November 2017 THE PThe VictoriaATRICIAN Flying Club ~ Aviation Excellence Since 1946 Lest We Forget Remembrance Day, November 11th November 2017 TMonthlyHE Newsletter of PThe VictoriaATRICIAN Flying Club - Aviation Excellence Since 1946 “To promote flying and aviation in general, and to In This Issue teach and train persons in the art and science of flying and navigating and operating all 2 News Around the Club manner of heavier-than-air aircraft.” (Victoria Flying Club Incorporation Bylaws, 1946) 4 The VFC Mentor Program BOARD OF DIRECTORS 5 Medals and Memories - Personal Reflections Contributed by Eleanor Eastick PRESIDENT Ramona Reynolds [email protected] 7 The Great Airplane Race of '43 VICE PRESIDENT Rolf Hopkinson Contributed by Doug Rollins SECRETARY Colin Williamson TREASURER Chris Peschke 9 Capitalizing on Canada's Pilot Shortage DIRECTORS Steve Demy Contribued by Jeff Lightheart Rob Shemilt John Ainsworth John Litherland 11 Weather to Fly GENERAL MANAGER Gerry Mants 12 The British Columbia Aviation Council CHIEF FLYING Graham Palmer INSTRUCTOR 13 COPA Quadrant / Fly-Out Bug 15 First Solos and Member 1852 Canso Road Sidney, BC V8L 5V5 Achievements www.flyvfc.com 17 FleetCaptain Corner [email protected] 18 Ground School Schedule Phone: 250-656-2833 Editor: Katy Earl Front cover photo credits: Submitted by Doug [email protected] Rollins, Historian, BC Aviation Museum. Two members of the 'Bulldog Squadron' The Patrician accepts unsolicited submissions. This publication may be reproduced in whole or Connect with us and share your aviation stories! in part, with prior permission of the publisher or author. The opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors. VFC News News Around the Club REMEMBRANCE DAY William 'Nick' Carter, a WWI flying ace, was Each year in the November issue of The Patrician, the first president and Sydney Pickles, also with the Victoria Flying Club takes time to recognize military background, the instructor. Operations its connection to Canada's military. CYYJ sits of the VAC were suspended during WWII, but in on the former RCAF Station Patricia Bay, and 1946, pilots who had returned home after war the VFC occupies the location used by the RAF service revived the Club, with the incorporation of during WWII. It was because of the efforts of the the Victoria Flying Club happening on November returning pilots of both WWI and WWII that VFC 16th, 1946. Dave Duncan, a WWII veteran, was came about and continues to exist until this day. the first instructor. The Victoria Flying Club's progenitor was the To this day, the VFC still has many armed forces Victoria Aero Club, started in the 1920s. Alfred personnel as flying members. As well, (continued) Images: Above, photo from Dan Waldie, the newly dedicated 'Lost Airmen of the Empire' monument on Hospital Hill at CYYJ. Left, A. W. 'Nick' Carter. Photo from http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/carter2.php. Centre, Sydney Pickles with his Bleriot Monoplane, who was chief instructor for the Victoria Aero Club. Right, Dave Duncan, WWII veteran and VFC's first flying instructor. Aviation Excellence Since 1946 2 November 2017 VFC News the VFC is involved in Cadet training, supporting future air force pilots, and the Club and 443 Squadron NEWS AND EVENTS across the airfield maintain a close relationship. This month, we wish to honour all military personnel. NOV 4 Nanaimo Flying Club Fly-In brunch We thank all veterans, past, present and future, for their service. We will not forget. NOV 7 COPA Flight 6 meeting and AGM NOV 11 Remembrance Day. FROM THE OFFICE Aircraft rental discounts all day! The colder part of the year is upon us! Fall and winter flying requires closer attention to detail when NOV 16 VFC celebrates 71 years of incorporation! checking out meteorological conditions and planning for flights. Ice and frost on critical surfaces of aircraft require extra time for removal, so be sure to arrive early for your airplane booking to check things over. If Is your aviation-related event not listed? you suspect ice or frost on the aircraft, the line crew Let us know at [email protected]. will be happy to take care of it for you. Also, have a de-icing plan for when you arrive at your destination. Feel free to ask us at the office for any assistance you might require. AIRCRAFT RENTAL With the earlier darkness, now is a great time to DISCOUNT HOURS complete your night rating! Talk to your instructor today to get it going, and take advantage of the quiet We are pleased to offer rental discounts on hours pricing. If you have booked a flight that will