.

And yet, there was something wrong.

Did Jacques have a premonition?

Why did he think he might not return?

What did he feel?

Why did he insist on making a will, and giving it to his cousin, and best friend, Jean Mallette, just before boarding Air Canada Flight 621?

I'm sure Jacques' family made jokes about his insistence on creating a will for both him, and his brother. Their sister, Rosanne (10) did not create a will. I wonder what the Belanger family thought and said to one another…as they sat together on the ill-fated airplane, and events tragically unfolded. The knowing looks; the sad heads shaking.

Did his mother acknowledge, as mothers so often do when their own children amaze them, "Oh Jacques…you were right!"

These preceding paragraphs are only speculation but you can be sure some sort of exchange occurred.

On July 5th, 1970, at 8:10 am in the morning, Air Canada Flight 621 crashed in a farmer's field beside the West Humber, in Castlemore, Ontario nose first, left wing high…killing all 109 passengers and crew. A caged dog also perished.

And the whole Belanger family, all five of them, died together in Castlemore, 40 years ago.

Flight 621 In Memorium

Adams, Celine Fradette
Adams, Pierre J
Beaudin, Gaetan
Belanger, Mrs.
Belanger, Jacques
Belanger, Jean
Belanger, Roland
Belanger, Rosanne
Benson, Helen
Benson, Leonard
Benson, Mary
Benson, Richard
Bertrand, Ginette
Boosamra, Lynn
Boulanger, Guy
Bradshaw, Dollie
Cedilot, Robert J
Chapdeleine, Jeannine
Chapdeleine, Joanne
Chapdeleine, Mario
Charent, Jean Maurice
Clarke, Devona Olivia
Cote, Francine
Daoust, Yolande
Desmarais, Brigitte
Desmarais, G
Dicaire, Alice (Marie)
Dicaire, Gilles
Dicaire, Linda
Dicaire, Luke
Dicaire, Mark
Dion, Suzanne
Dore, Jacqueline
Earle, Lewella
Earle, Linda
Filippone, Francesco
Filippone, Linda
Filippone, Marie
Gee, Bernard
Goulet, Denise M
Grenier, Madeleine
Growse, Mrs.
Growse, Jane
Growse, Roger
Hamilton, Karen E
Hamilton, Peter Cameron
Herrmann, Ronald Alvin
Hill, Harry Gordon
Holiday, Claude
Houston, Irene Margaret
Houston, Wesley
Jakobsen, Vagn Aage
Labont, Gilles
Leclaire, Marie Rose
Leclaire, Oscar
Leduc, Henri W
Lepage, Claudette
Mailhiot, Claire Gagnon
Mailhiot, Gerald Bernard
Maitz, Gustave
Maitz, Karoline
McKettrick, Winnifred
McTague, John
Medizza, Carla
Mohammed, Dolly
Molino, Antonio
Molino, Michael (Michel)
Moore, Frederick T
Partridge, Andrea
Partridge, Carnie (Carnis) Ann
Partridge, Cyril Wayne
Phillips, Kenneth William
Poirier, Rita
Raymond, Gilles
Raymond, Martial
Robert, Aline
Robert, Georges E
Robidoux, Lionel
Rowland, Donald
Silverberg, Marci
Silverberg, Merle
Silverberg, Steven
Simon, Istvan
Simon, Mark
Smith, Dwight Lee
St. Laurent, Blanche
Stepping, Glenn Thomas
Sultan, Celia
Sultan, Jerald. M
Sultan, Robert. L
Szpakowicz, Borys
Szpakowicz, Serge
Tielens, Carmen
Tielens, Frederick
Tournovits, George
Tournovits, Soula (Athanasia)
Weinberg, Carla
Weinberg, S
Weinberg, Wendy
Whittingham, Jennifer
Whittingham, John
Whittingham, Reginald
Whybro, Mary Baker
Wieczorek, Hildegund
Witmer, Edgar
Wong, Ngar-Quon
Wong, Suzie
Wong, Wong (Mansing)
Woodward, Dallas J

© 1970 Mike Quatrale (OPP police photographer)
© Pierre Tremblay - Friends of Flight 621
© Paul Cardin - Friends of Flight 621

::.:. FLIGHT 621: 40th ANNIVERSARY - 621 Families at Ground Zero ::....

2010-07-05T20:48:00.000-07:00

FLIGHT 621 VICTIM'S FAMILIES lay 109 white roses representing the 109 people who lost their lives on July 5, 1970.

Diarmuid Horgan (CANDEVCON Limited) and the landowners put together this 40th Anniversary Ceremony to bring the victim families together for the first time, to mark this solemn occasion together…and not alone…this year!

I PLANTED the Mayor of Brampton, Susan Fennell's flower, at her request…and everyone followed suit by either planting or laying their white rose down.

The flowers mark the spot where Flight 621 went nose first into the ground.

