Air Canada TCA History | From Lodestars to Jets – Clayton Glenn Memoirs 1943-1964 288 pages all colour book

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Henry Tenby, the author AIR TRAVEL TIME MACHINEAIR TRAVEL TIME MACHINE presents the most extensive photo history of Air Canada TCA ever to be published in the annals of aviation in this remarkable limited print volume as told by the late Clayton Glenn.

Clayton Glenn joined TCA in 1943, and during his many decades with TCA and Air Canada, was intimately involved with the aircraft evaluation and selection process for the all the great types including the Lockheed Lodestar, Douglas DC-3, Canadair NorthStar, Vickers Viscount, Lockheed Super Constellation, Vickers Vanguard, Douglas DC-8 and DC-9 all of which are detailed in this volume, with lavish photo and image support many of which have never been published.

Air Canada TCA History | From Lodestars to Jets – Clayton Glenn Memoirs 1943-1964 288 pages all colour book

Henry Tenby has made it one of his life missions to celebrate and document the history of Canada’s flag carrier airline Air Canada (formerly Trans Canada Airlines) and from a chance worked related meeting with Clayton Glen in the mid 1990s, where he introduced his detailed TCA memoirs which then were kept in safe isolation for nearly thirty years, Henry Tenby is honoured and thrilled to present this amazing historical work.

The 288 all colour pages that are presented in this lavishly presented hard cover volume offer a look back to the engineering, industry and commercial fascinating implications that were at play as all of TCA’s great historical airliners were selected and introduced to service, as presented in Clayton Glenn’s voice. There are many juicy and revealing stories that will surprise and shock even the most well learned airline historians who thought they have heard it all.

This volume will provide many hours of fascinating reading and insight and revelations and if this volume proves successful, there might be a volume two, to present the follow on years of Air Canada aircraft fleet matters into the 1960s and 1970s.

Only 400 copies of this book have been printed and it will likely sell out fast.

Reader Testimonials
(Please let me know what you think of the book so I can add your testimonial here.)

The density of images and information, this is unrivalled in the history of airline, erm .. histories. Wowsers! I have no idea how you and your designer have pulled this off. Lucky Clayton Glenn (RIP) and lucky Air Canada!
Charles Kennedy

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Air Travel Time Machine | Kodachrome Memories 1962-1960 A4 size 288 pages all colour with over 600 colour images by Henry Tenby:

The author has made it one of his life missions to assemble a growing collection of unique and fascinating Kodachrome images created in the mid of the last century, that were spontaneous photographic captures of every day air travels, at a time when the vast majority of the population were still travelling this great world by ocean liner.

The 288 all colour pages that are presented in this lavishly presented hard cover volume will offer a look back to an era where people travelled in style to the four corners of the globe by modes of air transport that were very much still in their infancy. Pay close attention to the small details that lurk in the backgrounds of the pictures of the pages that follow, and you will revel in amazement of how good things were on this planet so many decades ago.

Between the close of World War II and 1960, air travel went from the piston banger era to the jet age. This was a short period of barely 15 years. Between 1960, and the publication date of this book 2024, some 64 years have passed. Although commercial aircraft have become somewhat larger, there have been no real advancements in air travel technology that can compare to those after the post World War II era covered in this volume.

Dear reader, it is hoped that you will sincerely enjoy this fascinating time machine look back to the early days of postwar air travel, as much as the author enjoyed compiling this fascinating archive over the past 30 years. Thank you for your support in purchasing this book. It is the author’s sincerest wish that you may always travel in comfort and safety, and enjoy the decency and respect of your fellow passengers.

Reader Testimonials
(Please let me know what you think of the book so I can add your testimonial here.)

The book arrived yesterday. It’s a masterpiece! No sooner had I opened the package than nearly three hours vanished – I really was that engrossed! And the photography is spectacular. I can barely guess at the number of hours you must have put in to come up with such a high-quality selection. It’s surely unique in its revelation of the vernacular aspect of air travel, with people really interacting with what’s going on. I love it! A very original perspective on which to focus – one which I don’t recall seeing before (and I’ve got a pretty large commercial aviation library). It contributes a huge amount of necessary information to the record of airline history and evolution. I really didn’t mean to write an essay about it – but I’m simply overwhelmed by nostalgia! Seriously, I think the sheer authenticity of the view is what grabbed me. I also note, to my personal satisfaction, that Stratocruisers are thoroughly well-represented! Henry, congratulations on a masterful piece of no doubt very hard work. Thank you for making all this material available. I’m very much looking forward to the next volumes. All the best – and bravo!
Robin Dunn

Just received your book. What a feast for the eyes! I’ve always wanted an aeroplane book just like this. Not just boring views of aeroplanes, but living witnesses to a bygone era. I’m already looking forward to the next editions.
Best wishes from Switzerland!
Peter Guenthard

What a wonderful book! Absolutely stunning…I have been an aircraft mechanic all my life, starting in the Air Force, Corporate, and then Republic, Northwest airlines. Now retired but have seen a lot of aviation books in my life and this one tops the list!!! I Can’t wait for volume 2! Please put me on the list. Thank’s again for your efforts.
Mark Bohlke

I received you book today. That is the nicest book on classic aviation I have ever seen.
Mario Biondi

I received the book yesterday. A fabulous page-turning experience has begun. I had not realized there would be so much content.
I like that it states that this is Volume 1 — more to come.
Joanne Hogan

WOW!….BEAUTIFUL book, love it! The quality is outstanding. WW2, 50’s and 60’s are the years of aviation development that I enjoy the most.
Is there a “Volume Two” in work?
Robert Badialdi

I would like to express my joy and delight having purchased the “Air Travel Time Machine – volume 1”. It is a thrill to turn each and every page and the quality of reproduction of all those wonderful Kodachromes is remarkable. It must have given you great pleasure to assemble so many images from an era when black & white film still ruled in the UK. I have recommended the book to several friends, who I am sure will be ordering copies too.
Tony Merton Jones

Henry, I just bought this for my dad for his birthday and it’s a phenomenal book. Just fantastic. Love the personal notes you provide throughout and the photos are simply amazing!
Brad Snelling

The book is absolutely beautiful! My first flight was on a TWA 749 from Los Angeles to Philadelphia in 1948 (5 years old). I have been hooked on aviation ever since. I enjoyed many flights during the “Golden Age”. My home library has an extensive aviation catalogue and your book will enjoy a top spot. Thank you.
Harvey Stein

I just received your latest book, Air Travel Time Machine. From my Initial quick review, it’s absolutely incredible. Makes me wish I had kept all my early photos and sides. Too late now.
Richard Schindler

What a magnificent volume! Barely had a chance to glance at it so far, but I know I will spend many happy hours poring over it. Thanks so much!!
Karl Juelch

Breathtaking is how I rate your book. I have a substantial collection of transport category aircraft and your book rates in the tops! Very well done and the format is perfect. I have a second book coming for my father and I cannot wait for it to arrive as he will get a bigger thrill because it was his era of inspiration to be an airline pilot. If you want my second opinion, perfect!
Michael Steiger

The book arrived today and I couldn’t put it down! Thank you very much for doing this, it was great to see. Well worth the wait. Sign me up for Volume 2 and 3, I can’t wait;- as a kid I did a lot of flying around the world in the 1970s, I would love to see some of the same type of pictures from that era, it would bring back a lot of memories. Thanks again for a fantastic book; I very much enjoyed it; – keep up the good work!
Marc Bink

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Aircraft Display Model Collector, Investor & Appraisal Guide – First Edition by Henry Tenby

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Created and printed in Canada, welcome to this, the first essential guide to assist serious collectors and investors interested in expanding their collection of professional aircraft display models. This volume acts as the first ever “blue book” for display model collectors. We explore the most desirable model manufacturers to collect, and which models to avoid. This book is considered as essential reading for all collectors from novices to veterans, before spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on that next aircraft display model, be informed with the latest market information.

What brought about the genesis of this book one might ask. Most other mainstream hobbies have a whole host of value guides that collectors can use to reference values for the items in their collections. Stamps, coins, sports cards, vintage watches, records, almost every collectible range one can think of has its own reference and value guides, some of which are published annually and others not. Why didn’t the aircraft display model collectors have such a price guide?

This conundrum had been something the author lamented for some years, while waiting for someone else to publish such an invaluable reference. It also made sense for those with peripheral interest in the hobby, such as family members wanting to dispose of display models but not having a clue as to what they had, let alone what it was worth. And of course many collectors require bona fide evaluation materials for household insurance covers for their collections. And even insurance companies themselves could use such a guide. For all of these reasons, the author decided enough is enough, and it was high time to put “pen to paper” and get it done.

