THE PATRICIAN AUGUST 2013
The Victoria Flying Club ~ Aviation Excellence Since 1946
CADETS TAKE FLIGHT Yellow Wings Youth Leadership Initiative
GROUNDSCHOOL SCHEDULES | CLUB NEWS | FIRST SOLOS | PHOTO CONTEST
THE PATRICIAN AUGUST 2013
Monthly Newsletter of The Victoria Flying Club - Aviation Excellence Since 1946 “To promote flying and aviation in general, and to teach and train persons in the art and science of flying and navigating and operating all manner of heavier-than-air aircraft.”
(Victoria Flying Club Incorporation Bylaws, 1946)
In This Issue
3 VFC Staff Appreciation
Board of Directors President.........................................Don Devenney Vice President...........................Ramona Reynolds Secretary......................................Colin Williamson Treasurer...........................................Wayne Clifton Directors..........................................Dave Gagliardi Steve Demy Dave Gustafson Cal Mjolsness General Manager.................................Gerry Mants Chief Flying Instructor....................Graham Palmer 1852 Canso Road Sidney, BC V8L 5V5
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Yellow Wings Youth Leadership Initiative
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Gettin’ There Qualicum and Powell River
Canada Day Fly-Out Report
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www.flyvfc.com info@flyvfc.com Phone: 250-656-2833 Fax: 250-655-0910 Editor: Christie Hall thepatrician@shaw.ca Midnight Design & Communication info@midnightdesign.ca
August 2013
The Patrician accepts unsolicited submissions. This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, with prior permission of the publisher or author. The opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors.
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News from VFC
OPEN HOUSE
VFC News
Saturday September 14 Victoria Flying Club 11am-3pm
VFC Alumni!
VFC provides world-class training, and produces world-class pilots who are fully employable in the industry. Our alumni are doing incredible things in aviation, flying exciting aircraft, in locations around the world. We would like to share your accomplishments here in The Patrician, and also with our prospective students. Let us know where you’re at and what you’re doing! Email a photo of you with your current aircraft and the following information to: thepatrician@shaw.ca 1. What is your hometown? 2. What year did you complete your training at VFC? 3. How are you currently employed in the aviation industry?
Victoria Flying Club Quiet Hour Pricing – in effect June 1st to Sept 30th Day and Time
Discount Available (Choose One)
Monday to Friday 1700-0800
$10/hr rental discount
0.2 simulator time credit per hour of flight (approx value $20)
Saturday and Sunday
$15/hr rental discount
0.3 simulator time credit per hour of flight (approx value $30)
1700-0800 Aviation Excellence Since 1946
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August 2013
VFC News
VFC Staff Appreciation! The Victoria Flying Club has some of the greatest staff around, and we are extremely proud of the work they do every day. Recently, some of our staff drew the attention of others on the airfield, as they went the extra mile in fulfilling their respective duties, and we want to recognize both Gary Van der Leer, Mike Lozupone and Jeff Bujas for their outstanding work. Gary Van der Leer, our head of maintenance, leads a team of AMEs in keeping our fleet safe and operational. His diligence, persistence, and superior knowledge of all things aircraft recently resulted in a Special Airworthiness Bulletin on the Q Model Cessna. From Transport Canada:
superior level of service and information.
Enclosed is a photo which I think Jeff will appreciate.
“I would like to thank your team at Victoria Flying Club for their professional, informative and positive treatment we received tonight.
Sincere Regards,
Giving a phone call to your reception confirming it was OK to walk around the Club’s aircraft for our training, my co-worker and I brought two trucks over for a quick walk about. With no notice to Jeff or Mike we were pleasantly greeted and assisted by Mike with the best place to park our trucks and approached later by Jeff asking if we would like any help with our aircraft familiarization. Jeff gave us an educational lesson with your Cessna 152 and 172’s. It was an impromptu training session which turned out to be invaluable. I would like to send my sincere thanks to both of these upstanding team members and really appreciate their exceptional service to us.
