CLICK HERE to read the whole story on this footage.

In the 1940s & 1950s, the National Film Board of Canada documented Canada’s then new national airline to educate the Canadian public about the new mode of travel.

Thousands of feet of Hollywood quality cine film on Trans-Canada Air Lines was dormant in NFB archives for decades, until we discovered this never-before-seen eyeball-popping footage, which is presented in this narrated historic program.

The quality of the footage is the best archival classic airline footage we have ever seen. It was all shot on 16mm employing professional filming techniques and the subject matter has to be seen to be appreciated. It truly is amazingly high quality footage.

You’ll see WWII era Lodestars & Electras filmed across Canada, unbelievable Lancastrian footage filmed air-to-air,lots of Canadair DC-4M2 North Star, Douglas DC-3, Lockheed Connie, Avro Jetliner and Vickers Viscount footage of TCA airliners from the era that is unbelievable in quality and rarity.

The live filming of a TCA Viscount air-to-air with onboard engine shutdown demo complete with original sound is an unbelievable find. You can actually hear the Rolls Royce Dart engines spooling down and then winding up, recorded on board the actual aircraft during this demonstration.  Along with all the other footage, this program is nothing short of a major historic treasure to be enjoyed over and over for years to come.

DVD Programs
Chapter 1) Intro
Chapter 2) TCA Lockheeds at Vancouver
Chapter 3) TCA Lockheeds in the Prairies
Chapter 4) TCA Lockheeds at YYZ & YUL
Chapter 5) TCA Avro Lancastrian
Chapter 6) Canadair North Star
Chapter 7) Avro Jetliner
Chapter 8) Canadair North Star first flight
Chapter 9) TCA DC-4M2 North Star roll-out
Chapter 10) TCA DC-4M2 North Star in service
Chapter 11) TCA DC-3 in service
Chapter 12) TCA Viscount action
Chapter 13) Viscount engine out demo
Chapter 14) End Credits
Chapter 15) DVD Previews

Total running time: 51 minutes

This DVD is available in NTSC region-free format (which will work on all current European DVD players).

NWT Air’s fleet of three Boeing 737-200Cs linked the sparsely inhabited Northwest Territories with the Air Canada mainline, until the company was sold in 1997. Between 1993 and 1996, former NWT Air employee and aviation fan Henry Tenby enthusiastically filmed as much of the Boeing 737-200 action as he could with the kind support of fellow employees who appear in the DVD.

Being fortunate to ride in the jump seat on many flights between Yellowknife, Edmonton and Calgary, Henry filmed a number of these sectors from the cockpit perspective and those video clips appear in this DVD. The DVD opens with a short air-to-air sequence of 737-275C N331XV performing touch-and-goes at Yellowknife airport.

The 70 minute DVD continues with lots of footage from the passenger cabin which includes pre flight safety demonstrations, in-flight service, and interviews with the flight attendants, and even a humorous visit to the company’s dispatch office in Yellowknife. NWT Air had no shortage of colourful employees!

Lots of exterior footage of NWT Air Boeing 737-200 action is also featured on this DVD, mostly filmed in Yellowknife, with engine starts, taxi sequences, and take-offs. You’ll see fleet numbers 661 and 662 (C-GNWN and C-GNWI) as well as the leased Polaris basic model 737, the old 1969 build former Pacific Western 737-275C N331XV, which was known as 663 at NWT Air. It was also humorously referred to as the “J” model 737, for reasons explained on the DVD.

Any lover of the 737-200 classics will find this DVD very interesting, as it serves up an enjoyable mix of cockpit, cabin and exterior action footage, and is complemented with a nice amount of “real people” footage. We’ve even included a nice surprise party scene when a long serving Captain was recognized for his service to the company. This DVD provides a wonderful look back to the mid 1990s when NWT Air and the Boeing 737-200 were top of their game.

SPECIAL NOTE TO CUSTOMERS:
This DVD was produced using compact low environmental impact packaging.

DVD Programs
Chapter 2) 737-275C N331XV air-to-air
Chapter 3) Queen’s visit to Rankin Inlet AUG 22/94
Chapter 4) Flightdeck ride YEG-YYC APR 9/93
Chapter 5) Flightdeck ride YZF-YEG FEB 13/93
Chapter 6) Flightdeck ride YEG-YYC FEB 13/93
Chapter 7) N331XV exterior footage YZF summer ’93
Chapter 8) Flightdeck ride YZF-YEG FEB 19/94
Chapter 9) Flightdeck ride YEG-YYC FEB 19/94
Chapter 10) NWT Air dispatch office YZF
Chapter 11) Cabin YZF-YEG JAN 13/96
Chapter 12) Flightdeck YEG-YYC JAN 13/96
Chapter 13) Flightdeck landing YYC JAN 13/96
Chapter 14) Captain 20 Years service

Total running time: 70 minutes

This DVD is available in NTSC region-free format which will work on all current European DVD players.