Aircraft Display Model Collector, Investor & Appraisal Guide – First Edition by Henry Tenby – Table of Contents

The book includes input (information and photos) from 19 of the world’s top aircraft display model collectors, which makes this publication truly an international effort, that will prove to be a reliable and trusted source of valuation information for years to come. Whether you are a serious long term collector, a new collector seeking to expand your collection, or an insurance agent or the family member of a collector seeking more information on the topic of travel agent models and their values, this book is for you. The solid advice and safeguard recommendations contained within the pages of this book will prove to far exceed the cover price, not to mention the fact that most collectors will find the content fascinating and worthy of reading over and over again.

Reader Testimonials

“The book arrived & to say it’s a great piece of work is an understatement! WOW! This work of yours is truly AMAZING! I’ve already purchased two books you recommended within your book. Now with your book & these other two, I hope to become even more informed!” – Seth Geller, USA

“What can I say but, WOW !!! I’ve done a quick look see followed up by a more in depth look. It just keeps getting better. I never knew there were so many manufactures of these models. I can’t say that anymore. Mind blowing. I hope this is just the first of many books you write in regards to theses models. I will buy each and every one that comes out.” – Richard Schindler, USA

“Received your books today. I am amazed what you have put together. VERY professionally done. There is nothing like it out there as to collecting aircraft models. You are right in saying “The Best Blue Book for Model Aircraft Collectors.” – Robert Petite, Canada

“To say that I like it very much would truly be an understatement. There’s lots to take in with great info and gorgeous colour.” – Mario Mattarelli, USA

“Today, I received your magnificent book. I am overwhelmed. This is a real piece of art! CONGRATULATIONS!!!” – Jonny Ziemann, Germany

“The book arrived this morning, I can’t put it down!” – Neil Newman, Suffolk, UK

“I just received this book and the pictures are gorgeous and will make you drool!!!!! LOVE this book!!!!!!” – William Curry, USA

“The book landed today. Very well laid out and chock full of information. You have done a huge amount to accomplish this and the cameos on other collectors are great. I very much liked the story about Brian Tompkins.” – Anthony Lawler, Sonoma, USA

(Note: this book is only available exclusively from the author via sales page)

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Henry Tenby has become a regular sight on the rocks behind the Air Tindi float base, where he spends much of his spare time getting pictures of exotic float planes.

Talking to Henry Tenby is like discovering a new and exotic culture. Tenby is an aviation enthusiast, and airplanes occupy most of his waking life.

He works for an airline, builds model airplanes in his spare time, spends his evenings down by the Air Tindi float base in Yellowknife’s Old Town, waiting to ambush out-of-town float planes with his camera. He exchanges letters with airplane buffs around the world, and even helps organize conventions for enthusiasts.

Apart from taking and trading photos of airplanes, Henry Tenby has also amassed a large collection of airplane models, and is seen here admiring an NWT Air Hercules in his Yellowknife office.

Most importantly, airplane buffs collect pictures of airplanes. Ramp shots, they call them: planes on airport tarmacs, with no people or baggage trains in view.

“It‘s like a little confraternity,” says Larry Milberry, a publisher of aviation books who was in the N.W.T. last week to visit Tenby and bone up on his Northern aviation history.

“When they get together, they have what I view as infernal slide shows,” Milberry says. The buffs will watch tray after tray of airplane slides, for hours at a time, he says.

“This is like a world—wide hobby,” Milberry says “it’s huge for example in Japan . . . The airplane spotters in Britain are absolute maniacs.”

40,000 slides

Tenby is a bit of a non-conformist within the aviation culture, because he likes to take pictures of airplanes in flight, and hopes one day to put together a book of air-to-air photos.

At the ripe age of 28, he has already collected 40,000 plane slides, of which he estimates he
probably shot 15,000 himself.

But then again, he first got interested in aviation back in 1967.

“My grandmother took me out to the observation deck at Vancouver airport,” he says. “It was love at first sight.”

Back home in Vancouver, he has 50 airline display models of fibreglass. “I don’t own a home big enough to store them all,” he says.

When Tenby graduated from school, he went to North Dakota to do a bachelors in aviation. He then went on to do a masters in business administration.

Tenby got a job in Seattle with an aircraft-leasing company. But when the company tried to transfer him to a job in Peru, the scene of a nasty civil war, Tenby balked.

He called up an acquaintance at NWT Air and got work with the airline, choosing planes and helping with budgeting and scheduling.

“Yellowknife is fascinating from an aviation standpoint,” Tenby says.

The fact that many Northern communities are only accessible by air and the large number of float planes in the North make Yellowknife an ideal spot for the hard-core aviation buff, he says.

Henry Tenby thoroughly enjoying his time soaking up the action on the open air observation deck at Amsterdam Schiphol airport.

As an avid world traveller for most of the half century I have been on this planet, and a full-fledged airline freak, I have spent a lot of time over the passing decades visiting airports for fun, travel, leisure and business. I am one of those people who actually loves spending time at an airport, soaking up the atmosphere, watching aircraft, hanging out at the gate, or putting my feet up in my favourite lounges.

That said, not all airports are equal when it comes to checking all the check boxes for the items that make a fun and memorable airport visit, in my books. But Amsterdam Airport is one of those airports that is a full-fledged destination in its own right, that as an aviation fan I can spend an entire 2-3 days visit encamped at and thoroughly enjoy my time.

It has a hell of a lot to offer, the time passes quickly, and it is an airport that I always enjoy visiting and look forward to visiting again. For all of the reasons I present below, Amsterdam Schiphol airport is actually my favourite airport in the entire world!

1. World Class Observation Deck
Certainly in North America, open air observation decks are a thing of the distant past. God forbid airports in North America can offer such a lovely facility to their community. They will say it cannot be done due to security concerns. What a load of bollocks. I am not going to get into that debate but I will say the more family orientated you make your airport, the better a place it will be and you end up with a wold class airport, not a highly crowded, unpleasant box of a building that processes passengers in a boring, sterile environment. Airport planners the world over need to take a page from the book at Amsterdam Schiphol!

An aviation enthusiast’s dream come true! A lovely open air observation deck with expansive views of the whole airport is what awaits visitors to Amsterdam’s famous Schiphol airport.

The large open expanse of the open air observation deck at Amsterdam Schiphol is a tourist attraction in its own right. The locals love visiting this location to spend time with children and families while at the airport. It is such a lovely feature that most airports have completely ignored as we approach the 2020s.

Another fine view of the busy activity at Amsterdam Schiphol airport as viewed from the lovely open air observation terrace.

2. Airliner On Top Of The Observation Deck
The real crowning touch for an airline buff, in addition to having an open air observation deck that is not behind thick glass or chain link fence, is to have an actual airliner on the said open air observation deck that you can actually go inside and soak up the atmosphere. Either rest your feet by taking a seat in the passenger cabin, or pay a visit to the flight deck. The choice is yours at Amsterdam Schiphol! They get top marks on this attribute. How many airports in the world other than Amsterdam Schiphol offer an actual, fully complete airliner that you can visit, that sits on top of their observation deck? The answer is zero!

Another nice view of KLM Fokker 100 atop the observation deck at Amsterdam Schiphol airport. A popular destination for kids!

Nice under belly view of the KLM Fokker 100 that sits atop the observation deck at Amsterdam Schiphol airport. You can even go inside the Fokker 100 to take a seat or view the flightdeck.

KLM Fokker 100 on display on top of the observation deck at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

Why not take a visit to the KLM Fokker 100 that sits atop the observation deck at Amsterdam Schiphol airport. You can take a seat to rest your feet, or view the flight deck.

A trademark Amsterdam Schiphol view. The KLM Fokker 100 that sits atop the observation deck is framed with the Schiphol control tower. You can take a photo just like this yourself, all you have to do is visit the Schiphol observation terrace next time you are lucky enough to be in Amsterdam.

3. The Airport is Home to the World’s Oldest Airline
This year 2019 is the year that KLM will be celebrating its 100th birthday. Very few other world airlines will hit this milestone soon. Perhaps Avianca, and Lufthansa might be getting close. But Lufthansa is not the continuation of the same company as it was re organized after World War 2 as new company. Whereas KLM has been a continuation of the very same company since its initial founding just a few years after the end of World War One! I love KLM, it is a great airline, the staff are super friendly and nice, and their global brand and image with the trademark blue and the Royal crown are recognizable the world over. You’d have to be living at the bottom of the ocean or under a rock to not be instantly familiar with the KLM Royal Dutch airline brand. It is a great airline that is headquartered at a great airport, and for me, that counts a lot!