Anna Trelford, Acting Captain Victoria Airport Authority Fire Department” We know that these are just two examples of the kind of excellence we witness every day from our office staff, maintenance team, line crew, and instructors. We want to extend our thanks to each of our staff members for their effort and commitment. On behalf of all members, you have our appreciation and gratitude! - VFC Board and Management (If you see a VFC staff member doing something great, let us know! Email your appreciation to Gerry Mants, VFC General Manager: info@flyvfc.com)
“This SAIB is the result of a service difficulty report (SDR) from a Canadian operator, which was forwarded by Transport Canada. We have found that the propeller mounting bolt torque called out in the Cessna Model 172 Series 1977 thru 1986 Service Manual No. D2065-3-13 is incorrect for the Model 172Q airplanes when equipped with the McCauley 1A170E/JFA7658 propeller per Type Certificate Data Sheet 3A12.” Good eye, Gary, and thanks for all you and your team do to keep us all safe in the air! Top-notch instructor Jeff Bujas, along with Mike Lozupone from the line crew, recently garnered praise from the Victoria Airport Authority Fire Department, for providing a
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THANK YOU! 3
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VFC News
Yellow Wings Youth Leadership Initiative Many of us looked up with envy at the beautiful yellow Stearman which recently spent time at VFC. The aircraft, from Vintage Wings of Canada, was here as part of the Yellow Wings Youth Leadership Initiative, a program designed to inspire young people in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math, while motivating them to pursue their dreams through hard work and discipline. This outstanding program, funded on donations and run by volunteers, was available to 6000 air cadets across Canada this summer. Out of that number, 500 deserving individuals enjoyed a flight in one of six vintage training aircraft, in addition to participating in other aspects of the program, which included a powerful motivational message recorded on the International Space Station especially for this program by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, a former Air Cadet. Each of the aircraft involved in the Yellow Wings program is dedicated to a Canadian veteran who not only served during the Second World War or Cold War, but also had personal experience with the aircraft. The Vintage Wings of Canada Stearman (FJ875) is one of only a few remaining examples of the 300 original aircraft purchased and employed in Alberta in 1942. It is dedicated to 602 Squadron, RAF Warrant Officer Harry Hannah, who trained on Stearmans (PT-17s), not in Alberta, but at Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona. Harry lives in Oakville, Ontario. Local flights were sponsored by Viking Air Limited, and Pacific Sky Aviation Inc. Photos by: www.heathmoffatphoto.com
Aviation Excellence Since 1946
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August 2013
Events
FREE AIRPLANE FLIGHTS for kids from 8 to 17
Saturday, September 28, 2013 Viscount Aero Centre, Victoria International Airport (if Sept. 28th is raining, flights will be Sunday Sept. 29th)
With support from
and
Pre-Registration Required For more information and to register, please visit
http://tinyurl.com/yyjc4k
...or email yyjcopaforkids@outlook.com ...or phone Bill at 250-882-3838 Brought to you by the pilots of COPA flight 6 – Victoria, to share our love of aviation with interested young people.
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VFC Achievements
VFC MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS New Members
Andrew Chen Edgardo Dacanay Jeremy Fernandes Anne George Tim Keis Brett Long Louisa Luo Helena Mao Emily Ostapovich Nina Shan Natasha Snelgrove Sandy Wan Ali Al-Asadi Emma Van Wyk Darren Sopher Gordon Ritchie Joe Lafleur Bill Ehman Lynn Flandera Paul Smith Jack Player Peter Liatowitsch Kalyani Reddy Matthys Redelinghuys Ronald Hayes Craig O’Dell
Tyler Robinson Brad Townsend Tristan Clazie Laurens Van Staden Michael Graham
First Solos
Alexander Stead Ann George Sandy Wan Tim Keis Nina Shan Jeremy Fernandes Andrew Chen Brett Lang Natasha Snelgrove Emily Ostapovich Helena Mao Louisa Luo Arthur Reitsma Behad Kiani Dao Heng Cheng Joshua Sanford
PPL Flight Test Tanner Davis Chris Saunders Paul Tambeau Walker Redshaw Toyo Noguchi
PPL License Walker Redshaw Toyo Noguchi
CPL Flight Test Tom Eng Rob Killin Derek Doerksen
CPL License Derek Doerksen
Multi Engine Flight Test Elissa Boyd
Class IV Instructor Rating Iain Wallis
Join VFC Online!