Twenty years before Ice Pilots became a realty show hit, aviation videographer Henry Tenby was video documenting the vibrant Yellowknife aviation scene in the mid 1990s while employed by local airline NWT Air.

At the time, Henry knew the place was unique in the world of aviation, so he endeavoured to film as much as he could between the years 1993 and 1996, using a Hi-8 video camera that he acquired in 1991. Living in Yellowknife and working at the airport, provided easy and frequent access to all the comings and goings on in all seasons, and this video captures all the flavours of operators that made Yellowknife the famous place that it has become in the ranks of worldwide aviation fans.

All the operators of the day are included in the DVD, namely Air Tindi, Ptarmigan Airways, First Air, NWT Air, Canadian North, Conair, and Buffalo Airways. You’ll see winter, Spring, summer and fall operations, including everything from Beavers to Boeing, wheels to floats to skis, airport to float base to water bombers.

Plenty of footage filmed on the main Yellowknife apron features Canadian North and NWT Air Boeing 737-200s and Bradley/First Air HS748s. You’ll witness passengers boarding, cargo handling, engine starts, taxi and runway action with superior noise qualities. In Old Town Yellowknife there’s extensive footage of Air Tindi Twin Otters, Turbine Otters and Beavers on wheels, skis and floats.

Hard core propliner fans will be pleased to see an extensive filming report on the Conair water bomber base with DC-6, CL-215 and Tracker action. There’s no talking here .. just non-stop engines, taxi and take-off sequences. Buffalo Airways took the GNWT fire fighting contract away from BC-based Conair in the mid 1990s, so this twenty year old footage is a very special memory from an era in the distant past. Air Tindi’s Caribou and the Ptarmigan stretch G-1 make very welcomed cameo appearances along with the occasional Buffalo DC-3 and DC-4 and the the Plummer’s Lodge Douglas DC-3 (captured in taxi, take-off and air-to-air!)

All in all, this DVD has something for everyone, except the “Ice Pilots NWT” drama. We’re serving up 76 minutes of non-stop aviation footage, and invite you to sit back, relax, and strap in to enjoy the ride.

SPECIAL NOTE TO CUSTOMERS:
This DVD was produced using compact low environmental impact packaging.

DVD Programs
Chapter 2) 737-275C N331XV air-to-air
Chapter 3) Winter lake ops
Chapter 4) YZF Boeing 737-200 action
Chapter 5) Wheels and skiis
Chapter 6) NWT Air dispatch office
Chapter 7) YZF main ramp
Chapter 8) Old Town float base
Chapter 9) Conair DC-6, Trackers, CL-215s
Chapter 10) Float base action
Chapter 11) Classic props YZF
Chapter 12) 737-200 action
Chapter 13) More HS748
Chapter 14) Boeing 737-200s
Chapter 15) Summer float base
Chapter 16) DVD previews

Total running time: 76 minutes

This DVD is available in NTSC region-free format which will work on all current European DVD players.

FROM AIR CANADA ARCHIVES:
By many counts, it can be said that Gordon R. McGregor was the father of Canada’s National airline. When he became President of the company in 1948, Trans-Canada Air Lines was a fledgeling carrier operating a rag-tag fleet of mostly obsolete WWII surplus aircraft.

In 1968 when he retired after twenty years as the company’s Chief Executive, much had changed for the airline and the industry. The company had re-named itself to Air Canada and was a leading world airline. From Air Canada’s archives, we are honoured to present two films which celebrate the achievements of Gordon McGregor.

The first film is G.R. McGregor’s re-cap of the airlines operations in 1962, which marked TCA’s twenty-fifth anniversary. The airline had just entered the jet age with the introduction of the first Douglas DC-8 jetliners, and the Vickers Vanguards were recently introduced on the trunk Canadian services as well longer haul Caribbean services.

The second film is from G.R. Mcgregor’s retirement party filmed in 1968. This film opens with G.R.’s speech to the guests at his party, and follows with a thirty minute in-depth history of G.R.’s working career, which more or less is a parallel history of the development of Trans-Canada Air Lines.

We’ve included a number of Air Canada TV ads from the 1960s which makes this DVD a fascinating look back at Gordon R. McGregor’s achievements in the making of a truly great airline.

Please be aware that these films are presented for their historical importance, and not for their production values and/or image quality. These films are distribution copy prints that were made 70 years ago, and the image and production quality is not the same as we are used to today. In some of the films we experienced film breaks, film warpage (which result in the film being unable to hold focus), broken film sprockets, and blown out sound levels. So these films are by no means perfect. But we believe their historic value over-rides their technical imperfections, and we present them as a look back on a past era.