Of course KLM and Schiphol airport are joined at the hip, and have been for about 100 years now! This nice view is from the shopping concourse windows which are plentiful, once you pass through the security checks to board your flight.

4. The Airport Still Has Plenty of Passenger 747-400s On Scheduled Flights
A great airport has to be served by great aircraft, this is a must! If an airport only has boring airplanes then the airport gets very low marks in my books. This is my strong view as a hard-core airline freak.

Ideally I want to be able to fly out of an airport on classic jetliners. Of course the vintage first generation jetliners like the 707 and DC-8 are long gone (with exception to a small number of air forces that still operate some airframes as military and VIP transports and refuel birds). But that does not mean you have to accept second best like Airbus 340s or 767-200s. Today, I believe the 747-400 pax bird is the best classic jetliner you can possibly fly on.

All the US carriers have sadly dumped the 747-400s from their fleets. How stupid, given the aircraft are so iconic, safe, reliable and offer the passengers such a high level of comfort and passenger appeal. To phase them out in favour of plastic new gen Airbus and Boeing aircraft was premature thinking. Just look across the north Atlantic for common sense and inspiration. We have Lufthansa in Germany still operating their 747-400 classics. And of course we have KLM Royal Dutch Airlines still operating their beautiful fleet of Boeing 747-400 classics, all based from Amsterdam Schiphol airport. Where you can still fly on them on select North American routes and Caribbean routes to the ABC Islands.

KLM still operates a magnificent fleet of Boeing 747-400 classics. But sadly their days are numbered as the 747-400 fleet will be gradually retired over the next few years. What not a better place to see them at than Amsterdam’s famous Schiphol airport.

Nice big nose view! KLM 747-400 classic PH-BFW at the gate at Amsterdam’s famous Schiphol airport.

Amother very nice view of a KLM 747-400 classic PH-BFW at the gate at Amsterdam’s famous Schiphol airport.

5. The Lounge Has A 20 Out Of 10 Apron View
Not only do I like spending time at airports, I also very much enjoy my rest and relaxation time at the airport lounges. To be hurdled about an airport with the teaming hoards of Calcutta is not my idea of a good time. Thank you very much. I prefer to be in a quiet, luxurious lounge where I can put my feet up, check my emails, read, have a nice meal, enjoy a drink or two, or perhaps have a quiet snooze while I pass the time waiting for my flight. I would not think of travelling without having access to the lounge at any airport I happen to pass through on my travels.

That said, there are a lot of superb lounges that I have visited at airports pretty much everywhere. But, so far, I have only found two airport lounges that offer unparalleled views of the apron activity that is worthy of pulling out a camera to shoot photos or video. One being the old Air Canada Aeroplan lounge at LAX that was atop the concourse which offered fabulous airfield views, but I think this has since closed or been moved to a less impressive vantage point. The other, which exists today, is the international departures lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol airport.

This is a 20 out of 10 lounge in my books. The main reason being that it offers excellent amenities, good food and drink, and most importantly, the view from the windows is a full-on expanse of the apron activity below. The chairs are super comfy, it is a large and airy open space, and you can sit here watching the world go by and the time waiting for your flight’s boarding time will pass all too quickly. Actually far too quickly than you would want. Because if you are like me, you will want to spend an extended period of time in the lounge because it is so good.

The airline lounge (airside post security) offers a smashing view of the airfield and aircraft and is a great place to spend quality time relaxing before your flight. The lounge offers a wide selection of drinks and snacks but can get busy so be sure to budget your time accordingly. The walking distance from the lounge to the furthest gates can take 15-20 minutes during peak period. Whatever duration of time you get to spend in the lounge, it will be well worth it!

6. Any Airport With a Boeing 747 I Can Sleep In Is Top of My List!
This is not a pipe dream! Very soon (late 2019) you will be able to sleep on board a de-commissioned KLM Boeing 747-400 at the Corendon Hotel at Schiphol airport. This will be the first time a retired airliner has been deployed as a boutique hotel at a world class airport location. The KLM Boeing 747-400 was retired last year and in early February of 2019, the big jet was re-positioned from the active area of the airport to its new hotel location (adjacent to the ibis) during the dead of night moving at a snail’s pace using a specially designed roller transport system. It will take several months for the 747 to be retrofitted with a new hotel accommodation interior. This amazing landmark is just another layer of icing on the cake as to why Amsterdam Schiphol airport has ten reasons why it my favourite airport in the world, and all the other airports in the world are not!

If sleep in a de-commissioned KLM 747-400 is on your bucket list, the Corendon Hotel at Amsterdam Schiphol airport is your ticket! Later this year they will open their 747 hotel for guest visits, and I cannot wait to take them up on it! The best room will have to be those in the upper deck just behind the flight deck. Or the rooms over wing with nice engine views. I wonder if the beds will have an option rumble mode to simulate engine cruise at FL 390. (photo by Anthony Hickey, Schiphol Feb 24, 2019)

7. The Airport Has An Interesting Mix Of Traffic
Not all airports are created equally in this department. Some hub airports are dead boring. If an airport is 95% Delta or Ryanair it can get pretty boring for the visiting aviation fan rather quickly. This is not the case here at Amsterdam Schiphol. To the contrary, Schiphol has an excellent mix of international traffic and the observation deck is never a boring place. Some of the Amsterdam aviation locals have become part of the furniture, just like at Heathrow where grizzled spotters with telescopes have been encamped at their posts since before Wham! split up. If not longer (since the Beatles broke up!) Airlines from former Dutch colonies feature quite heavily at Schiphol including Surinam Airways and Garuda Indonesia. Delta maintains an impressive presence with some 10 plus flights daily to various US gateway cities. An interesting mix of cargo jets from Asia add to the flavour to make this European hub airport one of the best on the Continent, easily on a par with Frankfurt.

Make a wish! Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 framed with a rainbow at Amsterdam Schiphol airport as seen from the boarding gate windows.

Privilege Triple Seven 300ER “Auria” at Amsterdam Schiphol airport viewed from the boarding gate.

Typical view from the observation deck at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

A Delta A330 pushes back off the gate at Amsterdam Schiphol airport as viewed from the magnificent open air observation deck.

Garuda Indonesia 777-300ER having been pushed back from departure at Amsterdam Schiphol airport.

8. Any Airport With a Local Aviation Hobby Shop Gets Tops Marks
It was the British to created the airport based hobby shop concept back in the 1970s, with Brian Austria-Tomkins and his Executive Display Models based at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel at Heathrow airport. His lovely models were extremely expensive back in the 1990s, which was when I used to visit the shop to admire the fabulous models offered for sale. The Executive Display Models were primarily the domain of the resident oil sheiks who had models produced of their personal aircraft. I would take the bus from Heathrow over to the hotel just to dream about the models, and I have many memories of being outside the front of the Sheraton Skyline and watching the Concorde on full power take-off thundering down the runway reaching skyward for New York or Miami.

Just an easy ten minute bus ride from the Schiphol central bus station will take you to the world famous Aviation MegaStore which is the world’s largest aviation hobby shop. It is a destination in its own right for aviation fans, modellers, diecast and display model collectors, and pilots. The shop has a huge selection of hard-to-find aviation books and models curated from the four corners of the globe.

Half the floor space is dedicated to diecast airliner models, and there is whole room filled with filing cabinets loaded to the rafters with decals sheets, also curated from decal producers all over the world. It is not a problem to spend several hours at this shop checking out all they have to offer. The difficult task is narrowing down what you are going to purchase, unless you have an unlimited hobby budget. (Which I think many of you do have!)

The Aviation Mega Store on the perimeter of Amsterdam Schiphol airport has to be the world’s largest aviation hobby shop under one roof. They offer a massive selection of aviation books, models, hobby supplies, and even a Boeing 737 flight simulator.
Situated at 249 Molenweg in Aalsmeerderbrug, the shop is only 10 minutes by bus from the Schiphol central bus station.