It was very hard for many of the families to EVEN THINK about coming to Ground Zero.

However, after Eric Weiczorek gave his heart-wrenching speech about the tender love he had for his wife, a wife who was taken from him after only 33 days of marriage, that just brought the house down.

Eric had been waiting 40 years to share his sorrow with those who understood.

He was now in good company.

The Flight 621 families understood.

Left to Right: Chris and Mike Holiday (Claude Holiday), Sikh land-owner, Lucie and Véronique Raymond (Marital Raymond) and the FAMOUS Boris Spremo!

The Weinburgs (Wendy, Carla, and Rita) are in the background.

Persons in brackets are the Flight 621 deceased… and the reason why the 621 families marked the 40th anniversary loss right here… at the former crash site.

See Mike Strobel's excellent Flight 621 article:
www.torontosun.com/news/columnists/mike_strobel/2010/07/0...

FLIGHT 621 ::: 40 th Anniversary ::: BRAMPTON'S LARGEST AIR DISASTER

2010-06-11T17:30:00.000-07:00

LESS THAN 3 WEEKS away.

July 5, 2010 marks the 40th.

LYNDA FISHMAN, nee Weinburg, has emerged with the first book about Flight 621. Lynda lost her mother and two sisters on the ill-fated flight.

REPAIRING RAINBOWS is Lynda's personal account of the devastating effect Toronto's largest air disaster had, both on her, and her father.

You can get it here: repairingrainbows.com/index.php

Well, people ask, what is a DC-8?

Was it a big airplane?

How does it compare in size to a Jumbo…that's an airplane I know?

The Concorde is no longer flying…are any DC-8s still flying?

So many recurring questions…

My pictorial graphic answers MOST of these questions through exact 1/200 Air Canada replicas of a DC-8-63 (the exact type of DC-8 that crashed) and a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet.

The JUMBO JET is the airplane that is the bulkier one in the pic, and the one with the hump. The DC-8 Stretch (there were many un-stretched versions) is the skinner one seen in the foreground).

As you can see the DC-8, or Stretch 8 (in air lingo slang), is a very big aircraft.

And on July 5, 1970, CF-TIW, tail number 878, with the exact livery seen in this photo, crashed nose first, left wing high in Castlemore, Ontario, 40 years ago.

All lives lost.

(ABX still flies a former Air Canada Stretch 8 into Toronto. A 71 version of the DC-8. The DC-8-71 is a modified 63 model having, larger, quieter, more fuel-efficient engines.

SEE: www.airliners.net/photo/DHL-(DHL-Airways)/McDonnell-Dougl... )

If the answer is NO…can I change your mind?

2010-05-24T15:25:00.000-07:00

the Killers - Hot Fuss

::::::: How a Canadian Feels…about Victoria Day!

2010-05-24T15:20:00.000-07:00

May 24…Happy Victoria Day, CANADA!

Victoria, who?

Exactly~

YOU KNOW that if my political party ever ascended to the win, the biggie, we'd be changing loads of things REAL fast.

Can anyone say steamroller?

Victoria Day would be one of them!

Consider that holiday already rewritten.

The fact that Canadians get a day off to celebrate a forgotten queen—and not a day off to remember the hundreds of thousands of Canadians, hailing from our past and present, who spilled their blood—many, MANY, even giving their greatest gift, their very lives…for our PRESENT FREEDOM…is simply unconscionable.

Here's how the rewrite would go down.

November 11, Remembrance Day…becomes a National Canadian Holiday.

November 8-10, whichever falls on the last school day, previous the holiday…would be spent at the classroom level…as an important part in the yearly curriculum in remembrance of Canadians who fought to keep Canada free. There are, of course, challenges in keeping this part of our history relevant to teens who are often distracted with other aspects of life! But we must rise to that challenge, right?

And while we're on a related topic, how 'bout our national anthem, folks?

A NATIONAL LAW would quickly be tabled that O'Canada is to be played every morning, in every school across Canada, whether public or private, without any exceptions. Individuals can abstain, as always has been allowed for religious reasons. Canadian tradition. Abstainers cannot demand, however, that the Canadian national anthem NOT be played…as recent foreigners in Nova Scotia demanded, and who's anti-patriotic concerns WERE ACTUALLY accommodated in a real Canadian school!!

With my political party at the helm, any school official found guilty of a refusal to play the national anthem, O' Canada, this individual or collective, would immediately be (we'd do it faster-if we could) arrested, tried that very week by special extraordinary court session, and subjected to an immediate 5 YEAR imprisonment.

NO LIVING CANADIAN, and certainly no un-Canadian, has the right to challenge the patriotic sacrifices of those Canadians who have gone before us. Our national anthem links present Canadians to those Canadian heroes of our sacrificial past.

And folks…jus' getting warmed up, here—

::: FLIGHT 621 — Picking Up the Pieces ::: DC-8, DC-8, DC-8 Parts to be ID'd.