DVD Programs

Chapter 1) Introduction
Chapter 2) TCA Vanguard promo
Chapter 3) G.R. McGregor’s 1962 Report
Chapter 4) Air Canada Vanguard TV ad
Chapter 5) 1960s Bahamas TV ad
Chapter 6) Let’s Go DC-8 TV ad
Chapter 7) G.R. McGregor retirement speech
Chapter 8) G.R. McGregor career history
Chapter 9) Air Canada 1966 DC-9 TV ad
Chapter 10) 1960s Visit Canada TV ad
Chapter 11) 1960s Caribbean TV ad
Chapter 12) TCA Viscount DVD Preview
Chapter 13) TCA DC-8 DVD Preview

Total running time: 60 minutes

This DVD is available in NTSC region-free format which will work on all current European DVD players.

FROM AIR CANADA ARCHIVES:
In the 1940s people travelled abroad by ship, and domestic travel was either by bus or car, or rail. The concept of travelling by air was new, and airlines in Canada (like elsewhere in the world) were very much in their infancy. Trans-Canada Air Lines was created in 1937 by an act of Parliment, as the flag carrier to serve Canada, and the airline operated a fleet of silver Lockeed 10As and Lodestars up until Canadair Northstars were acquired in 1947. These aircraft are featured in the early TCA films on this DVD.

Very little footage exists within the Air Canada film archives from this era, but we were able to find two little gems that provide a snap-shot picture of what air travel was like back in the day when when almost nobody had travelled by air. The films talk about being “air-minded” in the same context as being “open-minded” .. and it is interesting how a new vernacular was created to promote the new method of transport by aeroplane.

The first film “Swift Family Robinson” was produced by TCA in 1943, when the world was at war, and the economy was in a constrained state due to shortages and the war effort. Although filmed in colour, the master prints are long gone and we were able to digitize one of the two period distribution 16mm cine prints that remain within the archive. This film charts a family’s trans-Canada journey from Montreal to Vancouver via Lockheed Lodestar. (colour 31 min)

“A New Map for Canada” was produced by TCA in 1947 and explains how Canada’s new airline was fostering economic growth across the country during the 40s. We used the camera original air-to-air 16mm footage of the TCA Lodestar, DC-3 and Northstar which was re-mastered into this film just for this DVD. It was very lucky that we were able to find the camera original films for the aircraft sequences, but it might be noticeable that the image quality of the other parts of the film is not as clear, reason being that the master print does not exist, and we had to digitize a distribution print. This film takes you across Canada by TCA Lodestar, and by Canadair Northstar, which was brand new when this film was made.

Please be aware that these films are presented for their historical importance, and not for their production values and/or image quality. These films are distribution copy prints that were made 70 years ago, and the image and production quality is not the same as we are used to today. In some of the films we experienced film breaks, film warpage (which result in the film being unable to hold focus), broken film sprockets, and blown out sound levels. So these films are by no means perfect. But we believe their historic value over-rides their technical imperfections, and we present them as a look back on a past era.

DVD Programs

Chapter 1) Introduction and Pre-Show

Chapter 2) Swift Family Robinson (31 min colour)

Chapter 3) A new Map for Canada
(21 min colour)

Chapter 4) TCA Vickers Viscount DVD Preview

Chapter 5) TCA Vickers Viscount DVD Preview

Total running time: 52 minutes

This DVD is available in NTSC region-free format which will work on all current European DVD players.

In the late 1950s, Douglas Aircraft of Long Beach, made a significant marketing push to draw Trans-Canada Air Lines as a customer for their new, revolutionary jet transport, the Douglas DC-8.

When TCA selected the DC-8, a number of promotional films were made by the airline and the manufacturer to promote the new aircraft to the travelling public.

From the Air Canada historic film archives, this DVD exclusively presents four period films about the Douglas DC-8 that cover the development and marketing of the aircraft to airlines of the day, as well as films about the aircraft in the TCA operating theatre of the very early 1960s. Between films we have included a number of fabulous 1960s era TV ads produced by Air Canada which feature the DC-8.

The film “4 Hours and 40 Minutes” is particularly significant as it was filmed live on the occasion of the first ever pure jet passenger service in Canada, a TCA DC-8 flight between Toronto and Vancouver on Friday, April 1, 1960. The film revolves around a young boy and his mother who travel on the flight and marvel at the new form of jet passenger flight. The film features live flight deck footage, cabin footage, and plenty or airport terminal and exterior footage, and is truly a gem of a film that we are pleased to have uncovered in the archives.

The Jet Pilot films tracks a TCA DC-8 crew on their duty operating a routine service from snowy Montreal down to sunny Jamaica, also circa very early 1960s. This film was also filmed live on board, with live cockpit footage, engine starts, and is a really fabulous documentation of the inner workings of jetliner travel when the mode truly was in its infancy, and the travelling public the world over only knew travel by propeller driven aircraft.