9. The Attached Shopping Centre Is Excellent With Fair Prices
For a hard-core airline buff, you would not think that the presence of a shopping centre is of much importance when rating favourite airports. But it actually is, for several reasons. I use the airport as a frequent transit point between the hotel, city centre visits, and other side trips in the region. I find myself passing through the airport quite frequently when I visit cities for airline shows and aviation conventions. Often the food at hotels is costly and under par as they have a captive client base.

The Amsterdam Schiphol airport shopping centre is fantastic, and I love spending time there. The Albert Heijn supermarket offers a fabulous selection of high quality, and healthy, foods, salads, pre-made sandwiches, and yummy snacks that you simply will not find at North American airports. North American airports are all about pushing unhealthy, waist expanding comfort foods, like hamburger, pasta and pizza. The nice news at Schiphol is that you can eat healthy for very reasonable cost. Sure, they have the bad food choices too like Burger King, but there are more than enough healthy food options including the fantastic “la Place” French buffet restaurant, which is my favourite dining location at Schiphol airport. This buffet per unit costing so you pay for what you take, but the home-style cooking and fantastic atmosphere is well worth the price of admission.

At Amsterdam Schiphol airport shopping centre they have a very diverse selection of shops, with prices quite similar to what you would pay off airport. Which is a refreshing change from the elevated prices that shops charge at most other airports. I stopped in at the Rituals shop and bought some of their nice skin products, and recommend you pay them a visit if you’d like your skin to look and smell great. They are a Dutch company and I really like their products.

The fun at Amsterdam Schiphol airport is not only confined to the observation deck. The airport offers a fantastic shopping mall as well, with an excellent selection of shops and restaurants as well as several Albert Heijn grocery stores for value priced food. There is an an aviation hobby shop where you can book tickets for an airport tour.

10. The Airport Is An Easy Commute To A World Top 10 Best City
No offence, but Toronto, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Dubai may all have excellent airports, but I personally would not classify those cities as world’s best destinations. Not even close. If I am passing through YYZ, DFW, or DXB I certainly do not feel compelled to break my journey to visit the city centre to soak up the action for a touristic visit, because the airport host city is overflowing with things to see and do for the tourist.

This is absolutely not the case with Schiphol Airport and the lovely city of Amsterdam. If you have not already been to see Amsterdam, then you have to make it part of your plan next time you pass through Amsterdam Schiphol airport to make the quick and easy journey from the airport to the city centre. Amsterdam and its famous canals is beautiful.

It is a great walking city with so much to see and do. You can easily spend a full day sight-seeing, all by foot, and you will be sure to fall in love with this destination. During my last visit, just a few weeks ago, I took the city bus directly from the airport to Leidseplein Square, the bus ticket was about 10 Euros return. I did a big circle route which took me to Antiek Centrum, Prinsengracht, Singel, and then to the Rijks Museum, and finally back to Leidseplein.

I stopped for a bite to eat at Albert Heijn whenever I felt hungry, but there were other neat food options everywhere you looked. Everything from stroopwaffel to haringhandel to Surinamese food to Falafel, Donair and pizza is readily available to suit every palate. The city of Amsterdam operates with a very high load factor and of course there are a loads of tourists, and foot traffic can be busy on the main streets. That said, without a doubt, no visit to Amsterdam Schiphol airport would be complete with a visit to the old city centre of Amsterdam.

Even if you are a hard core airline freak, when visiting Amsterdam you have to take a break from the airport and head into Amsterdam for a day of exploring this amazing water city. It is a 20 out of 10 city, take it from Henry Tenby that you won’t be disappointed!

BONUS REASON 11. Amsterdam Schiphol has the Polderbaan Spotting location!

My video is pretty much self-explanitory.

Air Canada Vickers Viscount CF-TGT is serviced between flights at Vancouver’s old South Terminal Building in June of 1967. This particular Viscount was delivered to TCA on August 4, 1955, and was WFU in 1969. She was broken up at Winnipeg in 1970.

The landing of two Air Canada Viscounts at Toronto and Montreal April, 27 marked the retirement of the short-haul aircraft that have been a familiar sight in Canadian skies for 19 years.

Trans-Canada Air Lines Vickers Viscount DVD available here

The Viscount was the first turbine-powered airplane to be used on this continent, and it was in April, 1955, that Trans-Canada Air Lines first put it on scheduled daily service between Montreal and Winnipeg, with stopovers at Toronto and Fort William, Ont., now Thunder Bay.

The first flight was piloted by Capt. Walter Kent, now retired and living in Toronto, and its first officer was Capt. D. F. Tribe, who lives in Vancouver and now flies Air Canada Boeing 747s.

Air Canada Vickers Viscount on board pre departure from Ottawa circa 1966. This photo was supplied by “Breathnach” and seeing the interior of an Air Canada Viscount from the mid 1960s is pure magic, as it is such a rare image. The passengers are nicely relaxed reading their papers, while the flight attendant up front greets a boarding passenger with a newspaper. A Viscount memory from half a century ago frozen in time.

The first Viscount was delivered to Montreal from Wisley, England, with enroute technical stops made in Scotland, lceland, Greenland and Labrador back in December, 1954.

Manufactured by Vickers Armstrong, the Viscounts were delivered to their Canadian owners over a period of five years. TCA bought 51 of the little workhorses, and the large sale to a North American customer helped give British aviation technology a much-needed shot in the arm. Nearly 500 Viscounts were sold over the years, giving the aircraft the distinction of being one of the most successful commercial aircraft produced by Great Britain.

Air Canada Vickers Viscount CF-TIE at London, Ontario in September of 1966 with the company of a sistership. London was a sked Air Canada destination from Toronto Malton for Air Canada Viscounts and even Vanguards in the 1960s and early 1970s.

And for TCA’s passengers, it gave them the opportunity to ride aboard not just another “prop-job” but on an aircraft that would play the key role in aviation history by bridging the gap between the era of piston engines and the dawn of the jet age.

The 81-foot long, four-engine Vis-count was the darling of cabin and cockpit crews alike. “It was a beautiful airplane, and we all loved it,” recalls Mrs. L. l. (Billie) Houseman, Air Canada’s chief stewardess for many years.

The aircraft had a galley and coat room in the rear, with two lavatories in the from. As its main visual feature, it had huge oval-shaped windows whose drapes, made of hand-woven plaid, were designed by Karen Bulow of Montreal.

Air Canada Vickers Viscount awaits passengers at London, Ontario in September of 1966. London was a regular schedule destination for Air Canada Viscounts and even Vanguards in the 1960s and early 1970s.

“Work was made very easy for the two stewardesses on board. And another thing: the plane was beautifully quiet,” Mrs. Houseman recalled.

Trans Canada Airlines Viscount NorthStar Lodestar vintage movies from the 1950s stream on JetFlix TV

Pierre Charbonneau, now a captain on Lockheed L-1011 aircraft, remembers with fondness the 12 years he spent flying Viscounts across the land. And he, too, extols the plane’s quiet virtues.

“There was no noise, no vibrations,” Capt. Charbonneau said. “You put a five cent piece on a table or on an arm rest, and it would not even quiver. For those days, that was quite remarkable.”

Air Canada Vickers Viscount CF-THY at Toronto Malton April 1972.

The captain added that “the Viscount was an extremely versatile airplane for its time. It showed high reliability and efficiency. The Viscount’s four Rolls-Royce Dart engines were so proficient that they hardly offered maintenance problems.”

The Dart engine, over its many years of operations, became indeed refined to the point that it offered an industry standard of excellence and dependability.

Trans Canada Airlines Flight Attendant Training on Vickers Viscounts 1950s film on JetFlix TV

The Viscount had several seating configurations in the 1950s during the early years of service with TCA. Some were all first class, seating 44 persons. But in recent years, the Viscount was configured to seat 48 passengers in an all Economy configuration.

That was only a handful more than the 40-passenger North Star offered. But the difference between the two aircraft was more evident in other fields. The Viscount was much smaller in size, but was a faster aircraft with a cruising speed of 315 mph.

Air Canada Vickers Viscount CF-THC seen from the observation deck at a very Montreal Dorval in July of 1971, the photo being taken by Tom Kucherich.

Good and useful as it was, however, the Vickers Viscount could not avoid becoming an obsolescent aircraft. And just as it had replaced the Canadair North Star and the DC-3s of another era, it had to give way in turn to more modern and sophisticated equipment: the McDonnell-Douglas DC-9. The airline has 53 of the pure jet DC-9s which have now taken the Viscounts’ place as Air Canada’s largest fleet of a single type of aircraft. Air Canada’s fleet of Viscounts was gradually reduced in size throughout the years, until there remained only the 24 airplanes recently acquired by the two Montreal second hand aircraft brokerage firms.