Find out more about what’s going on at your favourite flying club, read interesting aviation articles, and keep up to date with news from the world of aviation. Send interesting links, post photos, tweet comments. Aviation Excellence Since 1946
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August 2013
First Solos
Air Cadets
Andrew Chen Instructor: Brady Tucker
Anne George Instructor: Hana Nakahara
Brett Lang Instructor: Dave Yates
Emily Ostapovich Instructor: Laura Van Buskirk
Helena Mao Instructor: Laura Van Buskirk
Jeremy Fernandes Instructor: Dave Yates
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First Solos
First Solos
Louisa Luo Instructor: Jeff Bujas
Natasha Snelgrove Instructor: Jeff Bujas
Nina Shan Instructor: Brady Tucker
Sandy Wan Instructor: Hana Nakahara
“Without disruption of air traffic, these fearless, forthright, indomitable and courageous individuals did venture into the wild blue yonder in flying machines. Furthermore, these skilful ndividuals did safely land said flying machines at Victoria International Airport,
Tim Keis Instructor: Brett Stevens Aviation Excellence Since 1946
incurring no significant damage to self or machine, thus completing first solo flights.�
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August 2013
Pilot Briefing
GETTIN’ THERE aviation information for local destinations Destination:
Qualicum Beach (CAT4)
Why Go? Qualicum Beach is a nice, simple flight to do. Not too far, not too challenging and just different enough from the airports you fly into during training to make it interesting. Depending on conditions, routing, etc. figure on about a 40 minute flight each way. You don’t need to have taken the Mountain Flying Course to go there and because it is on the shoreline of southern Vancouver Island it is usually accessible even in the dead of winter.
9pm on Sat & Sun however it’s always a good idea to give them a call and confirm. Qualicum Beach Airport has the distinction of having the first IFR GPS approach in Canada.
Getting There We’ll leave the flight planning up to you however whether you travel in Victoria Terminal’s airspace (my preferred routing) or in uncontrolled airspace, by the time you approach Nanoose Bay it’s time to make things happen.
The airport is a good twenty minute walk from town but you can call a taxi from the airport terminal building if you wish. Situated within a short walk from the airport you can find two 18 hole golf courses. Located in the airport terminal building is The Final Approach Restaurant, a small restaurant with great food. The soup is to die for and, while they don’t have the variety of pies that Chilliwack does, their pie is every bit as good if not better. Currently their hours are Mon – Fri 11am - 9pm and 9am – August 2013
• If you’re in Victoria Terminal’s airspace Terminal will terminate radar service somewhere just before Nanoose Bay. They may suggest contacting Comox Terminal, but it’s not necessary – you’ll be descending shortly. • You’ll want to start monitoring Qualicum’s ATF (122.8 at time of writing).
• This is a good place to announce your presence and your intentions. • Nanoose Bay is also a good place to start your descent.
French Creek Marina
Little Mountain
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Pilot Briefing I’d suggest a routing along the shoreline to French Creek Marina (easy to see) before turning inland to cross mid-field. South and east-bound traffic tends to stay inland so being on the shoreline will help with separation. At French Creek Marina, turn inland to cross mid-field. The circuit at Qualicum is on the inland side of the airport so you’ll be joining downwind either way – it’s just a question of which runway. After landing, taxi to the terminal building area to park. There is limited parking near the gas pumps so you may end up on the grass. DO NOT park in KD Air’s spots in the middle of the tarmac.
Local Knowledge As I stated at the outset, Qualicum Beach Airport is a nice simple flight. That said, there are a few things to be aware of that you may not find in the CFS:
Aviation Excellence Since 1946
• There’s a ravine just before the threshold of Rwy 29 that, combined with the upslope of Rwy 29, can create an illusion of being too high when landing. • “Little Mountain” is a small hill about 4nm south-east of the airport. You’ll often hear local traffic, especially KD Air, refer to it. • There are noise abatement procedures for both runways. They’re really simple and they’re explained in both the CFS and on signs at the airport. • Qualicum Beach NOTAMS are listed under Nanaimo.