2010-05-16T18:49:00.000-07:00

WHEN A BRAND NEW 300 TONNE AIR CANADA DC-8 AIRLINER with a 109 people on board…slams nose first into a Castlemore farmer's field in 1970…at 400mph…well, parts of that airplane are going to be driven deep into the ground.

For a very long while.

Sooner, or later, however, those shattered pieces will work their way to the surface.

Whether human or aircraft.

These are some unidentified DC-8 parts from AIR CANADA CF-TIW, tail fin 878.

CAN any airmech ID any of these?

Air Canada's Galaxy FLIGHT 621—Toronto’s LARGEST AIR DISASTER

2010-05-11T01:49:00.001-07:00

EVER SINCE I WAS A BOY, my first memories of looking at a newspaper were of the July 5, 1970 Flight 621 crash in Toronto-Gore. We got the Toronto Telegram delivered to our door and, Johnny Lynch, my next door neighbour on Blackfriar Avenue in Etobicoke, delivered the Daily Star throughout the rest of the neighbourhood. He always had papers leftover. And when he did—we got one.

I remember all the grim crash photos from both competing papers.

Later, through the years the Toronto SUN, and the Toronto Star, would run articles revisiting the Flight 621 crash, usually when another significant air disaster had just happened.

I always wondered where the 621 crash location actually was. It bugged me that I didn't know.

Oh, well I thought. I guess I'll never know.

How wrong I was.

After a November, 2001 Mike Strobel article appeared in the Toronto SUN which revisited the Flight 621 crash by talking to eyewitnesses, I discovered that the crash site was somewhere less than three miles from where I had just purchased a new home!

Fancy that! I assured myself that now, I could indeed, even 33 years later, find the mysterious crash site.

I was right.

That's all I'll say for now. About that.

With the front page of Carol Parr's (Flight 621 crash eyewitness) Toronto Star in hand, Toronto Daily Star back then, I was able to stake out the crash arena quite accurately—just from that front page photo!

And with a little help from my friends.

Eventually, those friends would be known loosely as the Friends of Flight 621. Comprised of eyewitnesses and the concerned, we would discover a lot of things about the crash. I mean, things other than the human bones of the crash victims that kept popping up, through the years, in the poorly cleaned-up field. It was bad enough discovering someone's skull pieces, finger joints, kneecap, arm or leg bone shards mixed amongst abandoned Douglas Aircraft parts…but then I discovered the truly unexpected!

That the crash didn't have to happen!

That EVEN AS the Air Canada DC-8 was on fire quite spectacularly, and in the early stages of crash sequence…there was still ample time to turn it all around…and save everyone on board! No lives need have been lost!!

Not one!!

'nuff said, for now—

Wait—one more thing—in the lower part of the picture the reader sees the ominous caption, "Pilot faced terrible choice-and nothing could help him".

Well, that's not true.

(this article, as all my articles are in this format, are usually revised several times , even days after posting)

Our MIGHTY, MIGHTY, LANC is going across WESTERN CANADA this summer!

2010-05-03T07:47:00.001-07:00

FIRST, ONE HOP down to the States.

Our Mighty, Mighty, Lanc ALWAYS gets a HERO'S WELCOME in the United States of America.

Always.

Because there ain't nothing' like American neighbourliness. And the Lancaster is a poignant reminder to Americans that we Canadians are a littl' bit different. We even have different warplanes!

But we always had one common cause. FREEDOM!

And we really did defeat Hitler, and his Nazi's, together…when flailing Europe couldn't do it!

When Europe was on the ropes and out for the count…we bombed those Nazi's right off the map.

The AVRO LANCASTER was created for one purpose, and one purpose only…to bring Nazi Germany to her knees.

I can think of a few more places around the world, RIGHT NOW, that need a total war solution!

"And, …says the drug-addled Peacenik, what has war ever, really, solved, Never Was?"

OTHER THAN ENDING slavery, fascism, nazism, and communism…nothing!

NOTHING!!!

Dummies.

'nuff, said.

After the USA tour, the former RCAF Lancaster flies on to Manitoba, Alberta, and BC.

Sorry, no Saskatchewan! Don't even think about it, suckers! Remember, a certain anti-Canadian, anti-Arrow, Prime Minister jughead, farmer grew up there. Diefendowner.

So it's personal now— And the Lancaster has a long memory.

When the Lancaster hits Manitoba, Alberta and BC…expect a hero's, long lost friend, type of welcome.

This, may very well be, the LAST TIME our Mighty, Mighty, Lanc makes such a cross-country flight. She ain't as spry as she once was, folks! Miss her…and you're indolent. Non-Canadian. And a whole lotta' things I can't say here…

But the warriors will be there! Damn straight!

Our heroic WW II CANADIAN VETS will be there.

One. Last. Time.

To hear that music, that song, that only those four, mighty, Merlins, will be singing in unison for OUR MOST VALIANT CANADIANS of all time.