It was our intention to bring these long forgotten films to the forefront so they could be properly enjoyed for their nostalgia value today, as well as in the future. And we are very grateful that Air Canada kindly provided us with the necessary access and support to make it all possible.

Purchasers should be aware that the picture quality of these films is not the same as which we are used to today, and these films are presented for their historic content first and foremost.

SPECIAL NOTE TO CUSTOMERS:
This DVD was produced using compact low environmental impact packaging, which results in considerable manufacturing and shipping savings. As such, we are happy to pass these savings on to you in the form of
FREE worldwide postage for this DVD title.

DVD Programs

Chapter 1) Introduction and Pre-Show

Chapter 2) TCA DC-8 B&W early DC-8 TV commercial

Chapter 3) TCA DC-8 Inaugural YYZ-YVR “4 hrs 40 minutes”
Friday, April 1,1960. Company documentary (12 min BW)

Chapter 4) Air Canada 1960s era DC-8 TV commercials

Chapter 5) TCA Jet Pilot Montreal to Jamaica
circa 1960/1961 (18 min BW)

Chapter 6) Air Canada 1960s era DC-8 TV commercials

Chapter 7) Birth of a Jet
Development of TCA DC-8s early 1960s (13 min colour)

Chapter 8) Air Canada 1960s era DC-8 TV commercials

Chapter 9) Sleeping Giant Cargo DC-8s
With DC-8F delivery to TCA early 1960s (22 min colour)

Chapter 10) Air Canada 1960s era DC-8 TV commercials

Chapter 11) TCA Vickers Viscount DVD Preview

Total running time: 87 minutes

This DVD is available in NTSC region-free format which will work on all current European DVD players.

In the early 1950s, Vickers Armstrongs made a significant marketing push to draw Trans- Canada Air Lines as a customer for their revolutionary Viscount turboprop airliner.

When the airline selected the Viscount, a number of promotional films were made by the airline and Vickers to promote the new aircraft to the travelling public.

From the Air Canada historic film archives, this DVD exclusively presents five period films about the Viscount that cover the development and marketing of the aircraft to airlines of the day, as well as films about the aircraft in the TCA operating theatre of the mid- 1950s.

Of special note is the film “Red Carpet” which was produced in house by TCA in the mid 1950s, to explain to the travelling public how the inner workings of the airline come together to make the flying experience a pleasurable and efficient endeavour. Of course the then brand new jetport Vickers Viscount was the most technologically advanced airliner in North America, and the airline uses the new aircraft as the centre-piece for promoting its services to passengers.

The routine flight film takes the viewer for a tour of the Winnipeg maintenance base where the advanced Rolls Royce engine of the Vickers Viscount is explained as being more advanced, reliable and comfortable than piston engines of the day. And the viewer is taken for a specially laid on flight in a brand new Vickers Viscount, where the pilot shuts down not one but two engines in-flight, to demonstrate the reliability and safety that the Viscount brings to travel.

It was our intention to bring these long forgotten films to the forefront so they could be properly enjoyed for their nostalgia value today, as well as in the future. And we are very grateful that Air Canada kindly provided us with the necessary access and support to make it all possible.

Purchasers should be aware that the picture quality of these films is not the same as which we are used to today, and these films are presented for their historic content first and foremost.

SPECIAL NOTE TO CUSTOMERS:
This DVD was produced using compact low environmental impact packaging, which results in considerable manufacturing and shipping savings. As such, we are happy to pass these savings on to you in the form of
FREE worldwide postage for this DVD title.

DVD Programs

Chapter 1) Introduction and Pre-Show

Chapter 2) Vickers Viscount Intro – early 1950s (10 min BW)

Chapter 3) Viscounts Intl. – mid 1950s (15 min colour)

Chapter 4) TCA Delivery flight – mid 1950s (11 min colour)

Chapter 5) TCA routine Viscount flight – mid 195s (28 min BW)

Chapter 6) Magic Carpet – promotion of the Viscount with TCA
– mid 1950s (13 min colour)

Chapter 7) DVD Previews

Total running time: 88 minutes

This DVD is available in NTSC region-free format which will work on all current European DVD players.

Strap in for a hell of a ride! Flights on vintage cold war jets are hard to come by, and fortune came our way at the 2013 Abbotsford Airshow, when we had the exclusive opportunity to meet up with Greg Colyer, and his beautifully restored CT-33 Silver Star jet trainer.

The Canadair CT-33 is a built in Canada, license built Lockheed T-33 military jet trainer. In the 1950s air forces all over the world used the sturdy T-33 to train military jet pilots, and of course the aircraft was hugely popular in the US and Canada.

Sacramento based Greg Colyer of AceMakerAirshows.com operates this beautiful CT-33 on the airship circuit, and in 2013 the aircraft made its first ever visit to the Abbotsford Airshow, where in our opinion, it put on the most impressive flying display of the year.