• Crosswinds. There are often crosswinds at Qualicum.
Important Links & Contacts Town of Qualicum Beach Airport: http://www.qualicumbeach. com/cms.asp?wpID=437 Qualicum Beach Airport weather cams: http://www.qualicumbeach.com/cms.asp?wpID=633 KD Air: 250.752.5884 Final Approach Restaurant: 250 752-8966
Watch for future installWeather ments of Gettin’ There in upcoming issues of The There’s no METAR / TAF for Qualicum so you have to rely on Patrician. the GFA and reports from other airports for weather information. Nanaimo is the closest airport with a METAR / TAF so it’s a good start. Other local weather factors to be aware of include:
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August 2013
Pilot Briefing
GETTIN’ THERE aviation information for local destinations
Destination:
Powell River (CYPW)
Why Go? Powell River is a good place to go when you want a flight that’s a bit different.. It’s just a bit further away and getting there involves a few more steps however they’re not complicated ones. There’s some very beautiful terrain along the way and in the area so it will be quite a scenic flight as well. Depending on conditions, routing, etc. figure on about a one hour flight each way. You don’t need to have taken the Mountain Flying Course to go there however because it is on the shoreline and close to the mountains weather can be a factor. It is usually accessible in the summer but hit-and-miss during the winter. The airport is a good twenty minute walk from town but you can call a taxi from the airport terminal building if you wish. Located in the airport terminal building is Pacific Coastal Airlines as well as Budget Rent-aCar. Powell River Flying Club has a hangar on the field as well. There’s also a nice little diner-style restaurant a short walk up the road – just walk through the parking lot to the road and turn right. August 2013
Getting There You need to pay a bit of attention to your routing on this trip. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to depart Victoria and proceed directly to YPW – you’d end up crossing the approach / departure paths to Vancouver International which Terminal definitely wouldn’t want you to do. Here’s a couple of better routings: • Victoria -> Nanoose Bay -> south end of Texada Island -> Powell River
Lesquiti Island -> Texada Island -> Powell River The first option is more direct while the second option minimises the time you’re over water. In either event you’ll likely end up talking to Comox Terminal. They’re somewhat different from Victoria Terminal in that they primarily provide a “flight following” service so they tend to be less “controlling”. Comox can be very helpful and personally I like the idea of someone following me on radar, especially during over water flights.
• Victoria -> Nanoose Bay -> French Creek (Qualicum) -> 11
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Pilot Briefing Also, when planning your flight you’ll want to check the NOTAMS to see if the following special use areas are active: • CYR107 (Ballenas Islands, near Nanoose Bay) • CYA124(M) (west side of Texada Island) After getting to the south end of Texada Island you’ll head north towards Powell River. Bear in mind that Gillies Bay airport (CYGB) is in the area so you might consider keeping a listening watch on their frequency as you proceed north. Start making your radio calls about 10 miles back and update your position / intentions as you see fit. There can be a lot of float and helicopter traffic in this area so you want to be sure they know where you are. Now the fun part. If you’re coming up from the south you won’t be able to see the airport! Seriously. It’s on the north side of a ridge with the runway hidden by trees and (depending on your altitude) you won’t see the runway until you’ve nearly crossed over that ridge. Follow the usual Uncontrolled Aerodrome procedures to overfly the field, join the circuit and land.
Local Knowledge Flying into Powell River is pretty straight forward and shouldn’t present much of a problem. However, here are a few things to be aware of that you may not find in the CFS: • The runway slopes downward towards the water so expect a down slope view if landing on Rwy 27, and an upslope view if landing on Rwy 09. • There’s a small lake east of the threshold of Rwy 27 that IS visible from the south. If you’re over the lake on your base leg you’ll be set up just about right for your approach. • Be aware that the area around Powell River can get busy with helicopter and float plane traffic. • If you’re flying IFR into Powell River and using a GPS, you need to be aware that the published NDB/DME (GNSS) approach is not included in the GPS database. Apparently there are technical issues associated with digitizing it for database use.
weather decisions; they seem to be the only reporting station that can see for 50 miles when the weather is good. Hint: Because Powell River has a METAR, Comox Terminal can provide you the latest weather including winds, which will make determining the active runway a lot easier. So don’t hesitate – give them a call! Other local weather factors to be aware of include: • YPW can be reporting low broken which makes it look inaccessible at first however the Straights can be clear to high broken, and it’s just localized cloud heaping up along the coast.