Some of the previous Viscounts were retired and sold, others were “cannibalized” their parts being used for the upkeep of the existing fleet, while other parts were donated to aircraft maintenance training schools across Canada.

Air Canada Vickers Viscount CF-THL seen from the observation deck at Montreal Dorval in September of 1973, just a year before the Air Canada Viscount fleet was retired.

Among the purchasers were the Canadian Ministry of Transport. William C. Wold of New York, Canadian Schenley, Transair of Winnipeg, and United Aircraft of Montreal, which is using a former Air Canada Viscount as a test bed for development of a PT6A-50 engine. In future years, the Vickers Viscount is sure to be remembered with great fondness by Canadian air travellers for being a reliable, comfortable and safe aircraft that was an airline workhorse from coast to coast after her illustrious service with Air Canada.

TCA Viscount CF-THR at BOS on 12-22-63, David W Lucabugh photographer. This was Air Transport Photography slide nr V700559 from Clint Groves ATP collection.

TCA Viscount CF-THM gear up landing at Montreal Dorval 1961.

TCA Viscount CF-THM on finals over Montreal April 1963. Slide taken by Dr. John Hatton.

TCA Viscount looking brand new at Toronto Malton, 1956. No other information is known about this beautiful kodachrome slide.

TCA Vickers Viscount CF-TGR at Halifax July 1958.

For more information about the Amsterdam Aviation Fair please visit their website at www.aviationfair.com

(Please see bottom of page for 17 minute full version of the above show video)
I had the opportunity to attend the 2019 Amsterdam Aviation Fair, this being their second annual airline collectibles show. The venue was the Van der Valk Hotel Schiphol A4, which is easily reached by the regular free hotel shuttle from the airport. The one day show is open to the public between 10 am and 5 pm, and this year the show featured an amazing 270+ tables with nearly 1500 people in attendance, with hard-core collectors and attendees coming from all over Europe, Turkey, Canada, the US and Japan.

In some 30 years of attending such shows, I can honestly say this was perhaps the best and biggest airline show I have ever attended. Certainly in the past 20 years. I overhead attendees saying “this show is like these shows were in the 1980s and 1990s” before the internet and online auction website caused the decline of such shows with much trader activity moving to online platforms like ebay. A lot of people missed the golden age of these shows, and it is so refreshing to attend a show like this in 2019 and to see such a high level of enthusiasm and excitement for airline collectibles.

Unlike the shows I have attended in the US post 2000, where most of the attendees are the show table holders, this was absolutely not the case at the 2019 Amsterdam Aviation Fair. I am not privy as to the foot traffic generated by US/Canadian shows, but it does not seem like they are able to generate this level of foot traffic in this day and age. Specially when North American shows are held at smaller cities that do not have a massive historical aviation/airline presence like Miami, New York, Los Angeles and Seattle.

The Amsterdam show has pretty much eclipsed every show on the planet except perhaps the US Airliners Inernational annual event. The reason for this could be the central location of Amsterdam and ease of reach by collectors all over the Europe. Another contributing factor in the show’s rapid success, has to be the massive floor space offered for the venue by the Van der Valk Hotel. It is not easy to find such a central and easily reachable hotel with such a large convention space to host upwards of 300 tables and 1500 attendees (including table holders).

It goes without says that the organizing committee for the Amsterdam Aviation Fair puts a lot of time and effort into planning and promoting their show, which happens on a year round basis. Without their amazing efforts this level if rapid success could not be achieved.

As with all shows, all sorts of airline collectibles imaginable are offered for sale at the show. But for travel agent model collectors the show for some reason attracts a massive selection of lovely models for sale, which you simply do not see at any other show at this level. So for that reason alone, I will make all efforts to attend this show in coming years.

For more information about the Amsterdam Aviation Fair please visit their website at www.aviationfair.com

The second annual Amsterdam Aviation Fair took place at the Van der Valk Hotel Schiphol A4 on Sunday, February 24, 2019. For collectors of travel agent models and aircraft display models, this was an amazing show. I have been attending airline collectibles shows for the past 30 years, and collecting display models for just a s long, and can honestly say this show was the best show I have ever attended for models.

Model collectors congregated at the show from the US, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, France and other countries and there were table holders with models for sale of course from the Netherlands, as well as Germany, and France. For collectors of Verkuyl models, given that Matthias Verkuyl was based in Badhoevedorp where he produced his fine models from the 1950s to the 1990s, it only made sense that there was a large number of Verkuyl models for sale at this show.

Two notable collections of display models were recently brought to market after the collectors had released their collection due to old age, and the presence of these two collections at the Amsterdam Aviation Fair 2019 made this a special once-in-a-lifetime buying opportunity for model collectors. The reason being that many of the offered display models were old and rare, and they are not models that present themselves for purchase on a frequent basis.

My videos and photos below give a very good idea of the models that were offered for sale at the show. My suggestion for fellow collectors is to make plans to attend the next year’s Amsterdam Aviation Fair so as not to miss out on getting some really amazing models for your collection. You really do need to make the effort to attend the show because almost all of the display model sellers are only selling their models privately in person-to-person dealings at the show as they do not sell their models online via websites or auction sites like ebay.

If you see models you are interested in, make the effort and attend the next year show. You can get all the latest up to date information about the Amsterdam Aviation Fair by visiting their website www.aviationfair.com

Amazing period 1950s wooden ID model of a Bristol Freighter refinished into Aeropostal Venezuela colours. A really accurate and mazing model.

Side profile view: Amazing period 1950s wooden ID model of a Bristol Freighter refinished into Aeropostal Venezuela colours. A really accurate and mazing model.

This is a very nice 1990s era Lufthansa DC-3 that was made by Verkuyl for the collectors market.

This is believed to be a wooden ID model of a C-119 that was possibly refinished by Verkuyl into Syrian Arab Airlines livery. It sits on a Verkuyl base.

A lovely 1950s era Walker Westway 1/72 scale South African Airways Vickers Viscount 800 metal travel agent model. In very nice condition for its age.

Top view, this is a very nice 1990s era Lufthansa DC-3 that was made by Verkuyl for the collectors market.

Nice top view of what is believed to be a wooden ID model of a C-119 that was possibly refinished by Verkuyl into Syrian Arab Airlines livery. It sits on a Verkuyl base.

Selection of vintage models for sale at the 2019 Amsterdam Aviation Fair. With exception to the DC-8 and Convair these are all wooden models.

The star of the show! This is an original 1950s era KLM Flying Dutchman Lockheed Super Constellation model made by Raise Up. Period models with tip tanks on the Connie makes this a particularly collectible model for collectors.

A 1/72 scale Beech 18 and Focke Wolfe 200 both believed to be refinished metal ID models

Close up view of the wooden ID models of Pan American flying boat and Aeropostal Bristol Freighter.

Big Raise Up KLM 1/50 DC-8 at top, with Verkulyl Martinair DC-8 1/100 in metal, a 1/50 Martinair Convair 640 in resin and an assortment of refinished wooden ID models, all offered for sale at the Amsterdam Aviation Fair 2019.

At the Amsterdam Aviation Fair 2019 there was a large selection of Verkuyl Fokker house livery models. The Verkuyl Fokker models in factory liveries are miuch more valuable than the house livery models, of which there must have been thousands produced in the 1960s and 1970s.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Matthias Verkuyl produced a range of 1/72 classic propliners in metal. Two examples are these 1/72 Stratocruisers in Northwest and United liveries, each bring priced in the 1200 Euro range.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Matthias Verkuyl produced a range of 1/72 classic propliners in metal. This Braniff International Airways Lockheed 749 Connie in 1/72 scale is one such example, priced at 1200 Euros.

This is an original 1950s era Lockheed L749 Connie in period BOAC livery. I believe this model is in 1/100 scale and it appears to be mounted on its original period stand. Not sure of the maker, the price is 850 Euros.

This fabulous photo presents many of the wonderful models from a collector who recently exited the hobby due to old age, and his collection was presented for sale at the Amsterdam Aviation Fair 2019.

This appears to be a 1/100 Raise Up QANTAS Lockheed Super Connie on a replacement stand, being offered at 1100 Euros at the 2019 Amsterdam Aviation Fair.

In the background is a Verkuyl 1/72 metal National Lockheed Super Connie (at 1150 Euros). In the foreground is a small scale metal Air France Deux Ponts, most likely a refinished ID model.