We placed two cameras on the flight deck, as well as a camera under the belly of the aircraft to film Greg’s flying display giving multiple perspectives of the aerobatic flight display. This DVD presents the complete flight from each of the three cameras, with the original sound capture from each of the cameras.

We also filmed the flying display from chalks to chalks from the ground as well, so this DVD provides the viewer with the complete flying performance of this amazing vintage jet trainer. Viewers might want to be comfortably seated while watching as the upside down horizons and Abbotsford countryside that seems to whizz by left and right, all makes for one of the most unique cockpit DVDs you’ve ever seen. It is nothing like the commercial aircraft cockpit DVDs that follow the same, tedious routines over and over again.

SPECIAL NOTE TO CUSTOMERS:
This DVD was produced using compact low environmental impact packaging.

DVD Programs

Chapter 1: CT-33 Intro with Greg Colyer
Chapter 2: Multi-view clip
Chapter 3: CT-33 flight display filmed from ground
Chapter 4: CT-33 flight cockpit cam #1
Chapter 5: CT-33 flight bell cam
Chapter 6: CT-33 cockpit cam #2
Chapter 7: DVD Previews

Total running time: 94 minutes

This DVD is available in NTSC region-free format which will work on all current European DVD players.

Merhaba … Hosgeldiniz! Welcome to Istanbul my fellow spotter friend.

The lures of this treasured city are sure to please, as is this city’s amazingly busy airport. This DVD opens with our Lufthansa A320 landing at Istanbul inbound from Frankfurt, and our taxi into the terminal area.

We then spent several days filming at IST from a fantastic, runway side vantage point to capture the fabulous, non-stop runway action which is presented in this 68 minute Part One DVD. There was so much good footage we had to split it over two DVDs, so be sure to also check out the Part Two DVD.

Flag carrier THY Turkish Airlines and other Turkish operators mix company with a truly international mix of traffic, making this airfield a spotter’s dream come true. There is plenty of Turkish Airlines A320 and 737 action, as well as A330 and A340 movements, with the occasional A310 movement. The Turkish charter airlines including Onur Air and their MD80s are also very well represented on this DVD.

We were lucky to be present after a rain shower passed the airfield, and the wet runway action with accompanying spray as the aircraft were at speed made for very impressive video footage. Back in 2007, Russian flag carrier Aeroflot were still operating Tupolev Tu154 aircraft on their scheduled service from Moscow, and this DVD presents the excitement and sounds of this fabulous aircraft, which has since been retired from service.

This DVD also features the first ever flypast, land and visit of an Airbus A380 which took place on September 30, 2007. A massive media presence as well as thousands of curious observers gathered at the airport in anticipation of the arrival of Airbus A380 demonstrator aircraft F-WWBJ. This DVD let’s you enjoy the excitement of the moment in the build up to the arrival of the massive Airbus.

Approaching Istanbul from the ocean, the A380 defended quite low and performed a gear-up flypast before circling around and making her first ever landing at Ataturk Airport. After a roll out right to the end of the runway, the A380 very slowly taxied back to the main parking area, and we were able to film this entire historic process from start to end, all of which is presented on this DVD.

SPECIAL NOTE TO CUSTOMERS:
This DVD was produced using compact low environmental impact packaging.

DVD Programs

Chapter 1: Intro
Chapter 2: IST arrival on LH130
Chapter 3: Spotter IIgaz welcomes us
Chapter 4: IST action
Chapter 5: Aeroflot Tu154
Chapter 6: More IST action
Chapter 7: More IST action
Chapter 8: Wet runway ops
Chapter 9: Aeroflot Tu154
Chapter 10: Wet runway ops
Chapter 11: Wet runway ops
Chapter 12: A380 pre-show
Chapter 13: A380 flypast
Chapter 14: A380 arrival
Chapter 15: A380 taxi in
Chapter 16: DVD Previews

Total running time: 68 minutes

This DVD is available in NTSC region-free format which will work on all current European DVD players.

Merhaba … Hosgeldiniz! Welcome to Istanbul my fellow spotter friend.

The lures of this treasured city are sure to please, as is this city’s amazingly busy airport. This DVD picks up where the Part One DVD left off.

The demonstrator Airbus 380 spent a few days at Istanbul, and during this visit the aircraft conducted a local pleasure flight for VIP invited guests. We weren’t so lucky to be onboard the aircraft, but we were in position at our preferred runway-side filming location to capture the event from the outside.

The A380 is filmed as it departs the gate area and slowly taxied to the departure runway. We filmed the take-off and landing back in Istanbul as well as the taxi back to the parking gate.

We spent several days filming at IST from a fantastic, runway side vantage point to capture the fabulous, non-stop runway action which is presented in this 67 minute Part Two DVD. There was so much good footage we had to split it over two DVDs, so be sure to also check out the Part One DVD.