Important Links & Contacts Town of Powell River: http:// www.powellriver.ca/
Watch for future installments of Gettin’ There in upcoming issues of The Patrician.
Weather
After landing you can taxi to the terminal to park. Be aware that parking in front of the terminal building is reserved for Pacific Coastal so you’re probably best to park close to the grass edge of the terminal apron.
Powell River has a METAR but no TAF so for forecast information you’re probably best to look to Comox (CYQQ) and the GFA. Powell River also has a WeatherCam listed on the NavCanada Aviation Weather website that can be useful when making
Aviation Excellence Since 1946
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August 2013
Events
Canada Day Fly-Out News By: Dan Waldie
Rob Shemilt and I were flying up to Qualicum a few weeks ago and I said to him, “There’s a flyout to Nelson on Canada Day. Wanna go?” “Sure. Sounds great, but weather has to be CAVOK.” Well, in short it was perfect. Exactly the kind of weather you hope for to take a trip ‘over the rocks’. Jonathan Wallace was doing a locum in Nelson and suggested we rent a plane and come and join him and a few other pilots from CZBB and CYFF. We fueled up GTLF to the brim. Real nice for those thirsty 180 horses. At 0830 we taxied out from VFC to runway 09 for our departure. Straight out, Morseby departure, direct to Chilliwack We were stepped up in the climb over the strait and told to hold at 6000’ near Watcum VOR but eventually got clearance to climb to 9500’ when we were past Abbotsford. Vancouver Centre had us almost to Princeton. What a sight! Crystal clear and unlimited visability. WOW would be an understatement! The mountains at Hope are quite high but around Princeton it flattens out a bit and gets into rolling hills past Penticton. British Columbia scenery at its finest. Our GPS was programmed for Princeton then Penticton and eventually Nelson so it was relatively easy to navigate. We had the VOR at Princeton and Cranbrook if we needed for backup. After a gorgeous flight of 2hrs and 20 minutes it was time to start letting down. We had crossed Lower Arrow Lake and had to lose 6000’ coming down the Slocan Valley where we hung a left and flew
August 2013
the Columbia Valley over the dams used to power COMENCO at Trail. It is a very narrow valley at Nelson and the circuit height is 2800’. I had been into CZNL three times before but this was the first time there was no turbulence and both wind socks were blowing in same direction. The offset approach was easy if you know how it is done by flying over the beautiful Granite Pointe golf course then crossing over the airport to our left mid field then the tight turn to join downwind, back over the hump abeam runway 04, dogleg to the right, tight turn back to join the approach to base and final for landing, phew we made it !!!!!. There was a little Cessna 150 in the circuit just ahead of us so we made sure she knew we were on close final just behind her. She said she would take the landing long on the rollout to allow us to come in behind her. As we taxied onto the apron
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at CZNL we were greeted with nice warm temperatures and my brother and his girlfriend who suggested we go for lunch at the Prestige on the waterfront in Nelson. Jonathan and the rest of the flyout group joined us there. The Prestige has a nice bistro with good food. Although not that many people showed up for this flyout everyone involved enjoyed themselves and were treated to a fabulous day of mountain flying over some of the most stunning scenery in B.C. By the time this Patrician is out we will have been on the August flyout to Pemberton. Call VFC today or book your plane online for the September 1 flyout to Hope / Pretty’s Field.
