Volume 53 | Number 2 www.cahs.ca/chapters/ November 2018 Flypast Sheldon Benner, President: [email protected] Tel: (416) 923-3414

Newsletter of the CAHS Toronto Chapter A d iety ivision of Th e Canadian Aviation Historical Soc CAHS Toronto Chapter Meeting Saturday November 3, 2018, 1:00 PM CANADIAN FORCES COLLEGE 215 Yonge Blvd. at Wilson Avenue, Toronto (Lt. – Gen Guy Simonds Auditorium – Ground Floor) Speaker: Capt. Les Evans (Ret’d) Topic: Captain (Ret’d) Les Evans – My Career All aviation enthusiasts are welcome!

Photo: AWACS Aircraft Flypast V. 53 No. 2

September 29, 2018 CAHS Toronto Chapter Meeting Topic: Flying High to Promote Aviation Speaker: Jacquie Perrin Reporter: Gord McNulty

It was a pleasure to introduce Jacquie Perrin, well-known Canadian broadcaster, journalist and aviation enthusiast. A polished speaker, Jacquie started her broadcast career with CKWS Radio in Kingston, where she hosted a daily talk show. She is a graduate of York University, with a Degree in Geography, which she put to good use as the local weather reporter. Jacquie later returned to her native Toronto to join CFTO TV News. Ten she was an anchor for CTV’s AM and a reporter for CFTO News. She gained an Speaker Jacquie Perrin ACTRA Award for her interviewing skills on private radio. With the CBC, she Photo: John Bertram was a news announcer for the National News, Metro Morning and Ontario Morning. She also guest-hosted numerous CBC radio shows. In addition, Jacquie has also hosted CBC-TV programs, notably Saturday Report and CBC Newsworld.

In terms of aviation, Jacquie holds a Private Pilot’s Licence. She trained in the USA after being awarded an aerobatic scholarship. She is a longtime air show announcer, particularly for the Canadian International Air Show (CIAS). Jacquie holds membership in the Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women pilots. She has written articles about her love of aviation and has been a guest speaker on the subject. As well, Jacquie has served as an emcee for the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and the Great War Flying Museum, in addition to various other aviation events. She also volunteers for the Air Cadet League of Canada and has been involved with the organization for almost 25 years.

Noting that everyone recalls a lot of ‘firsts’ in their lives, especially in aviation, Jacquie recalled the first time she “realized that being a pilot was a real job.” She was a Grade 8 student at Gulfstream Road Public School in the Weston Rd.-Sheppard Ave. area. Te teacher asked everyone what their father did. One classmate of Jacquie’s suddenly stood up, ramrod straight, and in a loud and proud voice, he said: “My father is a test pilot.” Jacquie thought that was pretty neat. Lo and behold, the classmate’s name was Stephen Fowler, son of Robert Fowler. Bob, a member of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame, was a friend to many in the Toronto Chapter, known for his illustrious career as a test pilot at and wartime service as a B-25 Mitchell pilot among other things.

Jacquie had her first airplane ride at age 15, starting from Malton Airport in the days when airliners like the Viscount were coming and going and passengers dressed up for the occasion. Te destination was Montreal. She was both very calm and very excited. She vividly remembered the return flight at night, when Toronto was covered in brilliant, white lights. “It was a magical moment,” Jacquie recalled. “Te city looked like a fairyland.” Whenever Jacquie flies at night, on any kind of aircraft, she thinks of that special moment.

It was the precursor of many “first flights” for Jacquie, who travelled extensively after being selected Miss Dominion of Canada in 1969. She enjoyed flights all over Canada, the U.S., England, Australia, Japan, etc. She saw her first Boeing 747 at the Honolulu Airport in 1970. Her first aerobatic flight left an indelible impression as well. It happened on Sept. 3, 1981, media day at the CIAS. As a reporter for CFTO News, she was to fly with the Canadian Reds team in Pitts Specials. Her pilot, Rod Ellis --- a former Red Knight --- strapped her into the front seat. Jacquie had the goggles, helmet and scarf, but didn’t have a canopy. Tere wasn’t any radio, so hand signals were used.

2 Flypast V. 53 No. 2 Canadian International Air Show Historical Plaque on the CNE Grounds. Photo: Bernice Winson

A cameraman in a second aircraft took photos as Jacquie and Rod had a grand time flying loops and rolls. She kept looking back to Rod. Suddenly, the next thing Jacquie knew, she was “looking up at Lake Ontario.” Even with the five-point harness, she came off the seat “just a little bit.” At that moment, she knew she was going to be a pilot. Te thrill had just taken her breath away.

