Patriciansummer09 3

The Patrician Victoria Flying Club

Summer 2009 Special Edition

Piloted by the Mockford Brothers, this Noorduyn Norseman bushplane is part of the Centennial of Flight Circumnavigation of Canada Legacy Tour.

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Short Final

Fort St. John Airshow

Bears Air

Hawk One at VFC

Canada Day Flyout Princeton

Flying the Fleet Finch

From Sea to Sea

Canada Day at YYJ

Eleanor’s

The

Patrician

S hort F inal

Newsletter of the Victoria Flying Club

SUMMER 2009 Special Edition Editor:

Eleanor Eastick PatricianEditor@shaw.ca Publisher: Seaside Designs seasidedesigns@shaw.ca (250) 383-7777 Unsolicited articles welcome.

Board of Directors President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Directors

Lloyd Toope Colin Dormuth Ellen Wood Rob Shemilt Sean Steele Colin Williamson Don Devenney Bill Vanderboor General Manager Gerry Mants Chief Flying Instructor Graham Palmer

Here I am! Back in the saddle again, so to speak There’s just too much happening in this (aviation) centennial year and too many good photos and stories to share. So, here’s the Summer Special edition of the Pat; enjoy!

Visitors to YYJ The downside to this glorious summer is the increase in forest fires and YYJ has had its share of visiting tankers. Aside from the Firecats, there has been a Lockheed Electra arriving to fill up with fire retardant and water on several occasions. I happened to hear the Tower clearing the L-188 to land and asked resident planespotter Tim Martin if he had a photo of it. He replied, “It was Electra (tanker 482) operated by Air Spray of Red Deer/AB. I wish I had a picture of that Electra (C-FLJO), Eleanor. I love the new c/s with fat yellow fuselage stripe. That’s the second one in about a month that has cleared on Runway 20 instead of rolling out to Sierra and therefore been too far away (to photograph).

“They are one of my favourite a/c. Lockheed seemed to make beautiful a/c.....not necessarily the safest, but beautiful. We used to get them in Heathrow from KLMRoyal Dutch when I was a lad and I saw several during my time in Winnipeg; NW Territorial and others from USA, UK and even Zaire. Saw one land once at Penticton when there was a 25 kt 90deg x-wind. Wow!! ” Tim provided a photo of FLJO’s sister ship, C-GFQA (tanker 486) taken at Kamloops in 2001. “Notice the Conair Firecats parked behind the Electra. They likely act as a squad and the four Firecats and Electra that came into YYJ on July 12 probably originated from Kamloops too.”

1852 Canso Road Victoria, BC V8L 5V5

Phone: Fax: Email: Web:

(250) 656-4321 (250) 656-2833 (250) 655-0910 info@flyvfc.com www.flyvfc.com

Opinions expressed are those of the authors alone. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced in any format without the written authorization from the publisher or author.

creative solutions

SEASIDE designs & photography seasidevisuals.com

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Thank you, Tim, for all that interesting information. I thought the Electra was beautiful too, as I watched it on final for 09 from above and behind.

Buffalo Air, based in Yellowknife operates two Electras and a fleet of WW II aircraft, carrying both passengers and freight. History television has been following the daily life of this unique air service for months and plans to air a documentary at the end of October this year. Should be very interesting.

Norseman In 2009 Dennis and Greg Mockford and Bonnie Macklin flew their 65 year old Canadian designed and built Noorduyn Norseman bushplane 10,000 miles back and forth across Canada to commemorate J.A. Douglas McCurdy’s pioneer 1909 flight.

This was a 100 hour at 100 miles per hour 10,000 mile celebration journey! See www.norseman100.ca Luckily for us, they stopped off at VFC for an overnight visit with Dennis’ son Trevor, wife Manuela and boys.

Short Final cont’d on p 3

There are plain old homes and old plane homes like this grounded 727.

I want one! And so does Grant S. who sent these pics to the Pat.

Short Final cont’d from p 2

This cross Canada celebration flight began at Red Lake on 27 May with sponsorship by the Red Lake Norseman Floatplane Festival 2009 Committee, and ended at Red Lake in time for the annual Norseman Festival on July 24.

line in the air more than 150 kilometers in length and will take two hours to pass overhead. Wow! That would be something to see!

VFC Astronaut

Hot Summer

Dr. Geoff Steeves, VFC member, pilot and professor, will give a presentation about his experiences as one of 16 finalists in the 2009 Canadian Astronaut Program. This will be a first-hand look into what goes on in the choosing and making of an astronaut. Geoff joined VFC in 2005 and is related to two former members, Vernon “Woody” Woodward and Gerald Woodward. Born in Halifax, reared in Edmonton, Geoff attended the U of A, receiving his BSc, Physics (1995) and PhD, Condensed Matter Physics (2001).

