THE PATRICIAN OCTOBER 2014
The Victoria Flying Club ~ Aviation Excellence Since 1946
VFC Launches New Website Details on page 3
GROUNDSCHOOL SCHEDULES | CLUB NEWS | FIRST SOLOS | PHOTO CONTEST
THE PATRICIAN OCTOBER 2014
Monthly Newsletter of The Victoria Flying Club - Aviation Excellence Since 1946 In This Issue
“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.�
3 VFC Launches New Website 7 1913: The First Fatal Aviation Accident in Canada - Eleanor Eastick
(Victoria Flying Club Incorporation Bylaws, 1946) Board of Directors President...................................Ramona Reynolds Vice President....................................Firat Ataman Secretary......................................Colin Williamson Treasurer.............................................Rob Shemilt Directors............................................. Steve Demy Howard Peng Vernon Fischer Rolf Hopkinson General Manager.................................Gerry Mants Chief Flying Instructor....................Graham Palmer
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BC Airport Challenge Update
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Women in Aviation Updates
1852 Canso Road Sidney, BC V8L 5V5
www.flyvfc.com info@flyvfc.com Phone: 250-656-2833 Fax: 250-655-0910 The Patrician accepts unsolicited submissions. Editor: Christie Hall thepatrician@shaw.ca Midnight Design & Communication info@midnightdesign.ca
October 2014
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
VFC News
Submission Request
Email: thepatrician@shaw.ca Photos, stories, letters, articles, adventures, classified ads all accepted.
Make your next move! Commercial Groundschool Starts This Month. We’ll save you a seat! 250-656-2833
Aviation Excellence Since 1946
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October 2014
VFC News
VFC Launches New Website The Victoria Flying Club is pleased to announce the launch of our new website, after a year of design discussions, content gathering, and technical upgrades. Lead by VFC President Ramona Reynolds, a team of staff, members, and outside contractors have collaborated on the project which presents the Club in a professional and polished manner.
With sections on learning to fly, flight planning, flight safety, booking flights, a members area, charter flight information, news and events, and general club information, the new VFC website will have a broad appeal and will be a hub for pilots in the Victoria area.
New websites are never without their challenges, and this one still has a few. The team is The new site should appeal to working to create an experience students looking for profession- that is seamless and easy to al training that will help launch navigate, with all the right infortheir career in aviation, and also mation in all the right places. recreational pilots looking for a Over the next few weeks, a place to train and hang their hat. number of tweaks and additions October 2014
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will take place, and we will keep you posted as those changes roll out. Follow VFC on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest. In the meantime, if you are looking to spend some time exploring the new site, here are a few suggested places to start: • Gettin’ There articles in the Flight Planning section • History page under the About section • Click on News & Events to check out the Calendar
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VFC News
Take the first step at VFC! Get started for under $100
Book your Discovery Flight now! 250-656-2833
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October 2014
COPA Quadrant
Submitted by: Eleanor Eastick
For more information on COPA Flight 6:copaflight6@gmail.com For flyout information: flyoutbug@gmail.com The September meeting, held the day after Labour Day was well attended. The topic presented by Vern Little was general aviation electrical systems. He is an expert; the talk was most informative, illustrated with simple diagrams (for dummies like me). Afterwards everyone joined in a lively discussion; who amongst us hasn’t had problems with aircraft electricals! Next meeting of COPA is at the Catalina, Tuesday, October 7th. Come early if you want to order dinner; meeting starts at 7 PM. The topic for discussion will be an introduction to forma-
tion flying. Anyone interested is welcome to attend. For more information, contact copaflight6@gmail.com. ------------------------------------------Just a quick reminder regarding the Chilliwack/Rowena’s flyout scheduled for October 4: Rowena’s, which used to be called Pretty’s, is a 2100 ft gravel strip. It is located near Harrison Hot Springs and close to the Sandpiper Colf Course. Because Rowena’s is an unregistered aerodrome, VFC aircraft are not permitted to land there (see VFC Member Rules and Regulations). But there will be plenty of fun (and pie!) to be had in Chilliwack, so please sign up and go along for the first part of the day!