And when the Mighty, Mighty, Lanc makes her low, friendly pass, over that truly Canadian crowd; there'll be tears in many an eye, and ramrod straight salutes aplenty.

Yeah, I'll tell it like it is…there won't be a dry eye in the house!

And salutes for an old friend, an old girl, also in the very twilight of her life, who just had to make an appearance.

For Western Canadians.

One. Last. Time.

And then, it be will all be said, and done—

I'm kinda' choked up myself, jus' thinking about it.

But…don't ever say…I never told ya'!

Get ready!! Be prepared! Camera or cam in hand!

BE THERE!!!

HERE'S THE 2010 DATES

June 4, 5, 6 …READING, Pennsylvania

July 26, 27, 28…THUNDER BAY, Ontario

July 29 - August 3… WINNIPEG, Manitoba

August 4 - 12… CALGARY, Alberta

August 12 - 16…ABBOTTSFORD, BC

August 17… EDMONTON, Alberta

August 18 - 19…BRANDON, Manitoba

…and then, back home for MANY Ontario visits.

ORIGINAL Photo Size:

www.flickr.com/photos/78215847@N00/4574401335/sizes/o/

CANADIAN DAMBUSTERS: The Bomber Boys

2010-05-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. We will remember them."

WHEN YOU'RE READY…to celebrate Canadian heroism.

And those heroes who bought our PRESENT DAY freedom.

Far too many times with their very own blood. In places, far from Canada.

I REMEMBER…and not just in November!

30 Canadians were among the 133 airmen who participated in "Operation Chastise" which was a bombing raid on Germany's Ruhr Valley hydro-electric dams. 617 Squadron was a specially formed elite squadron of lads who used specially modified Lancasters to drop cylindrical 9500 pound bombs at low level.

And at night.

Not since General Doolittle's secret squadron of USAAF's best of the best, matched with modified Mitchell bombers had such precision flying, and bombing, been needed.

This time to bring the industrial heartland of Germany to an unexpected halt.

Yes, on May 16, 1943, in ink pool darkness…skimming the surface of the water at an unbelievable 60 feet with your massive Lanc, all the while maintaining a white-knuckle speed of 230 miles-per-hour, was not for the faint of heart. Now closing, closing, nary 450 yards from the dam…these elite Dambuster aircrews dropped their heavy payload of unforgivable bombs with deadly accuracy.

The Barnes Wallis (the same man who designed the Wellington Bomber) designed bombs were released rotating backwards at 500rpm! As these bombs skipped along the surface of the water, they would vault over any defensive Nazi torpedo nets, and slam into the dam wall.

And here is where the real magic took over.

Since these massive 5 tonne bombs were already spinning backwards, they would roll DOWN the dam wall going underwater…and proceed down, finally exploding at a pre-arranged depth!

Talk about wrecking havoc!

The dam wall now severely weakened, but with the great weight and expanse of water still pushing up against it…well, soon enough, these factors caused the dam to be overwhelmed, and the area to be flooded for 40 miles.

More importantly, Britain was now, on the attack!

Some info about F/Lt. John Fraser, the Canadian mentioned in the video clip can be found here: www.lancastermuseum.ca/fraserhoppy.html

He was the only member of his particular Lancaster crew to survive the bombing raid.

John was captured and sent to Luft Stalag III where he participated in the Great Escape.

Get the Bomber Boys right here from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum:
www.warplane.com/Gift-Shop/DesktopDefault3.aspx?tabid=41&...

::: This WAS Streetsville ::: 1979

2010-04-20T15:25:00.000-07:00

STREETSVILLE SECONDARY SCHOOL 2010…

WHERE have all the CHEERLEADERS gone?

On a similar note, where have the junior and senior FOOTBALL TEAMS gone??

And MOST IMPORTANTLY, where has the FREESTYLE WRESTLING TEAM gone??

The EFFEMINIZATION of the Canadian male continues…

Somehow, badminton just doesn't cut it for us OLD SCHOOL types.

(B/W, Hand tinted by me, photographer unknown)

::: ORENDA IROQUOIS ::: Toronto ::: 1957

2010-04-13T15:18:00.000-07:00

WELL, WHEN IT CAME TIME for testing the Canadian designed, and produced Orenda Iroquois PS-13 jet engine…Avro Canada needed a BIG airplane.

You know, for doing some actual flight testing.

Someone suggested creating another Jet Lancaster.

That idea was immediately shot down. A much bigger airplane, a more weighty one, was needed…unless you wanted to send a disintegrated Lancaster right into deep space!

"Well, the Lancaster…that's the biggest airplane the RCAF has!"

"…but, America has the Boeing B-47 Stratojet , it's H-U-G-E!"

Get one.

And so the RCAF, somehow, got one. RCAF and Avro Canada pilots had to be trained to fly one.