Seems like global warming has finally got to Victoria after a very cold winter and spring and an awful lot of generally lousy summers, especially on the long weekends. This is like summers used to be in the 1960s, endless beautiful hot days. Or was it my relative youth and a now faulty memory that made summers longer and warmer?

The perfect weather made for a perfect start of John Lovelace’s Cross Country Century Flight from CZBB on July 17th. More than 100 small planes are crossing the country, from Boundary Bay, B.C., to Baddeck, N.S., in a journey marking the 100th anniversary of flight in Canada.

Lots of light aircraft, including one Long EZ took off in what organizers feel could be the largest group of non-military aircraft ever to fly across Canada. Over 125 aircraft registered for the flight that will form a continuous

Before I get in over my head regarding Geoff ’s “research [using] pulsed lasers to study high speed electronic and magnetic phenomena” (uh, what??), let me say, How to almost be an Astronaut will be a fascinating talk. Don’t miss it – 7 pm, Friday, Sept. 11 at VFC. See announcement page 9.

Finally On a final note, I finally made it to The Final Approach at Qualicum (CAT4). The food, service and ambience were all first rate! It’s open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm. TFA is well-known for its great soup, and I can vouch for an out-of-this-world sandwich of corned beef on rye with sauerkraut. It’s a beautiful flight to CAT4.

Blue Skies, over and out.......Eleanor 3

Fort St. John Airshow – from the Tower.

Former VFC member Michelle Philp is now ATC supervisor at CYXJ and was working the day of the airshow. Michelle sends these photos with the notation that at least Hornet One and Hawk One had the sense to park in front of her Ed

Michelle says: Our airshow is every 2nd year and is nothing fancy.

F18s, F86 & Snowbirds and some aerobatic acts, MX2, a pair of Sukhois, Harvard, hang glider and the Skyhawks.

I think that’s pretty much it. It lasted about 3 hrs. We had a terrible downpour about an hour before the show and some acts had to cancel. The ground was too soggy for the Skyhawks to jump. I didn’t even get out on the ramp until after the show and the planes were back in the hangars by then.

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What follows is an excerpt from a journal which I kept on an irregular basis while bushflying on a seasonal job in Northern B.C. in 2008. It describes being diverted and stranded by bad weather. “How to survive a delay comfortably” could be a title page.

BEAR’S AIR Barry Meek

Flying in the North.

A Journal Entry

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rom 8,500 feet the view to the south validated the weather briefing of one hour ago. The towering cumulus cloud and thunderstorms formed along a line from Prince George running north-east, leaving the promise of a relatively uneventful flight to the southwest. My destination leaving Chetwynd was Vanderhoof and the route would easily skirt the systems.

There’s not much else going on at this airport. A small charter company runs up Williston Lake in a Grand Caravan transporting groceries and passengers in and out of Fort Ware and a couple of other villages and reserves up there. They also serve the dwindling number of mining camps. With all the logging abandoned, I wonder if this airline will be viable much longer.

MacKenzie slid by off my right wingtip, and I made a mental note that I’d possibly be sent back there in a few days. Another thirty miles clicked off on the GPS before the first signs of trouble came up under me. A shallow layer of cloud was forming directly ahead, but appeared harmless enough. I flew on over top of it into a darkening sky, and soon more towering cumulus cloud boiled up from the gloom, turning the entire sky into thick soup.

So, here I sit, in solitude with my computer. Yes, there is still electricity and running water in this building, but no internet. There’s an old Chevy Van parked outside, with some keys hanging on the wall. I found a battery charger and managed to start it for a run into the town for some food. There are canned beans, soups and old boxes of cereal in the kitchen upstairs, but who knows how old that stuff is. It’s quite an experience.

I attempted to get down under it all, but even at about 500 feet above ground, I could see darkness toward my destination, now less than 30 miles to the southwest. Time for a 180 degree turn, and get the heck out of there. This wasn’t forecast to be over this far west. MacKenzie, here I come!

The author's C182 sits on the wet, abandoned ramp in MacKenzie

The feeling of isolation and loneliness is made worse by the steady downpour and thick, black cloud overhead for the past two days. There’s a radio here, but CBC and the local “best rock, 101.9, the RIVER” just don’t do much for me. And of course, there’s no TV.