Just a couple of weeks later, Jacquie had her first flight with the Snowbirds.T at just reaffirmed her desire to fly. Her busy broadcast career provided more opportunities. She enjoyed rides in a CF-18, an F-16, as well as Italy’s Frecce Tricolori demonstration team, several civilian performers and a variety of other aircraft. All of these are documented in Jacquie’s passenger logbook, which can be found at Aviation World. One of the last entries involves a WestJet flight to with an all-female crew.T ere are also photos of all-female crews.

An encounter at the 1994 CFB Borden air show proved uplifting. Jacquie showed her logbook to Patti Wagstaff, well-known American pilot who was a three-time national aerobatic champion, and to Montaine Malett, one half of the French Connection aerobatic team. Tey were impressed, but then Flypast V. 53 No. 2 3 suggested it was time for Jacquie “to stop being a passenger and start being a pilot.” Jacquie recalled telling Montaine that she thought it would be expensive, but Montaine disarmed her by asking Jacquie how much her jacket cost. “It was about $300 maybe --- two flying lessons,” Jacquie said. “No more excuses. I went home, opened my closet, and it was full of flying lessons. Two weeks later, I signed up at the Brampton Flying Club.”

Tat first lesson left Jacquie looking like a drunken sailor. “Power on, power off, left, right, watch where you’re going! And I was only learning to taxi at that point…” Tings improved and Jacquie did get into the air, but learning to fly was a two-year process because of her busy career. Of course, she remembers her first solo. In preparation, she was doing circuits in a Cessna 172 when her instructor felt she was having problems with her landings. Why? “Too many people on board.” With that, the instructor left and Jacquie was alone for the first time.

In a published article, she wrote: “My heart went into my throat but as I lined up that little airplane at the end of the runway, that seductive paved highway to the sky, I could hardly wait. Te engine growled as I released the brakes and gave a full throttle. ‘Look out, world!,’ I said. Tat blue and white bird leaped into the air. On climb out, I looked to my right, expecting to see my instructor, but he wasn’t there. I was alone. Tere was a moment of panic, but then instant calm. I was suddenly enveloped in a bubble of absolute bliss and happiness. Finally, after all these years of dreaming, I was alone in the sky ---- flying on my own.” Her first solo on August 18, 1995, was “without question the most memorable, magical and euphoric moment of my life.”

Jacquie traced her involvement in the CIAS to 1985. June Kirby, who was retiring as public relations director, asked Jacquie over lunch to shadow her for a year and then take over. “She said it wouldn’t take much time and I would have a lot of fun.” Te following year, when Jacquie had taken over, was highlighted by the arrival of the Frecce Tricolori. With all of the demands of the Italian team, the public, the media, plus single-handedly writing the program and news releases, without the benefit of a computer, Jacquie found the air show dominated her life and she “nearly had a nervous breakdown.” June still laughs when Jacquie tells her about it. She survived and has now completed her 34th year as a volunteer with the show. It has been “quite a ride” for Jacquie as PR Director, heading other committees and serving on the board of directors, including vice-chair in the past few years.

Jacquie’s air show experience has produced both highlights and heartbreak, “especially of losing friends,” but her admiration for the dedication of almost 100 volunteers is steadfast. “When those performers fly over the spectators, especially the children, and they all look up and go, ‘Wow!,’ you just know that all that hard work, frustration and hours of preparation have been worth it.” Jacquie has worked with the Snowbirds since 1981 and it has been a thrill and honour to fly with the team. In 1995, the team’s 25th anniversary, she was named as an original Honorary Snowbird. “I can’t express what it means to be considered part of the Snowbird family,” she said.

In learning to fly, Jacquie learned a lot about herself. As she wrote in the article, “I had to confront my fear of failure, the parameters of my own courage while doing those first stall spins and emergency procedures with an instructor, and then on my own. I have learned the great joy of personal accomplishment when, as an adult, I reached a goal that at times seemed unreachable.” At the CBC, when an aviation-related story arose, Jacquie was often called upon to explain events or terminology --- especially after safety board hearings. Having learned the use of radios, she understood what the radio chatter was about in her “favourite movie: Top Gun.”