At the time of our visit in late September of 2007, a number of Russian built airliners were still operating into Istanbul Ataturk Airport. They have since been banned from serving IST, but this DVD includes great footage of the Tajikistan Tupolev Tu154, and the Belavia Tu154. The Kuban Yak42 also performed nicely for our cameras.

Flag carrier THY Turkish Airlines and other Turkish operators mix company with a truly international mix of traffic, making this airfield a spotter’s dream come true. There is plenty of Turkish Airlines A320 and 737 action, as well as A330 and A340 movements, with the occasional A310 movement. The Turkish charter airlines including Onur Air and their MD80s are also very well represented on this DVD.

A dedicated spotter will never grow tired of spending time as Istanbul Ataturk Airport as the traffic is a mix of European and Middle Eastern with excellent representation from the CIS countries and North Africa. This DVD gives the spotter a taste of what to expect when visiting this world-class airfield.

SPECIAL NOTE TO CUSTOMERS:
This DVD was produced using compact low environmental impact packaging.

DVD Programs

Chapter 1: Intro
Chapter 2: A380 taxi out
Chapter 3: A380 take-off
Chapter 4: A380 landing & taxi in
Chapter 5: IST action
Chapter 6: IST action
Chapter 7: IST action
Chapter 8: Tajik Tu154
Chapter 9: Kuban Yak42
Chapter 10: IST action
Chapter 11: Belavia Tu154
Chapter 12: DVD Previews

Total running time: 67 minutes

This DVD is available in NTSC region-free format which will work on all current European DVD players.

Today, there is probably no greater recognized passenger aircraft than the Boeing 747. This iconic aircraft is known the world over as a safe, reliable, profitable, and comfortable aircraft, that has served for decades as a trusted workhorse with the world’s greatest airlines.

Flashback to the mid 1960s, when passenger travel was often by propellor driven aircraft, or by narrow body jets operating international services for only the most affluent of travellers. The travelling masses went by ocean liner, and travel by air was a luxury reserved the well healed. At the time, Boeing recognized that a revolution was underway, and before long travel by jet would become a mass, global, highly competitive business, requiring new, better and more efficient aircraft, particularly in long-range overseas markets.

Repeating their track record and gamble on the development of the first generation Boeing 707, the Boeing company once again bet the farm in developing a new, high capacity, wide-body aircraft to meet long-term, long range demand of the world’s leading airlines. And the aircraft they developed for the task at hand was the double-decker Boeing 747. With twice the capacity of the next largest aircraft (the stretch DC-8), the 747 could carry 500 passengers on eight to ten hour sectors, between North American and Europe, Europe to Asia, and Asia to North America.

Boeing had to once again win the confidence of the word’s airlines, by proving that their new 747 was safe, reliable and efficient, which was a necessary first step to growing the order book for their new jumbo jet.

This 81 minute DVD takes the viewer back to the late 1960s, to examine first hand Boeing’s efforts to woo customers for their new jet. This is the remarkable story of perhaps the greatest commercial airliner ever built. All aspects of the early development and flight test of the Boeing 747 are covered from initial design studies, proof of concept, to design, engine test, passenger handling, roll-out, first flight, and the extensive flight test program. As the footage is in many cases over forty years old, the image quality is not up to digital media standards that we are used to today. That said, the Boeing 747 story has rarely been told as extensively as presented on this special DVD, and we are confident that the historical importance of the material more than compensates for the less-than-perfect image quality of the day. We hope you will agree!

SPECIAL NOTE TO CUSTOMERS:
This DVD was produced using compact low environmental impact packaging.

DVD Programs

Chapter 1) Introduction and Pre-Show

Chapter 2) Welcome Aboard: an early promo film on the then new 747, featuring the early design and development of the prototype aircraft, from October, 1969. (15 min colour)

Chapter 3) Safety versus airlift: Boeing test pilot Jack Waddell presents the informative details of the Boeing 747 flight test program. (21 min colour)

Chapter 4) 747 Press Flight: ON December 2, 1969, Boeing operated a Seattle to New York demo flight with a new Pan Am 747, specially for the media. Features coverage from the flight, passenger service, flight attendant interviews and the arrival in New York. (11 min colour)

Chapter 5) Seven Forty Seven: A look back at the mid-1970s worldwide operations of the Boeing 747, including British Airways, Air India, Wardair, Singapore Airlines, Avianca, JAL and more. (28 min colour)

Chapter 6) DVD Previews

Total running time: 81 minutes

This DVD is available in NTSC region-free format which will work on all current European DVD players.

In the 1960s, while the commercial airline industry was still in its early years, the aviation business was making great technological strides in terms of aircraft speed and altitude, and the crushing impacts of the Arab oil embargo were still many years away.