But before you know it, before you could say, "greatest jet engine in the world", Canadair of Montreal, mounted the PS-13 Orenda Iroquois in an engine pod on the starboard side of the gigantic American bomber (see picture, and the pod…within the two yellow oblong circles), and those pilots learned how to fly a Stratojet.

As a test-pilot at Avro Canada you just never knew what the future would bring. One day you're falling asleep at a table playing craps, or solitaire…asking yourself why you took this job; the next day someone drops an 800 page Stratojet Flight Manual on the very same table, tells up to snap to it…and again, you wonder why you took this job!

The RCAF B-47B Stratojet—in Toronto, in both pics above, is the only B-47 to have ever served outside of the USAF. The Stratojet was America's frontline bomber in SAC (Strategic Air Command). These were the Cold War years, folks. The USAF had 600 of their 2,000 Stratojets on standby at bases everywhere…to take to the air with a nuclear payload at a moments notice. The Americans didn't take it lightly…loaning the world's first swept-wing bomber to a bunch of Canadian yahoos who were no longer just a bunch of brawling hockey goons… but had become, somehow, also, world-class aeronautical engineers! The B-47 would later evolve into the B-52, as we all know—

A 50 hour benchmark engine test had to be completed on the B-47 before anyone would start to take the Iroquois engine seriously.

At the 150 hour benchmark, the engine becomes viable, and can be sold worldwide.

Iroquois Jet Engine 1003 was so powerful that it could propel the massive bomber all on its own…with all six B-47 engines turned off!

Kidding? No, not kidding!

That PS-13 Orenda Iroquois jet engine turbine rotor blade (lower pic) is from Engine 1003, the Iroquois used to complete the 50 hour benchmark test. It belonged to E.K Brownbridge, Orenda Engines's Executive Vice-President and General Manager, during the time when Avro Canada was seriously marketing the engine…come one, come all.

And, yes, it is now owned by moi, me.

PS-13 Orenda Iroquois Jet Engine 1003 has a permanent home in Hamilton, Ontario at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.

I gonna' tell you TWO SECRETS that you likely never knew before.

One, for sure.

What ever happened to the Orenda Engines Limited, which was once a subsidiary of Avro Aircraft of Canada Ltd? I mean, we know that Avro Canada, the manufacturing facilities that once churned out Lancasters by the hundreds, 700 CF-100s, and 37 Arrows in various stages of completion, were wrecked by GTAA lunatics, and bulldozed to the ground a few years back.

But what became of Orenda?

It makes me sick, BUT I'll tell you. It became, ARE YOU READY, Toronto's International Centre! Once a building that produced world-class jet engines, and flying saucers…has been reduced to a revolving warehouse clearance centre, and consumer and trade show emporium!

Oh…my ticker…

(self-talk…calm…calm…relax…,…, …)

T h a t ' s … b e t t e r …

And that final secret?

Everyone in Canada…and a handful of Americans know, how big the Arrow could have been.

Few know…the Orenda Iroquois jet engine could have easily surpassed the cutting-edge success of the Arrow interceptor. Certainly, commercially. The Iroquois was the superstar waiting in the wings… to save the day. Singularly capable of returning all of that Government of Canada, peoples of Canada' monetary investment, in both the Arrow and Iroquois programmes. A technological bumper crop. The PS-13 was an engine that WOULD HAVE been sold worldwide. It was simply…hands down…the best engine design available, at the time.

CURTIS-WRIGHT, in 1957, had ALREADY signed a deal with Orenda, to produce the Iroquois under license. The American engine maker believed that 12,000 Iroquois engines could be sold over the life of the engine. The deal was worth billions of dollars! All that Curtis-Wright needed from Orenda was for the company to complete the 150 hour benchmark test, successfully.

The IROQUOIS had sailed, SAILED, through the 50 hour benchmark test.

But before completing the 150 hour benchmark test, the gloomy Luddite Prime Minister of Canada, John G. Diefenbaker, on February 20th, 1959, cancelled both the production of the Avro Arrow, and any further testing on the PS-13 Orenda Iroquois.

America has ITS' Benedict Arnold…Canada HAS John G. Diefenbaker!

'nuff, said—

Get, Iroquois Rollout, by Peter Zuuring, for a good pictorial of the development of the Orenda Iroquois, right up to and past, the cancellation of the Iroquois programme.

CWH Sidesteps CANADIAN GOVERNMENT, Orders into Production…3,000 Avro Arrows!

2010-04-08T15:28:00.001-07:00

The Prime Minister's Office was pezzed.

LAST YEAR the PMO was going to shut down the CWH museum…until someone pointed out to Harper, that the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum IS… a flying museum. The CWH have almost as many operational, fighters, bombers, interceptors, AND secret projects…as the present Canadian Armed Forces!

They are a force to be reckoned with.

That's when Harper changed his mind.

And the Prime Minister's Office could not be reached for comment, as I penned this piece.