4 Flypast V. 53 No. 2 Jacquie also gained a huge appreciation for the early aviators of the First World War, wearing bulky suits as they climbed into the cockpits of their flimsy, tiny aircraft.T ey flew to freezing heights, often in questionable weather, in pursuit of the enemy, firing and reloading the mounted guns --- all of this while avoiding being shot down themselves. Bush flying also intrigued her, as a result of the glamour surrounding pioneer aviators with romantic names, such as “Punch” Dickens and “Wop” May. Little did she know of the challenges and risks. Jacquie pointed to the first part of Max Ward’s autobiography. He discusses flying a tiny Fox Moth in northern Canada in the bitter cold and unpredictable winter weather, without any radio or navigation aids. As Jacquie said, bush pilots survived on talent, skill, luck and dedication, combined with their love of flying, love of the North “and a gut urge to make a living up there.”

A few years ago in April, Jacquie flew north to in Max’s beautiful Turbo Otter. Sitting in the right seat, she saw first-hand the vast expanse of the North. Snow was everywhere. Lakes, trees and rocks were all covered, so there weren’t any landmarks to be found. Jacquie was “gobsmacked” that pilots could fly under such conditions. Max’s wife, Marjorie, finally told Jacquie that whenever Max flew off, she never knew if she would see him again.

Jacquie saluted the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, especially the contribution of the unsung instructors who were made to feel inferior as they weren’t on the front line. Max had served as an instructor, as did Bob Hesketh, the CFRB announcer who was a mentor of Jacquie’s in broadcasting. It wasn’t until Ted Barris published his book, Behind the Glory, that Jacquie discovered Bob had been an instructor. She paid tribute to Canada’s wartime pilots and the amazing women of the Air Transport Auxiliary, such as Canadians Marion Orr and Violet Milstead, who bravely ferried aircraft from factories to airfields in the worst of conditions. Irene Vollick, who became Canada’s first licensed female pilot at Hamilton in 1928, and also the first Canadian woman to parachute into water, was mentioned too.

Jacquie received an award from the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association for her promotion of general aviation in Canada. It was typical that after her presentation, she attended the 10th Annual Elsie MacGill Northern Lights Awards Gala honouring women in aviation and aerospace. She narrated the backgrounds of eight award-winning women, from young rising stars to pioneers. She is also working on a documentary about the history of the Air Cadets.

Jacquie underlined her appreciation of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame, the Great War Flying Museum, Vintage Wings of Canada, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, and the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association in Tillsonburg. She has found it extremely rewarding to have met so many friends in aviation, from pilots to authors to astronauts and more. While Jacquie has met many celebrities, only two in particular really made her feel as if she was “in the presence of greatness”: Chuck Yeager and Neil Armstrong.

Jacquie closed by paying credit to the CAHS for its important role in preserving, protecting and honouring Canada’s aviation accomplishments. Her career in the field has been, as Jacquie put it, “a remarkable journey and one that I hope continues for some years to come.” Our speaker answered a number of questions after an enlightening and inspirational presentation that underlined her love of aviation and valuable contributions. On behalf of the Chapter, I presented Jacquie with a bottle of wine (a special label from an Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Canada event celebrating the Avro Arrow); and a copy of Robert Schweyer’s excellent book, Final Descent: The Loss of the Flagship Erie.

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Flypast V. 53 No. 2 5 CAHS Moments in History by Contributing Editor Geoff Pyne

Fall is here and the CAHS Toronto Chapter “season” is underway, so we continue our theme of some of the many Canadian aviation highlights through June and July.

June and July have not been too busy at Canadair in terms of first flights, except for that of the C4 North Star; a license-built variant of the Douglas DC-4, taking off from Cartierville, Montreal on 15th July 1946. Powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, the North Star had the Douglas DC-6 nose, landing gear and fuselage shortened by 80 in (2 metres), DC-4 empennage, rear fuselage, flaps and wing tips, C-54 middle fuselage sections, wing centre- and outer-wing panels, cabin pressurisation and a different electrical system! In total, 71 variants were built.

Meanwhile, two de Havilland Canada types celebrate their first flights in this period; the DHC-4 Caribou and the DHC-8 “Dash 8” Series 100.

Te first DHC-4 Caribou (CF-KTK-X) flew on 30th July 1958, with George Neal and Dave Fairbanks at the controls with Test Engineer Hans Brinkman on board, for a two- hour flight. Early in the test program, the fuselage was stretched by 42 inches forward of the wing to ensure a good CofG range, introduced on the third aircraft CF-LKI-X. Tis led to a storied flutter problem, but this and the stall handling issues were eventually resolved. A total of 307 Caribou were built, including 165 for the U.S. Army. Te Caribou was only recently retired from service from the Australian Air Force.