The Forestry crews we fly around are not working until The company I’m working for Monday. And we still don’t has a facility in MacKenzie, know where they want to fly consisting of an old terminal from. So I might be working building with pilots’ quarters N.T. Air's Cessna Caravan taxies for departure into the overcast from right here, or from upstairs. It’s not been used Prince George or from back since the previous air service in Smithers again. It’s all uncertain, but I’m OK with that. abandoned it a few years back. Still in pretty decent In fact, everything is OK. It’s all good. repair, it appears the staff simply got up and walked out one day, leaving everything behind. The desks, computers, It’s not even 21:00 hrs. yet, and I can’t believe that even fax machines, weigh scale, passenger waiting room, way up north here, around 56 degrees latitude, the days baggage tags …. Everything in place to come to work for are so short already. Summer is almost over. In fact one the next day. But, they never came back. It’s a totally eerie would think it was a severe autumn day today with this place. The magazines in the waiting room are all at least wind and cold. I have worn shorts/t-shirts exactly three three years old, and the calendars on the wall are dated days this entire summer.

May, 2006. The Twilight Zone comes to mind. bcflyer@propilots.net

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HANGER

HANGAR

The New LSA – the C162 Skycatcher he idea of Cessna’s new Light Sport Aircraft was

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According to a story in the Wall Street Journal, building

“to drive down the cost of flying and learning to

the Skycatcher in China knocks $71,000 off the price

fly.“[We] believe this aircraft will make a major

compared to building it in the U.S. (There is no mention of

contribution to stimulating new pilot starts and will

the final finished and delivered price being any lower than

encourage already-licensed pilots to continue to fly

$111,500). The other issue is plant capacity. Cessna also

because it will be more affordable….”

claims there is no room in the Wichita or Independence plants to turn out the 700 Skycatchers per year that they

Initially this “affordable” price was just under $100,000 USD

envision.

but was quickly raised to $109,500, then jacked up to $111,500. But wait, there are people who find the 162 affordable; by the end of 2008, Cessna had confirmed orders for over a thousand of the little bug smashers.

The decision to produce the aircraft in China has been controversial and Cessna has received a high degree of negative feedback from Cessna 162 customers and potential customers. The first aircraft assembled by

To keep the price down to that very affordable $111,500,

Shenyang

Cessna

Aircraft is

announced that

expected to be

the C162 would

completed

be made in China

between April

by the Shenyang

and June 2009,

Aircraft

with first

Corporation.

deliveries to

Cessna CEO Jack

customers

Pelton said the

expected near

company needed

the end of 2009.

top quality at a competitive price and SAC put it all together.

INTRODUCING THE CESSNA SKYCATCHER™.

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The official Hawk One photo is by Peter Handley. Principal sponsors are Vintage Wings, Discovery Air and the Canadian Forces.

Hawk One will be arriving at the Victoria Flying Club at approximately 10:30 am, Monday, August 10th.

Come on out to the Club and see this beautifully restored Sabre Jet in Canada's original aerobatic team colours.

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Hawk One – August 10th at VFC – don’t miss it!

Hawk One will be at VFC on Monday 10th August, following a 3-day appearance at the Abbotsford Air Show. It will be in Nanaimo on August 12th.

The Golden Hawks were a military aerobatic flying team established 50 years ago in 1959 to celebrate the 35th anniversary or the RCAF and the “Golden” (50th) anniversary of Canadian flight which began with the Silver Dart in 1909.

Initially the six-plane team of Canadair Sabres was envisioned as performing for only one year but the Golden Hawks were so popular after their single 63-show season that the team was expanded. Another Sabre was added to the team, allowing for a five-aircraft main formation with two solo jets. They continued performing for three more seasons until 1963 when they were disbanded for financial reasons, on February 7,1964, having flown a total of 317 shows.

One of the Golden Hawks’ signature stunts was a low-level flyby of the crowd with their canopies open, waving at the spectators. The Golden Hawks pioneered the bomb burst maneuver and the use of two solo pilots working together as part of the aerial demonstration which virtually every military team since has adopted in various ways.

Dan Dempsey, former VFC member now with Cathay Pacific will fly Hawk One into CYYJ. More information can be found at http://blog.hawkone.ca/?tag=dan-dempsey

Hawk One By: LCol (Ret’d) Dan Dempsey, author, pilot and team historian and Maj (Ret’d) Mary Lee, team public affairs officer.

n 2009, Canadians will bear witness to an historic event as one of the most famous aircraft to have served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) tours Canada as the mainstay of the Centennial Heritage Flight celebrating 100 years of powered flight in Canada.

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The project is hailed as Hawk One and was conceptualized during a simple conversation among friends, a visionary group of aviators from both the military and civilian aviation communities. From an inspiration to salute Canada’s aviation heritage was born the nucleus of a team who are restoring and will soon fly a Canadair F-86 Sabre. Their vision was to showcase to

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Canadians a tangible platform that will help commemorate Canada’s 100th anniversary of powered flight. And what better way to achieve this purpose than the rebirth of a legendary aircraft that served Canada exceptionally well during the fledgling years of jet aviation. Thanks to Vintage Wings of Canada and the Canadian Forces, in partnership with generous corporate sponsorship, that vision will become a reality.