SO ARROW PRODUCTION HAS BEEN secretly taking place in China since last year! The first Avro Arrows have already been arriving, in Hamilton…three weeks ago—

I got one!

Ok, ok, maybe they aren't operational Arrows.

Ok, ok…but they are a FINE DIECAST REPLICAS of Arrow 203!

The detail on these 1/72 scale RL 203 Arrows is beyond belief (see picture). The Arrow can stand on its own, or be placed on an included stand to race through the skies, unchallenged!

The weighty model is almost 14" long!

And the awesome detail…did I mention the awesome detail, of these Arrow models?

There's Aeroclassics, Gemini, Herpa, Franklin Mint Precision Models, etc, etc,

Well, now the CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE MUSEUM has their own line of die-cast models.

The CWH won't tell anybody whose creating these fine models for them. For their introductory airplane, CWH has crafted the Avro Arrow RL 203 of the RCAF. And that Arrow has been selling like hotcakes. The production run of 3,000 is almost SOLD-OUT!

Why every Canadian doesn't own one of these (at $89.99) …I'll never know!

WAIT!

Well, because every Canadian can't own one…the run is limited to 3,000!!

AVIATION WORLD, in Canada, has some.

The CANADIAN WARPLANE HERITAGE , itself, has less than 100 left!

In the USA… KensAviation.com (Stuff You Can Buy ----> Historic Aviation --> Search--> CF-105)

You been warned.

Don't come cryin' to me when you've missed out on your LAST CHANCE to own one! I told ya'. I told ya'!

MUST SEE pic, REAL LARGE:

www.flickr.com/photos/78215847@N00/4504014574/sizes/o/

SECRET TORONTO::: Me. 262, WHERE Are You?

2010-04-08T15:18:00.001-07:00

THIS WAR PRIZE (as they were called, back then) Messerschmitt Me.262A-1a Schwalde (Swallow) is shown in a hangar at RCAF Station: Downsview, in 1952.

This Leslie Corness photo appears in the incredible CANAV book by Larry Milberry entitled, "The Leslie Corness Propliner Collection".

A fantastic airplane photobook spanning almost five decades, featuring photographs taken by RCAF chaplain Rev. Leslie Corness. (of course, I own a copy!)

This photo of Me.262A-1a, Luftwaffe 500210, in the CANAV book states that this Me.262 was posing for pics in Aylmer, Ontario.

Nope.

Notice the De Havilland Vampires in the background?

There weren't any in Aylmer, but there were lots in Toronto. RCAF 400 Squadron based out of Toronto, had oodles of Vamps.

That Me.262 is sitting right where the Canadian De Havilland Mosquito manufacturing line was during WW II! Right there in Downsview, right there in Toronto. Note the Junkers Jumo 004 B-1 turbojet on the ground underneath the 262's nose. Also note the RAF tail marking, RAF serial no. VH509 and the Air Ministry no. 52.

This 262 was flight tested in Britain by the Royal Aeronautical Establishment…but was never flown in Canada. However, it was, for sure, fired up a coupla' times at Downsview.

Two Me.262s were shipped to Canada for the National Research Council and for the RCAF.

War prizes.

One went to Aylmer, Ontario (near London) RCAF Station: Aylmer…and was scrapped there in 1950!

That historical Me.262, had been flown by Oblt. Fritz Stehle who had recorded the LAST KILL of the Luftwaffe during WW II! Stehle took off from Zatec (Czechoslovakia) on May 8, 1945 and en route shot down a Soviet P-39, after which he landed in Fassberg, and immediately surrendered to the British forces there!

And yes, Stehle's historical jet fighter was scrapped, right here…in Ontario!

Right after the CO of RCAF Station: Aylmer, had downed an entire bottle of stupid pills.

Our other war prize Me.262 went to RCAF Station: Downsview…AND never left!

Well, where is it then, since it's not in CASM's collection?

IT IS BURIED somewhere on the Bombardier Aerospace airport grounds which are located at Downsview, the site of the former De Havilland Aircraft of Canada manufacturing facility, and of former CFB Downsview.

Just so you know, the Canadian Air and Space Museum (also at Downsview, and is home of the TAM Arrow) has been SECRETLY looking for that Me.262…for TWO YEARS!!

Got any idea where on the grounds it was buried, Torontonians????

All four Jumo engines from these two Me.262A aircraft are in the Canadian Aviation Museum's collection, in Rockcliffe, Ontario…so a remnant of Stehl's historical Luftwaffe jet-fighter, indeed, remains.

1,400 Me262s were produced. Only a small portion of that quantity ever saw action since fuel was scarce. One hundred Me.262s were lost in combat, while they were able to shoot down 150 Allied aircraft. So the Me.262 had little effect on the outcome of the war, but it would greatly effect the post-war period.

The Allies were absolutely mesmerized with the Me. 262.