For more information, or to be added to the email list, please contact: flyoutbug@gmail.com
www.flyvfc.com
Photo of the Month
Thanks to Mark McKinnon for submitting this month’s winning photo! “My wife Elsa and I flew over the ‘Living Flag’ in GTQQ on Canada Day. She took this great photo, and I thought we should share it.” ~Mark McKinnon and Elsa Rassenti
Send your best aviation photo to thepatrician@ shaw.ca for your chance to win great Pilot Shop prizes. Every submission is entered into a yearly draw for a $100 VFC Gift Certficate. Keep your camera in your flight bag!
711 A Broughton Street
(street level, by Victoria Public Library)
Victoria BC V8W 1E2
Aviation Excellence Since 1946
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August 2013
First Solos
Alex Stead Instructor:Sean Tyrell
Arthur Reitsma Instructor: Jeff Bujas
Bryan Kiani Instructor: Jeff Bujas
Dao Heng Cheng Instructor: Sean Tyrell
Joshua Sanford Instructor:Sean Brenton August 2013
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Flight Training
PRIVATE PILOT GROUNDSCHOOL Monday and Wednesday 1900-2200 Victoria Flying Club Classroom
DATE TOPIC INSTRUCTOR
Aug 07
Meteorology
Tyler
12 Meteorology Tyler 14 Meteorology Tyler 19 Meteorology Tyler 21 Meteorology Tyler
26
Flight Operations
Kale
28
Flight Operations
Kale
Sept 04
Navigation
Brendan
09
Navigation
Brendan
11
Navigation
Brendan
16
ATC
Jason
18 Review Colin
To Register for Groundschool, or to purchase a Groundschool Kit, please contact the Victoria Flying Club office at info@flyvfc.com or 250-656-2833.
VFC SMILE CARDS
Pick up your smile card today at the VFC office, and 5% of your grocery purchase will go towards creating scholarships and awards for VFC members. Thank-you Thrifty Foods! To date, the Victoria Flying Club has received over $12,000 from
the Thrifty Foods Smile Card program. These funds have been appreciated by all members of the club. Thank-you Thrifty Foods! Aviation Excellence Since 1946
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August 2013
Flight Training
A Different Kind of Flight VFC Board member Cal Mjolsness - retired Ward Air, Canadian, and Air Canada pilot recently doing his first solo in a PW-6U glider at the Alberni Valley Soaring Association.
Discover the Beauty of Flight
learn to fly gliders in the Alberni Valley
The training is provided by the Vancouver Island Soaring Centre (VISC) at Port Alberni; they also do scenic flights for those who just wish to experience soaring. Once licensed as a glider pilot, one can join the Alberni Valley Soaring Association (AVSA). The club has a single seat PW-5 glider.
[
transitioning to gliders is simple with previous flying experience
Alberni Valley Soaring Association
www.avsa.ca Photo: Patrick Pelletier
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Mystery Aircraft
AUGUST MYSTERY AIRCRAFT
Can you identify the aircraft shown here? Email: thepatrician@shaw.ca July Mystery Identified From Tim: The Martin B-26 Marauder was a WW-II medium bomber. Over 5000 were built and a few saw service with the Free French Air Force like the one illustrated. Although successful, the survivors were all axed after hostilities, to be replaced by the similar Douglas Invader which assumed the “B-26� designation.
Correctly identified by: Geoff Steeves, Tim Hamblin, Marc Everitt
Aviation Excellence Since 1946
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August 2013
VFC Classifieds Aircraft - Accomodation - Aviation Books and Gear - Help Wanted - Miscellaneous Email the details of your FREE Ad to: thepatrician@shaw.ca
AIRCRAFT FOR SALE!
Economical fun 1966 Alon A2 Aircoupe 2 Radios, intercom GPS TTSN 2370.2 TTS Major O/H Continental 90 HP with all new components 223.0 Photos of all stages during O/H. All Logs since new! Only reason for selling due to unexpected illness! Al Whalley 250-380-2502 email alonflight5@shaw.ca
VFC CHARTER SERVICE
TRAVEL BETWEEN VICTORIA AND BOUNDARY BAY NO FERRIES NO WAITING BE THERE IN 30 MINUTES Email tedk@flyvfc.om or Call 250-474-0213
August 2013
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