2014 Flyout Schedule Oct 4th -
Chilliwack /
Rowena`s
Nov 11th - Boundary Bay /
Delta Air Park
Dec 20th - Abbotsford A $20/hr rental discount on VFC aircraft will remain in effect during these days, and a new fuel discount (for owners) is being implemented for any VFC member participating in these flyouts. A big thank you from all of us at VFC to the VFC and COPA members who spend considerable time organizing COPA meetings and Fly-Out Bug events. This is what makes general aviation great. Please know that your efforts are appreciated!
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 $14,000 from
the Thrifty Foods Smile Card program. These funds have been appreciated by all members of the club. Thank-you Thrifty Foods!
October 2014
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Achievements
VFC MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS New Members Hugh Stevenson Richard Beekman Eduardo Feo Trevore Russell Miguel Villa Pava David Villa Pava Martin Truchon Mike Turner Stephen Ngara Duncan Cochrane Simon Charlebois Rianna Clark Joshua Goodeve David Wong Fancy Ching Eli Layfield
First Solos Harrison Fletcher Crystal Sommer Greg Dowell Matt Wate Roy Graham Brian Bachor PPL Flight Test Doug Braden PPL Written Exam Isabelle Weiss David Lens Eric Leocadio
CPL Flight Test Brad Townsend CPL Written Exam Walker Redshaw Aaron Neyrinck Alethia Forsberg Multi-IFR Rating Aaron Neyrinck INRAT Walker Redshaw ATC Simon Dennis Mike Chow
PPL Licence Isabelle Weiss
711 A Broughton Street
(street level, by Victoria Public Library)
Victoria BC V8W 1E2
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October 2014
Feature Article
1913:The First Fatal Aviation Accident in Canada By: Eleanor Eastick
It had been fewer than ten years since the first flight by the Wright Brothers (December, 1903) and flying machines were still just a novelty to be seen at fairs. It was at such an event that the first Canadian aviation fatality took place. And it was right here in Victoria, Wednesday August 6, 1913, one hundred and one years ago. I got a first-hand account of it from an eye witness! ************************* October 2014
Way back in the 1960s, I worked for a well-known local businessman as his office assistant, general factotum, amanuensis or (shudder) Girl Friday as they said then. I typed letters, answered the phone, ran errands and drove him around town on appointments. One summer’s day, as we drove along Wharf Street towards Store Street, he gestured towards Pandora Avenue, and remarked that a plane had crashed on a rooftop there, on one of the old brick buildings. He added that it had happened 7
in 1913 and he had actually witnessed the crash, along with thousands of others gathered on the streets from Vancouver and Yates to the Inner Harbour. It was Carnival Week in Victoria; a time to show off a busy and growing city and all the modern inventions heralding an exciting future. Aside from a parade of automobiles and floats, there was to be a flying exhibition of balloons, a hydroplane piloted by American John Bryant and a land plane www.flyvfc.com
Feature Article flown by his bride of a few weeks, Alys McKey. The Bryants were on a tour of the Pacific Northwest when they were asked to come to Victoria to give a few demonstration flights; five in the hydroplane and three in the landplane. On August 5th, McKey, the first woman to fly in Canada soared above the city for about 10 minutes, taking off and landing at the Willows racetrack. She reached an altitude of 200 feet, well below the 3,400 feet she had attained at events in the United States. She vowed that she would set a new “elevation” record while in Victoria. Alas, how the circumstances altered that noble goal! Bryant had already made two successful flights on the 5th. On the 6th, despite a strong wind, he took off from the wa-
ters of Cadboro Bay but after five minutes in the air, he had made no progress against the wind! He landed and tried again, finally succeeding in becoming airborne and landing 20 minutes later with a great splash in the Inner Harbour. Just after 5 PM, he took off again for his fourth of the five promised flights, flying over City Hall and other downtown areas. It was to be his last flight. Aeroplanes were flimsy craft in those days, and in front of thousands of people, the strong, gusty winds got the better of machine and pilot. My boss, a lad of 13 at the time watched in horror as the plane, with Bryant struggling for control suddenly fell onto a rooftop. Stalled, I suppose. John Bryant was killed instantly.