The British and French governments collaborated forces to develop a jet transport for the future, that would be far more advanced than the sub-sonic airliners built by the Americans in the form of the Douglas DC-8 and Boeing 707. The goal was to produce a supersonic passenger jet transport capable of carrying 100 passengers in first class comfort across the Atlantic in just a few hours, versus the six or seven hours journey time by conventional jet airliner.

On the French side, Sud Aviation based at Blagnac airport in Toulouse was the selected contractor, while the British contractor in the joint development project was Filton-based British Aircraft Corporation (BAC). Development commenced in the mid 1960s, with airframe and engine work carried out in unison on both sides of the channel. The Olympus engine was the chosen power-plant for the supersonic jet, which was called Concorde.

On Sunday, March 2, 1969, Concorde prototype 001 took to the skies for the first time from Blagnac airfield, Toulouse, an event which was documented by the worldwide media which made headlines around the world. The following month, on March 9, 1969, Concorde prototype 002 took to the skies for the first time from BAC’s Filton location, under the command of British aviation test pilot Brian Trubshaw, an event which also celebrated and reported worldwide.

This 84 minute DVD features promotional films from the era which tell this amazing story, from initial concept, to design, engine test, passenger handling, first flights and flight test during the latter half of the 1960s. Although the film quality is not up to current day standards, the story of the Concorde is truly fascinating, as the aircraft was decades ahead of the competition and to this day, no commercial aircraft has beat the Concorde in terms of speed and productivity for the high yield and highly time sensitive business traveller.

SPECIAL NOTE TO CUSTOMERS:
This DVD was produced using compact low environmental impact packaging.

DVD Programs

Chapter 1) Introduction and Pre-Show

Chapter 2) Concorde flight: a pre-production simulation of the passenger experience on a long-haul Concorde flight.
( 5min colour)

Chapter 3) Concorde takes shape. A look at design and factory manufacture of the prototypes.
(10 min colour)

Chapter 4) Olympus engine report: The development and test of the engine that would power the Concorde.
(12 min colour)

Chapter 5) Concorde Debut 001 prototype with Blagnac roll-out ceremony
(20 min colour)

Chapter 6) Concorde first flight 001 maiden flight from Blagnac on Sunday March 2, 1969
(13 min colour)

Chapter 7) Concorde first flight 002 maiden flight from BAC’s Bristol facility on April 6, 1969.
(7 min colour)

Chapter 8) Concordes 001 and 002 fly: a film that presents the first flights of both the prototype French-built and British-built Concordes.
(14 min colour)

Chapter 9) DVD Previews

Total running time: 90 minutes

This DVD is available in NTSC region-free format which will work on all current European DVD players.

On May 9, 2012, the world’s last operational Boeing 720 took to the skies for the last time ever. Engine test-bed C-FETB was donated by her owners to the National Aviation Museum and was ferried from St-Hubert, Quebec, to her new home at CFB trenton.

Without any official support, our videos crews at both airports captured this historic event on video as presented in this one hour DVD. You’ll see the noisy engine start at St-Hubert followed by take-off and two high speed, low-level airfield flypasts. Our camera team were set up at various locations on the airfield to provide interesting views from different vantage points.

Sadly, the aircraft owners would not assist us in an way with documenting this historic event. Our numerous requests in the period leading up to this event all fell on deaf and uninterested ears. Our keen persistence ruled the day and our team of airfield videographers at both St-Hubert and CFB Trenton filmed every precious second of the 720 as she performed one final time. Suffice it to say, it was extremely unfortunate that we were not permitted to do any live, on-board filming. So sad that this amazing flight took place without any onboard documentation.

When the 720 arrived at CFB Trenton, our cameraman-on-the-scene was at the ready to document the proceedings. Once again requests to officialdom were met with deaf ears. The media folks at CFB Trenton would not allow us the best of access so we weren’t able to see the aircraft coming as it approached the airfield low and fast. Ignorance seems to rule the day when it comes to documenting classic jetliners. However, we did our best to film the two flypasts at CFB Trenton, as well as the roll out, taxi in, and shut down, which was followed by a series of acceptance speeches during the museum handover ceremonies, and a tour of the aircraft.

As of today, there are no more operational Boeing 720s on the planet. This was the last example, and she’s literally flown into the history books and her engines have been silenced forever, but you can relive and enjoy the roar of the Boeing 720 as preserved for posterity on this DVD.

SPECIAL NOTE TO CUSTOMERS:
This DVD was produced using compact low environmental impact packaging.