The F-86 Sabre that will form the backbone of the Centennial Heritage Flight is a Canadair Sabre 5 that originally bore the RCAF serial number 23314.

Manufactured in 1954, it was the 1,104th Sabre to come off the Canadair assembly line. It has been retrofitted with wings equipped with leading edge slats and an Orenda 14 engine, thus bearing all the resemblance of a Sabre 6. Purchased by Vintage Wings in October 2007, it is being refurbished in the colours of the RCAF’s most famous aerobatic team, the Golden Hawks, which thrilled millions of Canadians coast-to-coast from 1959 to 1963.

Hence the moniker, “Hawk One.”

Hawk One cont’d on p 9

How to almost be an Astronaut Dr. Geoff Steeves gives an inside look at the 2008/09 Canadian Astronaut Recruitment Campaign.

50 minute Power point presentation Q & A period to follow Friday, September 11th at the Club 7:00 PM Refreshments provided

Contact Dispatch (250 656.2833) to sign up for this interesting and informative evening.

Geoff Steeves - BSc, Physics, PhD, Condensed Matter Physics.

DR. STEEVES JOINED VFC IN 2005, RECEIVING HIS PPL AND THEN CPL IN 2008.

HE IS CURRENTLY PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA.

The top 16 out of 5,351candidates

Hawk One cont’d from p 8 Among the 1,815 Sabres built under license by Canadair, 23314 had a long and varied history with the RCAF. It served with the RCAF’s No.1 Air Division in Europe with 441 Fighter Squadron in Marville, France and following its repatriation saw service at RCAF Stations Uplands (Ottawa) and Trenton, Ontario as well as Chatham, New Brunswick, birthplace of the Golden Hawks. Of significant coincidence, seven former Golden Hawk pilots (Flight Lieutenant’s Ed Rozdeba, B.R. Campbell, George

Miller, Ed McKeogh, Al Young, Dave Barker and C.B. Lang), all flew the aircraft at some stage during their RCAF careers, the latter four while the aircraft was actually assigned to the Golden Hawks in Trenton as a training aircraft during the height of the team’s popularity. This same aircraft was also the F-86 flown by F/L Terry Elphick in 1967 as a member of the Sabre Transition Unit’s (STU) Centennial Sabre Team that toured Canada.

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The original destination of Port McNeill had to be scrubbed as winds of 20+ knots blew down

PFW approaches Kamloops

C A N A D A D AY F LY O U T

Johnstone Strait, affecting every airport on the east side of Vancouver Island. The farther north, the stronger the winds and the narrow runway at CAT5 was definitely not a good idea to tackle in a strong crosswind. The goal was now Princeton and the Club's planes, ZMH and PFW aircraft made the flight with ZMH returning to YYJ after going as far as CYDC. PFW went on.....

PFW followed the VFR route over Hope to Princeton and then on to Penticton, afterwards taking a Victor airway to Kamloops. Returning through Howe Sound, PFW had to make a slight detour to Sechelt when Vancouver Terminal was too busy for any more VFR traffic.“Long day but wonderful, wonderful flying.�

The flyouters had lunch at McDonalds

2 0 0 9 10

to Princeto n

Princeton, elevation 2298'

e b y ond d n a

Two views of the spectacular VFR route to Princeton

ZMH at 4500' on the home stretch to YYJ

These beautiful and interesting photos are only a few of the large number sent to the Pat by Kate and Glenn, former VFC members. Somehow, their trips seem to end up at aviation museums (gosh!) and a May train journey back east to visit relatives resulted in a side excursion to Guelph, Ontario. It was a tough job selecting just seven of the photos to represent an exciting day spent at the museum - ed.

After watching this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LvE6plMwa8), Kate and Glenn just had to go to the home of the Tiger Boys! Who wouldn’t?

The Tiger Boys’ Aeroplane Works & Flying Museum is a “hobby out of control” overseen by partners Tom and Bob. For the past thirty-five years, The Tiger Boys have tracked down the remains of rare old airplanes in barns, fields, forests, and from the bottom of northern lakes, then rebuilt these wrecks to better-than-new condition. While many antique aeroplanes are on display in museums, few will ever take to the skies again. But The Tiger Boys’ prime mandate is to “Keep Them Flying” - so all of their aircraft are restored to full airworthy status. Their website is http://www.tigerboys.com/

Flying the Fleet Finch

As of late 2006, The Tiger Boys have eight antique aircraft in flying condition: 1935 40hp Taylor E-2 Cub CF-ANT (the first Cub in Canada) 1937 Thruxton Jackaroo C-FPHZ (4-seat Tiger Moth - one of only two still flying!)