Te prototype Dash 8 C-GDNK-X took off from on 20th June 1983, for a successful 2 hour 10 minute flight, piloted by Bob Fowler and Mick Saunders, with Flight Test Engineers Don Band and Geoff Pyne aboard. Using 5 aircraft during the test program, the type was certified by Transport Canada 14 months later and the first delivery, to , was in October 1984. Deliveries of the Series 100 (36 seat) model eventually totalled 296, but the design has been improved and continually upgraded until the ultimate Dash 8 - the Q400 - was introduced in 1998, which is still in production today and can seat up to 80 passengers.

More next month…

6 Flypast V. 53 No. 2 Chapter News & Views November 2018 Chapter Membership Renewals Yes, it is that time again! With this issue of Flypast you will find the 2019 Chapter Membership form enclosed (For email service it is attached). What is different this year is a rear second page where the Chapter asks you to specify your interests and what topics you would like to see the Chapter develop. Your participation is entirely optional. Your prompt renewal for 2019, however, would be appreciated! Your renewal status will be updated on a regular basis on your address label. Aviation Themed Events 2018 Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Canada’s Mail Flight – Leaside June 30, 2018 One hundred years ago an historic event in the history of the Canadian postal service occurred at Leaside Aerodrome. Mail arrived at Leaside from Montreal on June 24, 1918 in the form of a military Curtiss JN-4 Canuck flown by Captain Brian Peck. A celebration of that event was held at the Leaside Pub (located opposite the site of the old Leaside Aerodrome) and included a display of historic photos. A flyover by an historic aircraft from the Great War Flying Museum was arranged. Several Chapter members attended, including Chapter President, Sheldon Benner.

Mississauga “Open Doors” – CF100 18619 – September 8, 2018 On a brisk Saturday morning in the City of Mississauga Chapter Member, Scott Maclagan, delivered a presentation about his experiences as a Navigator / Weapons Officer in the RCAF. Scott served in the “back seat” of a CF100 all-weather fighter during the “Cold War” period. Scott did his presentation at the base of the mounted CF100 “Canuck” 18619, an aircraft that he had flown in many times. Many Toronto Chapter members were in attendance for this event. Te City of Mississauga and Councillor Carolyn Parrish are recognized and applauded by the Chapter for the undertaking of the outstanding preservation work carried out on this historic artifact. Toronto Aviation & Airline Collectibles Show – September 30, 2018 On September 30, 2018 Chapter 1st Vice-President John Bertram and 2nd Vice-President Geoff Pyne manned a booth at the Toronto Aviation & Collectibles Show held at the Hilton Garden Hotel near Pearson International Airport. Te purpose of the booth was to raise recognition of the Chapter and CAHS and also to provide some revenue for the Chapter by selling books and other articles. John and Geoff considered attendance at the show to be a worthwhile effort. Tank you gentlemen! Flypast V. 53 No. 2 7 Shown here is the Avro Arrow full scale replica during roll out days at Downsview Airport in 2006. Te Chief Engineer for the replica construction was J. Claude Sherwood P Eng Ret’d , who was a former employee of A.V. Roe during the time of the Avro Arrow’s development. Over 100 volunteers with support from corporate donors created this magnificent replica. Sad to say that currently the replica is being sadly neglected. Photo - CASM

CAHS Toronto Chapter Executive 2018-2019 President & Membership Secretary: Sheldon Benner Flypast Reporter: Gord McNulty 1st Vice-President: John Bertram Flypast Editor, Graphics, Editing & Email Services: Lisa Ruck 2nd Vice-President: Geoff Pyne Flypast Printing & Mail Distribution: Secretary, Archivist & Historian: Neil McGavock Minuteman Press – [email protected] Treasurer: Brigadier – General Paul A. Hayes Website Support: www.torontoaviationhistory.com OMM, CD (Ret’d) Volunteers: Bob Winson - Website Support, Director: Gord McNulty Georgian College Contact Ken Churm – Liaison George Topple – (At Large)

T e Chapter is a proud sponsor of the “Don Rogers Memorial Scholarship” at Georgian College. Contacts President: [email protected] Mailing Address: Canadian Aviation Historical Society, Tel: (416) 923-3414 Toronto Chapter Websites: www.cahs.ca/chapters/toronto 65 Sussex Avenue www.torontoaviationhistory.com Toronto, Ontario Canadian Aviation Historical Society - Toronto Chapter M5S 1J8

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