DVD Programs
Chapter 1) Intro
Chapter 2) Starting engines
Chapter 3) Taxi off stand
Chapter 4) Take-off
Chapter 5) Pro footage take-off
Chapter 6) Flypast #1 St-Hubert
Chapter 7) Flypast #2 St-Hubert
Chapter 8) CFB Trenton pre-arrival
Chapter 9) CFB Trenton flypast
Chapter 10) Gear down flypast
Chapter 11) Last ever Boeing 720 landing
Chapter 12) Taxi in and shut down
Chapter 13) CFB Trenton welcome
Chapter 14) Speeches
Chapter 15) Welcome aboard for a tour
Chapter 16) Bonus tracks
Chapter 17) DVD previews

Total running time: 60 minutes

This DVD is available in NTSC region-free format which will work on all current European DVD players.

This is a four DVD multi-set specially for the IL18 connoisseur filmed by Daniel Frohriep-Ichihara.

According to Steve Kinder, this DVD program is a “treasured memory of the last international charter flight of IL-18 ER-ICB in September, 2010 from Chisinau in Moldova to Zhuliani in the Ukraine, flying onto Marculesti in Moldova.”

With many thanks to the passengers from nine countries and Vladimir and his crew for a truly memorable experience. It is now even more memorable as this IL-18 no longer carries passengers. A truly historic event forever captured on DVD.

This DVD set takes the viewer along for this amazing trip with most of the footage (take-offs and landings) filmed in the passenger cabin. There are some visits to the flight-deck while in flight, but all landings and take-offs were filmed through the passenger windows showing the mighty Ivechenko engines doing their job, with the fabulous sounds that fill the passenger cabin!

Over the course of the four DVDs Daniel’s video camera gives us an in-depth tour inflight as well as on the ground of this amazing aircraft, which is one of the last of its type to carry passengers. At the very end, we savour a high-speed flypast at Chisinau airport, low on the deck, filmed by Daniel out the window with wing view!

For lovers of Russian built aircraft, this four hour DVD multi-set is pure heaven! The amazing sights and sounds of flying this amazing aircraft are forever documented for future generations of aviation fans!.

Four DVD Multi-Set
Air Company Grixona IL-18 ER-ICB SEP 18 2010

DVD 1) (54 minutes)
Ground footage Chisinau and flight Chisinau – Kiev (Zhuliani)

DVD 2) (65 minutes)
Chisinau – Kiev flight continued / ER-ICB on ground

DVD 3) (66 minutes)
Kiev – Marculesti Air Base

DVD 4) (52 minutes)
Marculesti – Chisinau including flypast at Chisinau

Total running time of: 237 minutes
16X9 widescreen format

This DVD is available in NTSC region-free format which will work on all current European DVD players.

NOTE: THIS DVD CONTAINS NO FLIGHT DECK FOOTAGE. Air Creebec operates two HS748 freighters from their Timmins base serving many of the remote First Nations communities of Northeastern Ontario and James Bay. This indepth DVD takes the viewer to visit Air Creebec’s HS748 cargo operations at Timmins, Cochrane and Moosonee. We meet Air Creebec’s operations people along the way that make it all happen, and there is “loads” of HS748 and ear-piercing Rolls Royce Dart action that more than highlights the capabilities of this superb aircraft.

This DVD was filmed in 16X9 widescreen with a high definition camera and we have presented the footage in the best quality possible so that it can be enjoyed in all it’s ear-splitting splendour on all standard definition DVD players (worldwide region-free format).

Classic airline fans and HS748 Rolls Royce Dart lovers will be more than satisfied with the noisy helpings of 748s action on this DVD. At each location we visited for filming, we filmed extensive 748 cargo handling operations speaking to the hands-on people that make it all happen, and the back to back 748 engine starts, departures, landings, taxi sequences and engine spool down sequences represent a superb documentation of this fabulous, classic, British-built marque. We salute Air Creebec .. and we salute the amazing HS748!!

SPECIAL NOTE TO CUSTOMERS:
This DVD was produced using compact low environmental impact packaging.

DVD Programs
Chapter 1) Timmins Intro
Chapter 2) Maintenance Perspective
Chapter 3) Up to Moosonee
Chapter 4) Moosonee HS748 operations
Chapter 5) Doug Medd at Moosonee
Chapter 6) HS748 Moose arrival
Chapter 7) HS748 re-configuration
Chapter 8) “Quiet Boys”
Chapter 9) Another Moose HS748 arrival
Chapter 10) More Moosonee HS748 operations
Chapter 11) Cochrane
Chapter 12) Cochrane HS748 departure and arrival
Chapter 13) Lloyd Richards
Chapter 14) Timmins HS748 operations
Chapter 15) Dan and Jason with Timmins cargo ops
Chapter 16) Timmins HS748 loading
Chapter 17) HS748 walkaround
Chapter 18) Timmins HS748 departure and arrival
Chapter 19) Jason with more Timmins HS748 loading
Chapter 20) Another HS748 departure and arrival
Chapter 21) DVD Previews

Total running time: 105 minutes

This DVD is available in NTSC region-free format which will work on all current European DVD players.