1940 WW2 FCAF Fleet Finch Biplane Trainer CF-GER Says Kate, “The airpark is a wonderful place with two runways. A flight school operates at the near end. The Tiger Boys have their ‘shangri-la’ at the back of the airport.”

Glenn has the last word: “Tom, the patriarch of the Tiger Boys hangar, sits just inside the door in a large overstuffed chair, one leg usually slung across an arm rest and most times with a phone glued to his ear while he assures some anxious aircraft restorer, “Sure, I got two of those, I’ll send one of them right off!”

Tom admits he never married and it’s easy to see why. Most women would not put up with a guy who would rather spend his life in a hangar full of airplane parts than attend dinner parties. And what a hangar! I’ve had a love of airplanes, both models and prototype, all my life but have never seen a more comprehensive collection in one place. Tom tells of seeing a model of a Fleet when he was a kid that he desperately yearned for.

He was denied that pleasure until just recently when a friend brought it to him out of the blue. There’s no denying, Tom’s first and only love is airplanes. He must have a million stories. I hope he writes a book.

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Achievements First Solo Skye McEwan Timothy Cooper Ian Carlson Mike Poirier James Finlay Jozsef Hamari Richard Backlund Mike Oliver Azwin Lam Kurtis Rumenovich Michael Lozupone Brian Hwang Steven Tung Julie Williams Ian Gummeson Kenneth Wodlinger Graeme Stockdill Justin Munkholm Abishek Beri Jared Reid Kennedy Saville PPL Flight Test Grant Diamond Ian Carlson Michael Poirier Kevin Stokes May Loo Sean Tucknott Tomohisa Sudo Kevin Melling Charlotte Dawe Brendan O'Hare PPL Written Test Ian Carlson Michael Poirier

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James Finlay Jozsef Hamari Richard Backlund Azwin Lam Brian Hwang Steven Tung Tanner Macneil Anayas Rai Tomohisa Sudo Michael Pinner CPL Flight Test Martin Pepper CPL Written Test Steven Long Martin Pepper Rory Nield Private Pilot License Brendan O'Hare Sean Tucknott Multi IFR Rating Tristan Nano Simon Dennis IFR Renewal Jeff Lightheart CAT4 Written Brian Burger Jessica McLaggan Liesah Guenther INRAT Written Nolan Labach DFTE Jason Stewart

Welcome New Members!

Brenden McTeer Kris Malinosky Kevin Howley Bill Michael Krzysztof Rybak William Santos Trina Humphrey Victor Weston Leonard Bland Nate Faust Brian Bailey Jessica Hargrove Ed Bauer Shannon Lanning Andrew Kott Kurtis Rumenovich Gary McCoey Justin Beaumont Kennedy Saville Johnathan Sullivan Grant Steinberg

Mario Guevremont Celaine Sison Mike Kobierski John Rykert Greg Lee Ramona Reynolds Joey Martin Nicholas Baingo Steven Branyik Junya Katayama Vincent Vialaret Todd Hornsby Kyle Brown Glenn Logan Diane Falconer Amelie Leduc Doug Blackie Wayne Leung Raffaele Salvino Evan Wang Jessica Hohner Paul Scutt Kate Rosk Jessica Rodger

adet Dun C r ki i A n

g

The ceremonial dunking took place just as the Emperor and Empress of Japan came to YYJ before departing for home. VFC instructor Yasuhiro Koide took the opportunity to see Their Imperial Majesties, rather than chuck a bucket of water on his students. You can chuck water any time, but it's not often you get to see the Emperor so close up, something that would be difficult to do in Japan.

'Communal' dunking of the power scholarship cadets following completion of their first solos; (most of them after 6 to 8 hours of dual training as they are all glider pilots as well).

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Graeme Stockdill - Mike Chow

Ian Gummeson - Tristan Nano

Jared Reid - Ian Watt

First Solos

Justin Munkholm - Tim Parfitt

as of July 20 • 09

Azwin Lam - Ian Watt

Tim Cooper - Brad Fraser

James Findlay - Tristan Nano Brian Hwang - Jessica McLaggan

Ian Carlson - Simon Dennis

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Ken Wodlinger - Simon Dennis

Jozsef Hamari - Tristan Nano

Kurtis Rumenovich - Mike Chow

Julie Williams - Yasuhiro Koide

Mike Lozupone - Trevor Mann

First Solos as of July 20 • 09

Mike Poirier - Yasuhiro Koide

Skye McEwan - Yasuhiro Koide

Mike Oliver - Tristan Nano

Richard Backlund - Ian Watt

Steven Tung - Dave Kupchenko

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Fr om S ea t o S ea, ea Bit by Bit any VFC members today are probably unaware of the historic connection that the club shared with Canada’s Navalair that began back in the early 50s when VC922 squadron shared the club’s hangar and every day activities that included flying training, maintenance and most important - social functions, when the Navalair pilots-to-be earned their wings with VFC during their stay at Royal Roads Military College!