Another view of the wonderful models from a collector who recently exited the hobby due to old age, and his collection was presented for sale at the Amsterdam Aviation Fair 2019.

Some modern and lowered priced travel agent display models offered for sale at the 2019 Amsterdam Aviation Fair.

These models are offered for sale from a long established collector of many decades who recently offered his collection for sale due to old age. Many of these models are military ID models and vintage oldies models that are the types of models you see for sale only once in a lifetime.

The 2019 Amsterdam Aviation Fair also featured sellers offering old toys and tin plate models or airliners for sale.

The large scale Fokker 100 cutaway model is a highlight piece on the table of Patrick van Rooijen, the Managing Organizer of the Amsterdam Aviation Fair.

Another view of the large scale Fokker 100 cutaway model from the late 1980s or early 1990s that was the highlight piece on the table of Patrick van Rooijen, the Managing Organizer of the Amsterdam Aviation Fair.

These models were for sale on the tables of Patrick van Rooijen, the Managing Organizer of the Amsterdam Aviation Fair. He sold the large Air Canada DC-8-63, and the 1/50 scale Uzbekistan IL-76.

Another different view of the larger models that were for sale on the tables of Patrick van Rooijen, the Managing Organizer of the Amsterdam Aviation Fair. He sold the large Air Canada DC-8-63, Martinair DC-10, and the 1/50 scale Uzbekistan IL-76.

This is a unique model of a 1920/30s era Lufthansa Junkers. Although the mixture of modern and vintage liveries is questionable. The model measures about 30 X 30 cm and appears to be of vintage manufacture, possibly hand built. It is certainly is an accurate model and classifies as being unique, as this will likely be the one and only such model like this a collector is likely to see in an entire lifetime of collecting.

Another view from one of the surplus collections of vintage civil and military ID and display models, as offered for sale at the 2019 Amsterdam Aviation Fair.

Another selection of budget priced value models from the modern era offered for sale at the 2019 Amsterdam Aviation Fair. These entry level models are ideal for new collectors entering the hobby.

Another selection of budget priced value models from the modern era offered for sale at the 2019 Amsterdam Aviation Fair. These entry level models are ideal for new collectors entering the hobby.

1950s on top, 1960s and 1970s down below. A nice selection of many Verkuyl models highlight this photo of models offered for sale a the 2019 Amsterdam Aviation Fair.

A nice 1/50 fibreglass TAP Portugal 727-100 travel agent model for sale at the Amsterdam Aviation Fair 2019.

Once-in-a-lifetime modes. This amazing collection of refinished ID models (metal and wood) are from a long term collector who recently released his collection to the marketplace. They were all offered for sale at the Amsterdam Aviation Fair 2019.

This is the table of models for sale of display model collector David Bourgaud from Paris, as presented at the 2019 Amsterdam Aviation Fair.

Some more modern models offered for sale at the 2019 Amsterdam Aviation Fair.

For the corporate model collector, a table with an interesting selection including three Mu-2s.

Fokker house models by IMC and Verkuyl were in good supply at fair prices at the 2019 Amsterdam Aviation Fair.

Some vintage Mystere metal models from the 1950s at 150 Euros per model, at the 2019 Amsterdam Aviation Fair.

Niels Dam, Andreas Stryk and Henry Tenby captured in the optimal selfie with the Lufthansa Viscount 800 D-ANUM as the backdrop. At the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. November, 2018.

The privately owned museum features a very large outdoor collection of post war commercial airliners and military aircraft, from both Eastern and Western block manufacturers. Whilst the older aircraft, engines and historic displays are kept in the indoors building, which is not heated. Our visit of early November very much required warm outdoor clothing as it was quite cold outside and in the building.

In my opinion, the three star exhibits in this collection has to be the original Lufthansa Lockheed Super Constellation D-ALIN, the United Arab Emirates Vickers VC-10 G-ARVF, and the original early 1970s or late 1960s Concorde mock-up, which is open as a heated coffee shop and rest area to seek respite from the elements. The aircraft and helicopters from Soviet times are also very interesting, and although the museum is fairly remote, it is most certainly worth a visit for hard-core aviation tourists who find themselves within a few hour driving range of the collection.

Another nice view, this time in side profile of Lufthansa L-1049 Super Connie D-ALIN at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Henry Tenby with the fabulous Lufthansa Lockheed Super Constellation at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

‘Aint it pretty! The three fins of the Connie are pure aviation magic! Lufthansa L-1049 Super Connie D-ALIN is one of the star attractions at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

I can’t get enough of a lovely piston pounding Super Connie from every angle! ‘Aint it pretty! The three fins of the Connie are pure aviation magic! Lufthansa L-1049 Super Connie D-ALIN is one of the star attractions at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Can’t get enough! Three tails are better than one! Lufthansa Lockheed Super Constellation D-ALIN at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

BAC Aerospacial Concorde mock-up at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Late 1960s era static moc-up of the Concorde at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Inside cabin view of the 1960s era static Concorde mock-up at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Under wing view of the late 1960s era static moc-up of the Concorde at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. Note the structural supports to keep the heavy wing sections in place.

Like everyone else, we stopped inside the mock-up Concorde for some warm drinks after spending several hours in the cold elements taking in the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. Left to right, Niels Dam, Andreas Stryk, and Henry Tenby.

Niels Dam does a ground inspection on the awesome Interflug Tupolev Tu-134 DDR-SCK at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Henry Tenby chillin’ with the awesome Interflug Tupolev Tu-134 DDR-SCK at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Another nice side profile view of Interflug Tupolev Tu-134 DDR-SCK at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. This aircraft was acquired by the museum directly from Interflug, the former State airline of East Germany.

Under nose study of the Interflug Tupolev Tu-134 DDR-SCK at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Henry Tenby enjoying some quality time with two feathered Rolls Royce Dart engines, of the Lufthansa Viscount 800 D-ANUM at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Under nose study of the Lufthansa Viscount 800 D-ANUM at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

A pure classic from any angle! Lufthansa Vickers Viscount 800 D-ANUM at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Front office view aboard Vickers VC-10 G-ARVF at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Rear facing VIP cabin view as seen from the front entrance door aboard Vickers VC-10 G-ARVF at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Vickers VC-10 G-ARVF tail view at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

United Arab Emirates Government Vickers VC-10 now permanently rests at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. It was flown to a nearby military airfield in the early 1980s, and then disassembled and moved to the museum by road, where it was put back together.

Interflug IL-18 at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Cabin view aboard the Interflug IL-18 DDR-STH at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. I’m keen for a flight!

Interflug IL-18 engine details at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Polish Air Force IL-14 propliner transport at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. A very “meat and potatoes” all purpose transport for all sorts of uses.

Cockpit of the Polish Air Force IL-14 at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Part of the furniture. A Dornier D-28 D-IFMP at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Dan-Air London Comet 4C G-BDIW at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Guess the engine? You should know instantly! This is the daisy petal sound suppressor from a Rolls Royce Conway engine, that powered ealry Boeing 707s, including those delivered to Lufthansa and BOAC. This engine is from a Lufthansa aircraft and is on display at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Bell 206 D-HBZV of the Luftrettung at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Huge model of the Dornier DoX flying boat D-1929 at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Large scale pre-war flying wing aircraft model D-APIS at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Aeroflot Mil-26 at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. When donated/acquired by the museum, the helicopter was flown by her Russian crews directly to the museum.

Cubana Cuba Antonov AN-24 at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

USAF Cold War beauty! The Convair F-102 Delta Dart 61125, was actually based in West Germany back in the 1960s.
She now is on permanent loan from the US Air Force as a display at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Royal Navy De Havilland Dove “Devon” at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Luftwaffe Percivil Pembroke 5421 the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. Back in the 1960s these were a dime a dozen in Germany, but the entire fleet was retired by the early 1970s.

Isn’t she a beauty? This Dan-Air London Comet 4C was acquired by the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany in the early 1980s, and she has been on guard looking smart ever since. One wonders if she could be made into a ground running breathing high-speed taxi aircraft with a bit of restoration. That would be amazing!

EFL Nortatlas D-ACUT at the Hermeskeil Aviation Museum in Germany.

Another government donation to the museum. This time a Royal Jordanian Air Force DC-3 Dakota troop transport at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

We’ll close with some bathroom humour for avgeeks! This is the biffy aboard the Jordanian Air Force DC-3 (see above), which was very obviously British maintained or operated at some time in her illustrious career.