Its design was far ahead of anything the Allies had produced, or had on their drawing boards. This German aircraft would greatly influence the early jet age.

:::Miss Orenda Aerospace 2010 ::…

2010-04-04T17:14:00.000-07:00

… well, not really.

But in a perfect world ~

(sigh)

Toronto Argonaut cheerleader, member of the BLUE THUNDER.

::: HAS THE Royal Canadian Navy DIRIGIBLE, HMCD Samuel de Champlain…FINALLY, finally, been found? ::

2010-04-04T17:12:00.001-07:00

On MARCH 31, 1930, at 23:56 pm, a large airship, the Royal Canadian Navy dirigible, known as the HMCD Samuel de Champlain, which had been made in Friedrichshafen, Germany, by the Zeppelin Company, disappeared without a trace…and was never heard from again.

32 lives lost.

At the time it was Canada's largest air disaster.

Oh, they looked for her. For months afterwards. Crisscrossing northern Quebec, in vain, in vain, I tell ya!

Fast forward to 2009.

Well, the Samuel de Champlain has been lost for nigh of 80 years.

But has she NOW been found?

HAS THE Royal Canadian Navy dirigible HMCD Samuel de Champlain FINALLY been found?

AND CAN Vintage Wings of Canada rebuild her?

Well, we're getting ahead of ourselves, here.

Remember those bad storms that happened mostly throughout Quebec, and the Eastern provinces? The very one that caused only a few inconveniences around Ontario, but power was down everywhere else, about 10 years ago?

You remember that storm?

C'mon…you know the one that Mel Lastman, then Mayor of Toronto, called in the Canadian Armed Forces to restore…order in Toronto?

Well no, not actually, order…he called them in, to remove snow! S N O W !!

The Canadian Armed Forces!?!?

I can see my American friends rolling their eyes.

We have a lot of whackjobs up here, in Canada, folks.

'nuff, said!

Now, think 1930.

Same whip-snap cold…and the same, merciless, snow storms.

Montreal Canadiens star player Howie Morenz, the singer La Bolduc (the Celine Dionne of her day) and Guy Lombardo, bandleader, of "The Royal Canadians" on March 27, 1930 go missing in their Ford Trimotor while on a goodwill tour of mining sites in northern Quebec!

In those days that was pretty much ALL THE TALENT we had in Canada, folks!

Now, lost.

The Prime Minister of Canada was immediately alarmed.

William Lyon Mackenzie King commanded the RCAF and the Royal Canadian Navy to quit playin' around, and find those damn stars!

The RCAF started looking immediately.

The Royal Canadian Navy joined the search two days later…with the arrival of the behemoth airship, the HMCD Samuel de Champlain. Crew of 2…with 30 observers for every porthole in the light deck (passenger basket under the airship).

If you can't find a missing airplane with 30 trained observers looking… that airplane can't be found. Even in stormy weather.

And WHO was the captain of that dirigible?

Commodore Morris S. Crosby.

Crosby, Crosby, Crosby…where have I heard that name before?

Oh, yeah…Sidney Crosby…Canada's winning overtime goal…for Men's Hockey GOLD in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Are they related?

Yup. Commodore Morris Crosby is hockey legend Sidney's great grandfather.

Commodore Crosby's last words at four minutes to midnight were,

"... weighed down. Men in panic. Seven lost at 1032 hrs... less than fifty feet... God help us live through...".

The HMCD Samuel de Champlain's last transmission was received both at Matagami, and Ste. Couche Tard.

And then for 80 years nothing.

And the search vessel, HMCD Samuel de Champlain was presumed lost.

Well there were apparitions. Crosby's grandfather and two guides have appeared to many folk. Several hunters have gone mad from these ghostly appearances.

Rogue, repeated, rough, HMCD Samuel de Champlain mayday transmissions…occurred through the years…years after the horrific event.

And what of the lost sports and entertainment stars?

When the storm lifted, they were found 30 miles from Matagami, safe and sound.

In 2009, two kayakers near Strutton Islands in James Bay found an old Inuit hunting blind that had been long abandoned. Strange cloth and framework construction thought the two kayakers. They took pics and showed them to the RCMP.

The RCMP is presently in lockdown mode around the issue. But it is believed the hunting blind is constructed from material that was found in the crew quarters of HMCD Samuel de Champlain.

THIS JUNE, Vintage Wings of Canada is returning to the crash site and hopes to be able to find the whole damn, dirigible.

And they hope to reconstruct her!

Don't laugh.

See what Vintage Wings of Canada has done thus far:
www.vintagewings.ca/page?s=63&lang=en-CA

If anyone can do it, they can!

This was a Vintage Wings of Canada, APRIL FOOL'S joke!

2010-04-04T17:07:00.000-07:00

I HAD LEFT MY flash card at home…so my iPhone took-over camera duty with this leftside pic.

Not great, but not half bad as pictures go.