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Sharing the hangar with Navalair meant seeing a variety of aircraft on the flightline with the Club’s planes Harvards and C-45s with regular visiting TBM Avengers /CS2F Trackers [now Firecats ] and the occasional DC3!

Navalair is again in the news this summer with a historic flight being made across Canada in a WW1 Nieuport replica. The tiny aircraft is owned and operated by a former Navalair pilot, Allan Snowie, now retired from his second career as an Air Canada pilot. The flight will terminate in Shearwater, NS, a one-time Navalair base.

The purpose of the flight is to celebrate the centenary of aviation in Canada and to draw attention to Canada’s association with the Nieuport in WW1 and in particular to one of its heroic pilots. The whole story to date can be seen online at www.404eaa.org/

been more cognizant of meteorological limits on this flight effort.

“My Nieuport has a cruise speed of 60 KIAS and a fuel range of 4 hours. After decades of flying in the high flight levels, I’m looking forward to actually seeing Canada from coast to coast from only a few thousand feet, and in an open cockpit aeroplane to boot!

Test Flight “Despite relatively high winds this past Friday (June 12), Abbey, my Nieuport XI replica dressed in Royal Naval Air Service livery, got off to a good start on the Cross-Canada Centennial flight. A hop out of Bellingham in Washington State, took 43 minutes to reach the Victoria International Airport at Sidney in British Columbia.

“Next, that same day it was onward to Nanaimo and the Vancouver Island Military Museum; last flight of the day was further up island at Canadian Forces Base Comox. Rob Roy of the Museum (www.comoxairforcemuseum.ca) had arranged for a military permit to land and the Royal Canadian Air Cadet Gliding School provided hangar space for the night.

“The flight home to Bellingham the next day was, in a word, delightful. Crossed Active Pass just as the B.C. eastbound and westbound ferries were passing each other below. What a view! Victoria Air Traffic Control Centre provided radar flight following. The controllers were intrigued by the mere 60 knot groundspeed. Happily answered their questions about the 7/8th scale aircraft with the 9/8th scale pilot.

Trailered

The Journey of Allan Snowie, in his own words: “This year marks the 100th anniversary of flight in Canada and 2010 will be the Centennial of the Royal Canadian Navy. In order to promote my forthcoming book on Canadians in the Royal Naval Air Service 1914-1918, yours truly is putting together a flight across the country in a Nieuport replica aircraft. After thirty-some years of viewing Canada from above 30,000’, (33 years with Air Canada - formerly Trans-Canada Air Lines), I have long desired to see the land from below 3,000’.

Although a former all-weather pilot, I really should have

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“The flight out of Comox went well but the wee bird did not operate as efficiently as I had wished at 7,500’. She runs too cold on the oil temp and burns an extra gallon an hour which considerably shortens the range. That fact, combined with, at the moment, unreliable low altitude weather, has led to the decision to trailer the machine via the southern route through the Rockies by Crow’s Nest Pass. We’ll remount the wings and carry on from Lethbridge, Alberta. The good news is that it gives us an opportunity to type-trial the new trailer for the return from Nova Scotia while still close to home.

It now looks like a dawn driving departure on Thursday, June 18th.”

From Sea to Sea cont’d on p 17

From Sea to Sea cont’d from p 16 continued, they had received an invitation to display the Nieuport at Oskosh as part of the Canadian Centennial Celebration and decided to act on that suggestion- Ed.) Continuing After Oshkosh “However, it means that the wee bird has to be trailered directly to Wisconsin in order to meet the dates of the ‘World’s Greatest Aviation Exposition’, July 27 to Aug 02. www.airventure.org/

(Abbey, the little Nieuport, made flights from Lethbridge to High River and on to Wetaskiwin, plagued by bad weather and high winds. A previous commitment overseas took John and Cynthia Snowie away for two weeks. Before the flight could be

“Following the Air Venture we will fly/drive to Sault Ste Marie and continue the Canadian route eastbound to Shearwater.

Once underway we will publish another ‘Tentative’ schedule.

My thanks and gratitude to everyone who has been of so much assistance.

VFC Smile Cards The Victoria Flying Club is very excited to partner with Thrifty Foods in their successful

Smile Card Program.

Pick up your Smile Card today and 5% of all your Thriftys grocery purchases will go towards creating scholarships and awards for VFC members.