Henry Tenby and Andreas Stryk at the Canadian Museum of Flight early February 2019, the snowiest day of the year.

About a one hour drive east along the Trans Canada freeway from Vancouver city centre, at Langley airport resides the Canadian Museum of Flight and their winderful collection of Canadian aviation aircraft and artifacts.

The museum is truly a labour of love for the many dedicated volunteers and fans that keep the museum going. My visit of early February, 2019, so happened to be during the first major snow storm of the year. But that did not stop us from enjoying our visit.

From the main entrance where they have a small selection of gifts and a large selection of donated aviation books for sale, a back door leads to the small courtyard where their nice collection of aircraft are presented for observation and close study, including a CF-101 Starfighter, RCAF Bolingbroke, and a Beech 18 aling with an interesting collection of engines from types that served in Canadian skies.

The indoors part of the collection is lovingly preserved in an adjacent and heated hangar, where Canadian and BC aviation history from the civil airline and military perspectives is presented for leisurely visits by museum visitors. The centre section of the heated hangar is also a quasi aircraft storage and maintenance space for the flying aircraft that are part of the museum’s treasured collection of vintage.

The people and volunteers we met during our visit were super friendly. I can only recommend that all aviations fans visiting the lower mainland take the time and effort to visit and support this wonderful aviation museum. Now you can’t say “I didn’t know there was an aviation museum in the lower mainland of Vancouver.”

Vintage Air Canada 1990s-2000s Flight Attendant uniform at Canadian Museum of Flight.

CP Air Boeing SST Super Sonic Transport model at Canadian Museum of Flight.

Air BC Flight Attendant Uniform circa 1990s at the Canadian Museum of Flight. This was the standard Air Canada Connector uniform throughout most of the 1990s.

Air Canada Jazz Flight Attendant Uniform circa 2000s at the Canadian Museum of Flight.

Bristol Blenheim cockpit section at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC.

A nice inside view of the heated hangar and museum display at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC.

Restored Handley Page Hampden at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC.

Air Canada mainline Flight Attendant uniform 2000s at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC.

Queen Charlotte Airlines LTD Stranraer flying boat model at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC.

Rare Canadiana! A colour view from the 40s or 50s of a Junkers brush plane, somewhere in the Canadian hinterlands. Not sure of the operator. Image is at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC.

A restored RCAF De Havilland Vampire at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC.

A ‘to-the-point” no BS US Military Base restricted area warning sign from the 1950s! At the at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC.

Guess the type! It is a Canadian Forces CF-104 Starfighter at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC.

Always happy at an aviation museum! Henry Tenby doesn’t mind a little snow getting in the way of enjoying a visit to at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC.

Lovely 1/50th scale CP Air Boeing 737-200 travel agent display model by Pacific Miniatures, circa early 1970s. At the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC.

Canadian Coast Guard Sikorsky S-55 on display at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC.

A very nice 1/100 scale Canadian Pacific Airlines Douglas DC-8-8-63 in the goose livery on display at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC. Models dates from 1968 and was likely made by Westway Models of Wembley, Middlesex, UK.

A very nice 1/100 scale Pacific Western Airlines Boeing 767-200 executive desk model on display at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC. Models dates from 1982-83 and was made by Scalecraft Models of New Zealand.

A 1/72 scale desk model of Transair Cargo’s Armstrong Whitworth Argosy Freighter at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC. This aircraft was based in Winnipeg in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

An incredibly grotesque model. This being a brutishly ugly attempted representation of a CP Air DC-8-43 circa 1970s. This model was originally made by Peter V. Nelson of the UK in the 1960s and was originally finished in the Canadian Pacific goose colours. The model is part of the artifacts collection at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC.

As is clearly evident in the colour slides taken in 1971 by the late Rick Wargo, we can see that maintenance was performed on an assortment of US military transport aircraft at this location. Specifically, the China Airlines hangar was either made available to the US military to conduct depot repairs, or repairs were contracted out to the airline. The fact that in some of the photos we can see that the hangar roof signage “China Airlines” has been changed to “INA AIRLINES” suggests that the airline did not want to advertise whatever the arrangement might have been, whatever the case.

Taipei’s Sung Shan airport is very much a city airport in that it is very close to the city centre, and in later years a larger international airport (CKS) was constructed quite some distance from the city. That said, to this very day, Sung Shan remains a very busy and popular airport, largely serving airlines that connect Taipei to other cities on the airline and in the region.

But back in 1971, the international traffic at Taipei Sung Shan airport was rather impressive. The presence of Flying Tigers Douglas DC-8-63s, and Northwest Orient and TWA Boeing 707s, suggests the airport was a popular transit point for long haul services bring US servicemen from the Continental US to serve their tours of duty in the Vietnam War. Many of these very flights might have also had transit stops at Honolulu, which was also a popular Vietnam War charter transit location.

The regional airline scene of the day was also extremely interesting with Korean Airlines Boeing 720, JAL DC-8-61, Philippine Airlines DC-8 (series -30 and -50), Cathay Pacific Convair 880, Thai International DC-8-30, and Hang Khong 727-100 presence at Sung Shan also being noted in the period photos.

The ROC Taiwan domestic airline scene was a lot less developed than today, with local service provided by China Airlines NAMC YS-11, 727-100 and DC-4 aircraft, and Far Easter Air Transport Dart Heralds. It seems the photo vantage points at Sung Shan airport in 1972 consisted of an elevated apron view from the airport terminal building, as well as several outside photo spots by the runway and taxiway. It is believed that excellent photo spots remain near the airport ring road under the final approach, as the close confines of the city’s developments require aircraft to make very low approaches over the road.

Of course we must be very grateful that the late Rick Wargo took these very interesting photos, and we extend very special thanks to Rick’s wife Karen for making these images available so they could be shared and enjoyed.

China Air Lines DC-4 at company hangar at Taipei Sung Shan airport 1971. Notice the “China Airlines” name on the hangar roof. This was changed soon after this image was taken, as explained below.

Awesome view of FEAT Far Eastern Air Transport Dart Herald B-2011 at Taipei Sung Shan airport circa 1971. Notice all the USAF military transports parked at the “INA AIRLINES” hangar. A fictitious name most likely, as these aircraft were receiving maintenance here in support of the Vietnam War efforts. And China Airlines preferred not to advertise the fact.

Philippine Airlines DC-8-30 PI-C829 operating a sked service from Manila at Taipei Sung Shan airport circa 1971.

US Navy C-47 South East Asian based aircraft at Taipei Sung Shan airport circa 1971. Notice the Chinese characters on the forward fuselage.

USAF Lockheed C140 Jetstar O-35960 at Taipei Sung Shan airport circa 1971. Probably on a maintenance visit or some other Vietnam War related VIP charter. Note the Vietnam War camouflage scheme. This aircraft was used to test navigational aids.

China Airlines Boeing 727-100 at Taipei Sung Shan airport circa 1971. Probably taken soon after her initial delivery from Boeing.

Hang Khong Viet Nam Airlines Boeing 727-100 at Taipei Sung Shan airport circa 1971. Most probably operating a sked service from South Vietnam.

Northwest Orient Boeing 707-351 N367US on a Vietnam War troop charter at Taipei Sung Shan airport circa 1971.

Malaysia Singapore Airlines Boeing 707 at Taipei Sung Shan airport 1971.

Nice nose on shot of a Thai DC-8-40 at Taipei Sung Shan airport 1971.

Korean AIr Lines Boeing 720 HL7403 at Taipie Sung Shan Airport November 1971.

China Airlines DC-4 about to touch down at Taipei Sung Shan airport circa 1971.

Northwest Orient Boeing 707-351 N366US on a Vietnam War troop charter at Taipei Sung Shan airport circa 1971.

TWA Boeing 707 turning onto the active at Taipei Sung Shan airport 1971. Probably Vietnam troop charter.

Southern Air Transport Lockheed Hercules at Taipei Sung Shan airport 1971. Most certainly a Vietnam War related supply charter.

Philippine Airlines DC-8-50 PC-C803 operating a sked service at Taipei Sung Shan airport November, 1971.

Japan Air Lines DC-8-61 JA8041 scheduled service at Taipei Sung Shan airport 1971.

China Airlines NAMC YS-11 B-158 landing at Taipei Sung Shan airport circa 1971. This type was very short lived with China Airlines and photos are quite rare.

Thai International DC-8-30 HS-TGO operating a sked service Flying Tigers DC-8-63 N782FT operating a Vietnam War charter at Taipei Sung Shan airport circa 1971.