Actually this house (not shown) is for lease, and not for sale. What you're looking' at in the newer photo shows exactly where the underside of Flight 621's starboard DC-8 wing came to rest, 40 years ago, this July. The wing was nestled in between the sign, and the electrical box, spookily enough, back in the day.

The David Davies photo shows the burnt DC-8 wing, and members of the jury who were local professionals, from all walks of life, called upon to assist with the crash. The jury were to observe and review each aspect of the crash, in order to later assist in compiling a crash report for the province of Ontario's, Ministry of Transport.

By the time this large piece of the wing hit the ground, Air Canada Flight 621 was corkscrewing through her final airborne stage and would soon slam into the ground, nose first, at over 400 mph!

BEFORE HOMES were built in this newer development of Castlemore, and while the land was still a farmer's field, I found an old discarded "stubby" beer bottle on site. Remember those??

CAROL PARR, eye witness to the air disaster told me the OPP officers who were assigned to guard the DC-8 wing on that smidgeon of their 140 acres of property, sat in a lone chair just off to the side of the burnt wing. Day and night these officers dutifully kept watch, and enjoyed a beer or two, while on assignment. She could see the wing and the officers from the back of her house.

The current lot owners know nothing of the historical significance of their Upper Ridge Crescent property, in Castlemore, and its ancient connection with ill-fated Air Canada flight. The real-estate agent Devinder Kumar expressed shock when I relayed the sobering details. And the 109 deaths. The home is 3530 feet from Flight 621's point of impact, or two thirds of a mile away.

Ironically, the other part of the Air Canada Stretch 8's starboard wing, the top part, tore away, only a quarter mile away. That other part of the DC-8's wing went crashing through the roof of Carol's parent's bungalow, before coming to rest on the lawn in her parent's backyard.

Carol's parent's who happened to be outside at 8:08 am, on that bright, sunny, and horrific, Sunday morn…were not amused when the separated wing piece came crashing down! As early risers however, they were quite relieved that they weren't still sleeping in their bed on that tragic morning.

:::: The Winds, Have Changed :::.:.

2010-04-04T17:02:00.000-07:00

ATTENTION… My Aviator Friends… you may want to pass over this post!

You have been WARNED.

FROM THE ALBUM… "The Winds Have Changed" comes the perfectly rendered, hidden hymn, "Here, I Am."

There remains to this day, a rumour.

It is a rumour amongst angels…

A rumour that God, sat up, and took notice of this song, when it was sung for the very first time.

There was a distinct feeling of being noticed by the transcendent One. And of noticing, an Other.

For nary a nanosecond, God was caught off guard, his guard dropped, and His presence was detected.

And then, the awareness was gone.

Folks, this hasn't happened since the days of King David.

When David's music pleased the Lord.

Eric Genuis, the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra, and Ann Marie Boskovich have gathered to give the world a momentous album. But the world is not ready.

That world takes no notice.

And so the album never makes the hit parade.

And Mr Genuis (pronounced GEEN•us) resumes to flying below the radar.

In this touring rendition of, "Here, I Am" … American, Caroline Brooks, provides the stunning vocals.

And no… she does not falter.

THEY SAY THIS WOMAN is an angel. And I believe it!

Sensational album.

Did I already say that?

But the world is not ready.

No major label is promoting Eric. And Caroline remains, unsigned.

And so, in perfect pathetic fallacy, the moon should careen into the Earth. Now.

Really.

THERE IS a sliver of hope, yet.

Not, all, it seems, is lost.

Some of Eric's songs can be found on iTunes.

Yes. And, this one.

But there still remains Eric's forgotten album of the early 90s. Last in Line.

Eric's songs. Eric's vocals. Eric on piano. Eric's masterpiece.

I know one Catholic priest, in Hamilton, who has a copy. Father K. And that's it!

So good luck in finding that gem!

I think there may be another hidden copy in Stoney Creek. But you'd need an airplane to find it.

No. Catholic. Inspirational. Collection. Is. Complete. Without. Both. Of. These. Albums.

But this exceedingly rare album is truly only for Christians—

Sorry, paganos.

I really don't know how a pagan would relate to it. How could they? Or the busy, unreflective, secular, humanoid?

Or, one of Hitchy's shallow cracklings.

Better not to try—

"I passed this way in silence. For I had hoped to pass this way, unnoticed."

And some have no religious stirrings, at all.

Sad, really.

::: 1ST FLIGHT ::: AVRO ARROW :: March 25, 1958

2010-04-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

… and REMEMBER folks, the Avro Arrow went straight from the drawing board to production aircraft.

There were NO PROTOTYPES made. Not one! No experimental airplanes were subjected to testing. None to work out those challenging "kink"s which must always accompany an undertaking of this size!

That traditional process step was simply eliminated…

Just another way, AVRO CANADA did things… a wee bit differently~

© 1958 CBC (movie clip)