Canada Tour 2008
Red Deer
We continued our journey North. In the dead centre between Calgary and Edmonton lays Red Deer. Just south of town you can find location Red Deer Regional Airport. We planned two visits here, first to Air Spray, with its fleet of Electra and CL-215 tankers. We walked the ramp and visited the hangar. A new Electra was in the process of conversion. A former National Science Foundation L-188 (N308D) with the tail of Mandala Airlines PK-RLD, to be C-FLXT. On the backlot a dozen off A-26s and spare Electra’s.
20370, T-6
C-FZCS, L-188
C-GOFR, CL-215
C-FAKP, Rockwell 690
C-FZCS, L-188
C-GOFR, CL-215
C-GOFR, CL-215
C-FLXT, L-188
C-GHZI, L-188
C-GTFC, CV-240
PK-RLD, L-188
HR-AMM, L-188
C-GYVI, L-188
C-FTUU, CL-215
C-FTUU, CL-215
C-GHZM, A-26
C-GHZM, A-26
C-FZTC, A-26
C-FPGF, A-26
C-GZVM, L-188
C-GZVM, L-188
C-GHZI, L-188
We also visited the Buffalo Airways maintenance hangar, with “sched" DC-3 C-GWIR undergoing maintenance. Also two CL-215s were stored next to the hanger, later sold to turkey. See our Buffalo Airways fact sheet for more on this.
C-GFNF, CL-215
C-FTXB, CL-215
C-FFAY, C-47
CF-VQV, DC-3
C-FDTH, C-47
C-GWIR, C-47
Alberta Aerospace Museum
After Red Deer we returned to Calgary, as we were headed for Canmore and Banff / Jasper National Park. location The museum is located on the south side of Calgary International Airport and has a mixed military and civil collection.
N7793C, F-86
CF-BZI, C-47
C-FPAT, DHC-6
FM-136, Lancaster
CF-JTI, S-55
101021, CF-101
One of the most interesting pieces in the collection is an Avro Lancaster Mk X. This aircraft (FM136) was used by the RAF as a maritime patrol aircraft out of Nova Scotia.
Canmore
Canmore is the gateway to the magnificent Banff / Jasper National Park, our next destination for the coming days. Just off highway 1 you can find location Alpine Helicopters. Just for the stunning backdrops worth a visit. Off course you could also book a scenic flight over the NP.
C-FALF, Bell 407
C-GALJ, Bell 206
C-FTED, Bell 206
Edmonton
After two full days in the park we exited trough Jasper, the north passage and headed for Edmonton. Enroute we found a former RCAF CT-133 on a pole in the town of Edson. Arriving in Edmonton we checked out the location airport, found two B727s and a classic Canadian North 737.
C-FCMN, Beech 1900
C-GZTC, DHC-8
C-GOPW, B737
C-GHWC, B727
C-FCJI, B727
C-FIWS, B737
EI-DRD, B737
C-GSTA, DHC8
As there was little activity at the airport we visited the location Reynolds-Alberta Museum. It has a cool collection of fighters, with a special color Voodoo and Starfighter. Unique piece in the museum is the Hawker Aviation, Bristol 170 (C-GYQS). This aircraft was still operational in 2004! flying mining and lumber materials.
17071, DH-100
114076, CT-114
C-FIAE, DC-3
C-GYQS, Bristol 170
19200, CL-13
18759, CF-100
101038, CF-101
104763, CF-104
116815, CF-5
133097, CT-133
In the afternoon we returned to Edmonton Airport for our 1.40 hour flight with Canadian North to Yellowknife in the North West Territory.
Yellowknife
Why travel way north, just 400 kms south of the Arctic circle? Well simple, Yellowknife has one of the most interesting location airports of Canada. Lots of ancient piston powered aircraft can be found here serving the NWT and oil and mining industry.
C-FZDV, DHC-3
CF-TFX, Bristol 170
C-FTCP, ATR-42
C-FNAM, Jetstream 31
C-GRGO, DHC-8
C-FASG, DHC-6
13804, CC-138
C-GTNM, Hughes 369
Off-airport, Air Tindi also has a small floatplane base at Rock Island, north-east of town. Another interesting aircraft is a preserved Bristol 170 just east of the airport, next to the Old Airport road. This road also gives great views to the helicopter ramp.
More on Yellowknife in our next part. Also Conair in Abbotsford and Vancouver floatplanes.