Flying Tigers DC-8-63 N782FT operating a Vietnam War charter at Taipei Sung Shan airport circa 1971.

Fabulous view of Cathay Pacific Convair 880 VR-HFY at Taipei Sung Shan airport circa 1971 on her way to the active for the return sked flight back to home base of Hong Kong Kai Tak.

Flying Tigers DC-8-63 mid apron at Taipei Sung Shan airport circa 1971. Most likely operating a Vietnam War charter.

This is the arrival terminal building at Hickam Air Force Base as seen in the 1940s and early 1950s.

After the end of World War II, large inventories of aircraft that were built for the war effort were kept on hand based at Hickam Air Force Base, near Honolulu in the Hawaiian Islands, as American would never again let her guard down in this all important theatre. Although the US forces remained in Japan after the end of the war, to oversee the democratic rebuilding of that country, military supplies and personnel that were transported by air from the continental United States, would use Hawaii as a rest point during the long, trans-Pacific air journey. Of course, propeller driven aircraft of 1940s and 1950s simply did not have the trans-Pacific non-stop ranges that we take for granted today, that are matter-of-fact with current jet airliners.

As a collector of 35mm colour aircraft slides going back to the early 1980s, I recently acquired some vintage colour 35mm kodachrome original slides taken during the 1940s and 1950s that were taken at Hickam Air Force Base. The images and colours have retained their brilliance and have been preserved quite remarkably against fading, despite their age. This is evidenced from the scans of the images, as presented below. Sadly, I do not know who took the slides as there is no photographer name indicated on the slide mounts. That said, many thousands of US servicemen and related family members and support personnel transited the Hawaiian Islands during this fascinating post war era. It was not only Japan and other US allies such as the Philippines and Korea that were within the US sphere of influence, but it was also at this time that the US military was engaged in nuclear weapon testing (above ground atmospheric detonations) in the South Pacific. And much of the logistical support for these tests was staged via the Hawaiian Islands.

Aircraft that were prevalent at Hickam during this interesting time frame consisted of prop driven transport planes such as USAF MATS (Military Air Transport Service) Douglas C-54 Skymasters, Boeing C-97 Stratocruisers, Douglas C-47 Dakotas, Curtiss C-46 Commandos, and Fairchild C-82 Packets and C-119 Flying Boxcars, many of which were locally based at Hickam, whilst others were transient visitors. And of course there were fighter attack aircraft also based at Hickam, which is evidenced by these historic views of the Hickam apron loaded with rows of both Republic P-47D Thunderbolts and Curtiss SB2 Helldivers.

US Air Force Fairchild C-82 Packet 557736 is serviced on the ramp at Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii, circa early 1950s.

A view to the active dispersal apron, loaded with USAF Republic P-47D Thunderbolts, also referred to as “jugs” because of their jug-shaped fuselages.

This young fellow was a keen aircraft photographer back in the early 1950s or late 1940s. He seems to be holding a fairly nice camera for the day. It is shame we do not know his name, as he might very well be the fellow who took all the images presented in this report. We are grateful for his efforts so that we may enjoy these images of how things were, some seventy years ago.

A USAF MATS Douglas C-54 Skymaster at rest on the Hickam apron, as viewed through the forward crew door on a sister Douglas C-54. Circa early 1950s.

USAF Republic P-47D Thunderbolt and a North American T-6 Texan, both looking very new with factory polished metal fuselage and wing surfaces. This image taken at Hickam Air Force Base probably dates from just after the end of World War II.

A very busy and well protected Hickam apron, circa mid to late 1940s. We have rows of Curtiss SB2 Helldivers, as well as rows of Vought F4U Corsairs (left side).

Hickam Air Force Base transient apron circa early 1950s. We have a Pacific based USAF MATS C-97 Stratocruiser, with a serviceman and his wife or girlfriend seen in lower centre frame. The flower lei on the woman is a Hawaiian tradition that dates back generations.

Hickam Air Force Base transient ramp Gate Number 1, with a USAF Pacific Division Lockheed C-121 Constellation and a USAF MATS Douglas C-54 Skymaster resting between flights. This images most likely dates from the early 1950s.

Very historic image of USAF Republic P-47D Thunderbolts lined up on the Hickam AFB apron, taken during post World War II era of the late 1940s. Glorious kodachrome.

Another fine view of the Hickam AFB transient apron, which is teaming with Douglas C-54 Skymasters. Hundreds of these were built for the war effort, and after the war, the US military had a huge inventory, which were luckily still on strength and available to support the supply efforts of the Berlin Airlift. It is very possible this image taken of the Hickam apron dates prior to the Berlin Airlift, just based on the large number of locally stationed aircraft. During the Berlin Airlift, many of these aircraft were re-assigned to Europe.

A World War II surplus Boeing B-17 and an army olive scheme four-bladed Curtiss C-46 Commando at rest on the Hickam apron, late 1940s.

Hickam was naturally a major repair facility for the US Air Force, as seen by these open-air maintenance sheds, which remained at Honolulu as prominent fixtures well into the 1980s. This early 1950s image shows USAF MATS Douglas C-45 Skymaster 49033. The “Hickam” title on the tail denotes that this aircraft was locally based.

Looking good!USAF MATS Boeing C-97 Stratocruiser 0694 has just arrived either from the West Coast or the Far East. Her passenger door is open and she rests at Hickam’s “Gate No 1” in this period early 1950s kodachrome view.

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Not only is the ANA Fiesta shop loaded to the rafters with all sorts of ANA logo merchandize, such as shirts, jackets, model airliners of all sorts, stickers, posters, calendars, and just about everything else you might think of, they also boast a huge selection of very high quality colour photo postcards of the airline’s historic aircraft.

Being a hard-core fan of classic propliners and classic jetliners, I naturally gravitated to purchasing postcards that depicted planes from the 1960s and 1970s.

They had a whole rack of these postcards with upwards of one hundred different cards, but many were of current day ANA airliners, that do not hold the same level of interest as the older aircraft. But for those so inclined, there are loads of Airbus, Triple Seven, 767 post cards, featuring action shots, air-to-airs and neat airport views.

Apologies for the stating the obvious, but you won’t find these cards for sale outside of Japan. I would be shocked if they are actually available at any other locations within Japan outside of this particular store. I did visit several aviation hobby shops in Tokyo (including Top Gun and Ikaros) these cards were not available. So they are unique to the Haneda Festa shop.

The image print quality of the postcards is very high, although I wish they were slightly larger in size. They only measure 4 X 5.5 inches. A standard 4 X 6 inches would have been even better, but beggars cannot be choosers. These cards are actually self published by ANA.

As a side note, I did visit JAL’s brand store at Haneda during this same visit, and it wasn’t a patch on the ANA Festa shop. Not nearly the same quantity of selection in any of the product categories, and certainly no series of vintage airline postcards were on offer. Huge shame.

If you have any comments please do not hesitate to use the comments box at the bottom of the page.

All Nippon Airways Vickers Viscount 828 JA8203 fabulous inflight view early 1960s. ANA operated the Viscounts between 1961 and 1969.

All Nippon Vickers Viscount 828 in the hangar early 1960s. The ANA Viscount fleet served with the airline between 1961 and 1969.

All Nippon Airways Viscount 800 landing mid 1960s on short finals. Photos of ANA Viscounts in colour are quite rare.

Fabulous nose on view of All Nippon Airways Viscount 800 taken in Japan in the mid 1960s. It is hard to beat the lovely lines of the Viscount.

All Nippon Airways Fokker F27 JA8635 early 1960s air-to-air view. The ANA F27 fleet remained active with the airline between 1961 and 1973.

Stunning air-to-air view of All Nippon Airways Boeing 727-100 JA8301 most likely taken in 1964 prior to delivery. This was the first 727 delivered to ANA.

All Nippon Airways Boeing 727-100 JA8301 1964 apron view with passengers shortly after delivery. The ANA 727-100 fleet remained in service with the airline between 1964 and 1974.

All Nippon Airways YS-11 JA8744 1970s inflight photo. The ANA YS-11 fleet served the airline between 1965 and 1991, and was a very comfortable and reliable aircraft.

All Nippon Airways YS-11 JA8744 Mohican livery inflight photo taken in the 1970s.

All Nippon Boeing 737-200 JA8401 Mohican livery inflight photo taken in Washington State prior to delivery. The 737-200 fleet remained active with ANA between 1969 and 1992.