$1,000, for five demonstration flights, but $400 was forfeited because he had only made three of the promised flights! Of the $600 payout, half the money was used to repair the roof of the building on which the unfortunate man had crashed, leaving only $300 for his widow. Despite this act of meanness, the first and only carnival ended up $11,000 in the red, a huge sum in those days. Alys McKey Bryant went on as an aviator, setting many records. She trained pilots during WW I and in her sixties during World War II, she was hired to work for TWA. She died September 6, 1954 at the age of 74.
Now here’s the payoff. The carnival had agreed to give Bryant
VFC CHARTER SERVICE
BE THERE IN MINUTES!
Fly between Victoria and destinations on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. Charter an aircraft and take up to 3 people. (restrictions apply)
For more information or to book a flight Email: tedk@flyvfc.com Call: 1-250-474-0213 Aviation Excellence Since 1946
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October 2014
Feature Article
BC CHALLENGE - Your 2014 Adventure
Club Aircraft 1 Bart-Jan C (31) 2 Morgan S (20) 3 Robin H (17) 4 Doug N (14) 5 Lynn F (13) 6 Walker R (13) 7 Brad T (12) 8 Keegan A (12) 9 Alethia F (11) 10 Jessica R (10) 11 Aaron N (9) 12 Andrew H (9) 13 Colin W (9) 14 Kyle H (9) 15 Silvia Z (9) 16 Adan T (8) 17 Andrew K (8) 18 Brett W (7) 19 Don D (7) 20 Yaaseen M (6) October 2014
21 Schuyler C (5) 22 Bruce R (4) 23 Joey M (4) 24 Kevin S (4) 25 Matt M (4) 26 Morgan B (4) 27 Stephanie B (3) 28 Aaron C (2) 29 Ben H (2) 30 Bonnie T (2) 31 Courtlandt R (2) 32 David V (2) 33 Howard P (2) 34 Jessica J (2) 35 Lanaya D (2) 36 Ramona R (2) 37 Tim H (2) 38 Tom V (2)
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Owner Aircraft 1 John L (70) 2 Norman Y (61) 3 Dave G (44) 4 Norm D (36) 5 Ken C (29) 6 Ken T (16) 7 Glenn L (15) 8 Firat A (4) 9 Jeremy P (3) Only three months left and not many airports left un-visited! Well done, VFC pilots! You can find the updated map and current standings at: http://www.olantra.com/vfc/
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Feature Article Important BC Airport Challenge Note:
August Winners!
John Litherland posted the following photo and explanation to the VFC Facebook Group page.
Norm Dove - Back Pack Emergency Kit donated by the Bella Coola Airport
“I had plans to land at CBQ8, Woodcock, last weekend, (One of the red pins) but decided against it when I saw trees growing up through cracks on the runway.”
BJ Caron - Starbucks Gift Basket and $20 gift card donated by Starbucks at Westside Village
Needless to say, we have taken CBQ8 off the list for this year’s challenge. Our thanks to John for the heads up and the great photo!
One free two-hour hypnotherapy session (valued at $180) generously donated by Mind’s Eye Hypnotherapy
Keep on flying! Every airport visited is a chance for that month’s participation prize - and they are all GREAT prizes! If you don’t fly, you can’t win!
September Partipation Prizes:
One 1.5 inch antique copper “Guided” compass pendant with wings, pearl & swarovski crystal, with 36 inch vintage copper chain (silver shown here) made by Sweet Memories Art
October Participation Prizes: “Pleased” pendant made by Sweet Memories Art together with a $25 Gift Certificate to Safra Day Spa donated by Sweet Memory Art
$40.00 Japanese Village gift certificate donated by the law firm of Frey & Company
Aviation Excellence Since 1946
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October 2014
VFC News
Updates From Women in Aviation
Looking for VFC Alumni
Welcome to Fall and our new Women In Aviation Leadership Series. This series of workshops is aimed at developing and flexing our leadership muscles and includes sessions on : decisionmaking, commitment, career planning, mentorship and networking.