To date, we have been able to create three new bursaries!

Pick up cards for your family and friends too.

This is a great opportunity for VFC members.

We ! ort than p p u s k you for your

SMILE CARD TOTAL TO DATE

$7780

L indair Ser vices Ltd Specializing in Cessna, Piper, Beaver float and wheel equipped aircraft.

A high quality Service Department that is ready to complete any inspection or repair requirement you may have.

5180 Airport Road South, Richmomd, BC Tel: 1-800-663-5829 Fax: 1-800-667-5643

www.lindairservices.com 17

Port Alberni Fly-In, 2009 ……………………the Martian Adventure May 31st was a great day in more ways than one! Not only was the weather superb but many Club members got another look at their favourite Martians - the Martin-Mars water bombers. With the fate of the giant planes up in the air (no pun Intended) for some time, the Alberni Flying Club's annual fly-in to tour the Mars was suspended until it was certain they would stay in BC.

Beautiful Beech 1800 at CBS8

The fly-in was usually held early in May and often Mother Nature failed to cooperate, but this year she came through with a hot, clear day for this interesting and fun event.

The ramp is lined with aircraft

The magnificent Mars in its element The Philippine Mars in refit

still some snow on the mountains en route Don Devenney

Colin Williamson Three intrepid VFC members try the Mars' left seat

Ted Krasowski

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a perfect shot of CBS8 from downwind for 12

A

More on the M e l t t ar Li

s

The Martin Mars, FLYL in flight near Chilliwack, Victoria Day weekend

Here's a Mars you may not have seen before. I saw it right here in Victoria just a few weeks ago. Yes, it's the Hawaii Mars and it will be flying again on August 15-16 at Victoria's largest little airshow (see poster page 12).

This beautiful model of LYL was built by Wayne Powell.

It weighs only eight pounds and has a 10' wingspan. Its four little electric motors take it off perfectly from water, but it needs a little help getting airborne from grass. No problem landing, though.

Wouldn’t you rather be flying?

A

ITH A W OM RO

Open 8am 4pm daily

VIEW…AND AIR PLA NE ST OO !

in the Victoria Flying Club

Tax and financial planning • Rapid refunds (electronic filing) • Personal, corporate and estate tax

OWNER Evelyn J. Andrews-Greene, CA VFC Sustaining Member since 1983

250

386.4466

Join us for breakfast or lunch…inside & patio seating 101-1852 Canso Rd

250.655.9395

#202-31 Bastion Square Victoria BC V8W 1J1

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Canada Day at YYJ I was standing on the ramp in front of the Club on July 1st when a tremendous roar of engines caught my attention. One after another, two very heavy aircraft climbed slowly off 02 and disappeared into the northwest. I had no idea what they were, but Tim Martin was also watching and he knew! -Ed.

Planespotter Tim says: In the 1980s, Conair, who are based at Abbotsford, bought a fleet of surplus Grumman Trackers from the Canadian Armed Forces for conversion to the "Firecat" retardant bomber. The Tracker was a submarine and surface vessel attacker which had folding wings and could be launched from an aircraft carrier. Hence the small tailwheel which came into contact with the carrier deck when the catapult strop was attached. Armament included munitions housed in a bomb bay and this is where Conair install a retardant tank as part of the conversion. The tank gets filled up with liquid retardant at the bomber base on the west side of CYYJ when Firecats are called upon to fight a forest fire in southern Vancouver Island, as happened on Canada Day.

C FKVB at Abbotsford, July 1992, wrapped up with wings folded. (Tim Martin photo)

C GYQI at Gimli, June 1995 (Tim Martin photo)

A Conair Firecat caught here while on detachment in Gimli, Manitoba.

This was a season when the fire risk was low in BC and extreme in the boreal forest belt, so surplus equipment could be released to where it was needed more.

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A Grumman Tracker from VU-33 folds its wings at CFB Moosejaw, 1982. (Photo from the internet)

Tired of flying by yourself?

Try the Ride Along feature on our booking system Next time you want some company on a flight that you are booking use VFC’s Ride Along feature to invite someone to join you. Simply check the Ride Along box under the ‘Additional Information’ section when you are making your booking as shown to the left. Your booking will appear in green as shown in the second screen and you can contact the pilot or VFC to join the flight.

If you would like the original digital file of any of the photos appearing in the Pat, just email the editor: patricianeditor@shaw.ca

Call 250-656-2833 for details.

He who laughs last...

Student Pilot: 'I'm lost; I'm over a big lake and heading toward the big "E".

Controller: 'Make several 90 degree turns so I can identify you on radar.' (short pause)...

Controller: 'Okay then. That big lake is the Atlantic Ocean. Suggest you turn to the big "W" immediately.'