holidays. VFC does not offer flight training occur after hours, please call the office while staff is on statutory holidays, so the aircraft are fully there to make the appropriate arrangements. available for recreational rentals. Book your plane early to avoid disappointment! If you are a student with a goal of getting your CPL, VFC also offers discounted rental rates during you can claim some of your training on your income evening and early morning hours, as well as on tax forms. Stay tuned in the next Patrician for the tax all Saturdays and Sundays. As an added bonus, forms. the early morning and late evening hours are generally quieter at our busy airport, the winds DAKOTA CAFE are often calmer, and those sunrises and sunsets During November, buy five coffees at the Dakota Cafe are unmatched. Don't miss out! and get the sixth one free! Discount Details: THE LITTLE PILOT SHOP Monday to Friday, 1700–0930 Christmas is around the corner, and we've got the $10/hr rental discount, or gear your friends want! From gift certificates to IPad 0.2 simulator time credit per hour of flight mounts to jackets and so much more, come check out (approximate value $20) what you can stuff your stockings with! Saturday and Sunday, 1700–0930 $15/hr rental discount, or Have news or a story to tell? Email us at 0.3 simulator time credit per hour of flight [email protected] for a chance to have your (approximate value $30) news or story published in The Patrician. November 2017 3 www.flyvfc.com Women VFCin Aviation News The VFC Mentor Program Contributed by Colin Williamson, VFC Secretary You might remember reading an article in the for that leg. For example, if you are PIC going to August 2017 Patrician entitled "The Social Side Pemberton and it takes 1.5 hours and the mentor is of Aviation." The article made a very good point: PIC coming back and it takes 1.6 then you pay for "Flying with other pilots is a great way to learn, 1.5 hours and the mentor pays 1.6. It’s that simple! to share what you've learned and to make new What’s cool is that you get to be in the plane for friends who share your passion (obsession) with 3.1 hours on a great flight and only pay for 1.5 in aviation and airplanes." For me, this has certainly this example. been true. I have learned so much from the other pilots I've flown with, and I'm a better pilot because The Mentor Program is designed to be quite of it. flexible. For example, we could add an extra pilot and leg to our Pemberton trip and instead fly from VFC wants to make it easier for you to find fellow Victoria to Pemberton, swap pilots, fly down to pilots to fly with, split the cost of flights, share Chilliwack and swap to our third pilot to fly home. knowledge on how to do things, give you some Each pilot pays for their leg but gets an awesome help getting into a new airport for the first time and flight out of the deal! so on. And let's not forget the social side. Having someone to chat with as the miles pass makes the We should also mention that you don’t need to be flight more enjoyable, especially when you've got a new pilot to fly with us. Even if you have 20,000 someone to talk to who shares your interest in hours of flying and are just looking for someone to flying. fly with let us know. We’re happy to fly with you, and no doubt you can show us a thing or two! We're calling it The VFC Mentor Program. The pilots in the mentor program are VFC members and Interested? Our mentors have their resumes they are recreational pilots who routinely fly the posted on a special VFC Mentors bulletin board aircraft in the Club's fleet. They have a wide range beside the Dispatch counter. Each mentor's resume of qualifications, knowledge and experience and are includes their contact details, or you can email: happy to share their experiences with other pilots, [email protected] for more information. especially new pilots who are just beginning to explore the wonders of aviation. Here’s how the program works. When you want to fly with a mentor all you do is send an e-mail to our group email address (see below for address) stating when you would like to go flying. One of our mentors will get back to you promptly and work with you to organize the details. After that it’s as simple as meeting at VFC and going flying. Financially we keep it very simple – whoever is PIC for a leg of the flight pays Aviation Excellence Since 1946 4 November 2017 Feature Article Medals and Memories Personal Reflections Contributed by Eleanor Eastick, VFC member, former editor of The Patrician When I was a little kid, we called Remembrance memory for the adults.