We are still looking for photos of our successful (and good looking!) alumni to share with prospective student pilots. If you completed any of your training, or worked as an instructor, at VFC and you are presently working in the aviation industry (in a plane or on the ground) then we really want to hear from you! We couldn’t be any prouder of your achievements and we would love to share that pride with our new visitors and students!
The series will include sessions from a life and business coach, the Aviation Leadership Foundation, military and commercial career pilots, and others. Everyone is welcome. Cost for each session will be $5. Saturday, October 4, 2014 (1300 - 1500): The Coach Approach to Leadership Tracey Burns from Tracey Burns Executive Coaching for Life, Leadership & Business
So don’t be shy! Take a smiley photo of you living the dream, and email it to: thepatrician@shaw.ca
Saturday, November 8, 2014 (1300 – 1500): Hallmarks of Strategic Leadership of 21st Century The Aviation Leadership Foundation
October 2014
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First Solos
Crystal Sommer Instructor: Sean Tyrell
Greg Dowell Instructor: Sean Tyrell
Harrison Fletcher Instructor: Sean Brenton
Matthew Wate Instructor: Brett Stevens
Roy Graham Instructor: Colin Brown
Brian Bachon Instructor: Brady Tucker
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October 2014
Flight Training
PRIVATE PILOT GROUNDSCHOOL Monday and Wednesday 1900-2200 Victoria Flying Club Classroom
DATE
TOPIC INSTRUCTOR
Oct 01 Flight Operations Colin
06
Navigation
Brendan
08
Navigation
Brendan
15
Navigation
Brendan
20
ATC/Fly Out
Jason G.
22 Review Colin
To register for Groundschool, or to purchase a Groundschool Kit, please contact the Victoria Flying Club at info@flyvfc.com or 250-656-2833.
October 2014
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Mystery Aircraft
MYSTERY AIRCRAFT Can you identify the aircraft shown here? Email: thepatrician@shaw.ca
August Mystery Identified:
This is a de Havilland DH-104 “Dove” which produced shortly after the end of World War 2 and continued in production for some time. A “stretched” version was the DH-114 “Heron” with four engines. Both aircraft used de Havilland Gipsy Queen engines. Jim Fretwell
Alan Johnston gets the bonus points this month for being the first to correctly identify the aircraft, along with Peter Morris, Peter Houghton, and those listed below who wrote in. Thanks all!
Greetings: The Mystery Aircraft, D-INKA, is a De Havilland Dove, operated by Luft Transport Union out of Dusseldorf, Germany. My dad was the Chief Pilot when LTU was started in the 50’s and left Swissair in Zurich to fly for them. I think he flew D-INK once in a while. Will have to check with him. He is now 94 and lives here in Sidney. His lifelong passion for aviation was passed on to me and I operate a Grumman Goose C-GYVG and an Aerostar 702P form YYJ. Cheers, Juergen Puetter
Aviation Excellence Since 1946
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From Tim:
This month is the DeHavilland Dove eight-seat transport powered by two 400 hp in-line 6-cyl engines. An innovation was the stringers were bonded to fuselage skins instead of rivets. About 500 were produced over a 20 year period from 1946.
Correctly Identified By:
The mystery plane in the September issue is the de Havilland DH 104 Dove. It was designed as a postwar short-haul airliner. The first flight was September 25, 1945 and 542 were produced from 1946 through 1967. It was a popular plane and was considered to be one of Britain’s most successful postwar civil designs. Daryl Williams Hi, The mystery aircraft pictured in the September 2014 edition of The Patrician is a de Havilland Dove. This aircraft is operated by the German airline LTU (LufttransportUnternehmen GmbH) and although few remain in flying condition, over 500 Doves were built between 1946 and 1967. Cheers, Rolf H.
October 2014
VFC Classifieds Aircraft - Accomodation - Aviation Books and Gear - Help Wanted - Miscellaneous Email the details of your FREE Ad to: thepatrician@shaw.ca
VFC’S NEXT SEAPLANE PILOT
IT COULD BE YOU! SEAPLANE DISCOVERY FLIGHTS ONLY $200 plus tax
October 2014
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