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P R I VAT E P I L O T G r o u n d s c h o o l Classes held Monday and Wednesday, 1900-2200

August

Sept

Oct

DATE

TOPIC

INSTRUCTOR

05

Radio and Electronic Theory

Tristan Nano

10

Review (Tower Tour/Written Seminar)

John MacConnachie

12

Review

Brad Fraser

17

Theory of Flight & Licensing Requirements

Yasuhiro Koide

19

Aerodynamics

Yasuhiro Koide

24

Airframes and Engines

Mike Chow

26

Systems & Flight Instruments

Mike Chow

31

CARS

Yasuhiro Koide

02

CARS

Yasuhiro Koide

09

Meteorology

Simon Dennis

14

Meteorology

Simon Dennis

16

Meteorology

Simon Dennis

21

Meteorology

Simon Dennis

23

Meteorology

Simon Dennis

28

Human Factors & PDM

Brad Fraser

30

Flight Operations

Trevor Mann

05

Flight Operations

Trevor Mann

07

Navigation

Jeff Lightheart

14

Navigation

Jeff Lightheart

19

Navigation

Jeff Lightheart

21

Radio and Electronic Theory

Tristan Nano

26

Review (Tower Tour/Written Seminar)

John MacConnachie

28

Review

Brad Fraser

Note: No Ground School on Stat Holidays

He who laughs last...

Stories and photographs for the Patrician Articles, letters and anecdotes New Editor 22

Pilot: 'Approach, Acme Flt 202, with you at 12,000' and 40 DME.' Approach: 'Acme 202, cross 30 DME at and maintain 8000'.'

Pilot: 'Approach, 202's unable that descent rate.'

Approach: 'What's the matter 202? Don't you have speed brakes?'

Pilot: 'Yup. But they're for my mistakes. Not yours.'

SUN FUN TOURS present the

RENO AIR RACES and

EVERGREEN AVIATION & SPACE MUSEUM Sept 15-22, 2009 8 Days Deluxe Motorcoach Transportation 7 Nights Accommodation -

3 Nites Shilo Inn, Salem, OR, includes breakfast 4 Nites Circus Circus Hotel, Reno, NV

Full Day at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum Home of the famous Spruce Goose + over 50 other planes Separate Space Museum with Titan Rocket and more - Includes admission to BOTH MUSEUMS & IMAX Theatre

Shuttle Service to the Races Side Trip to Lake Tahoe and/or Virginia City Area Farewell Wine & Cheese Party Originates in Kamloops* with pick-ups at Merritt, Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford *special motel rates including free car parking available in Kamloops & Abbotsford

All for

$679 (pp-dbl, no taxes)

($669 trpl. • $1009 single) (Note: Preliminary pricing subject to change in spring 2009) (based on 50 passengers - spouses welcome - cancellation & medical ins. available)

To secure YOUR seat, send a refundable $50 deposit by June 1st to

SUN FUN TOURS #101- 929 Laval Crescent, Kamloops, BC V2C 5P4

1-877-786-3860

for info contact tour directors

JOHN & BERNICE SWALLOW 1-250-260-1836

• banjos@shaw.ca 23

Courtenay Airpark

by A. LaRonne Short final, a perfect approach, 40 degrees of flap, 40 KIAS, just coming over the numbers for a gentle touchdown.

What the @#$! Nothing in front of me but grass and parked aeroplanes. Suddenly the runway is 40 degrees to my left. Wind shear! The pilot’s enemy! Right at the button of 13! I’m nearly on the ground. I give a burst of throttle and crank the 172 back over the asphalt. Cocked at an awkward angle, it doesn’t have enough speed to fly and falls heavily onto the runway from a foot or two. Oh, no! A bounce! – quick, flaps up, carb heat cold and a go-around for another try.

All the locals knew about the wind shear, but I didn’t and thus was totally unprepared – not to mention embarrassed by the clumsy (first) landing.

Local knowledge is something to collect and store away for future use. I called the CAH3

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flight centre the next day to ask about the wind shear. Oh, yes, it was very real and always present, the wind is usually 6 to 10 knots, straight down 13 and the shear goes up to about 30’ AGL. Looking at the topography, it is easy to see how it forms; the prevailing wind from the south east, blows down the runway and down the estuary adjacent to the airstrip. The estuary takes a right-angle curve past the threshold of 13 and forms a little bay; the wind funneling through the curve assisted by the riverbank trees, creates a small area of high wind shear to the left of the numbers. If you know about the trouble spot, it’s easy to avoid – just come in over top of it. Simple!

It’s a piece of cake when you know what to expect. Oh, yes, and there’s a great little café there too, where you can sit, eat and watch the locals landing perfectly – and the newcomers doing what I did.