- The last leg of the Hawaii Mars’ final voyage took place on Wednesday evening (Aug, 21) as the Nickel Brothers transported the behemoth along the 3.2-kilometre stretch from Victoria airport’s seaplane base to the British Columbia Aviation Museum. In the photo above, the Mars’ beach gear can be seen still attached to the flying boat but, since it is designed only to pull the boat ashore and not for any significant overland distance, a special flatbed trailer was needed. Her wingspan also prevented her from taxiing or being towed due to numerous obstacles along the way. It took several days to load and secure the Hawaii Mars for its final journey. See this week’s featured video for more coverage.
- Northcrest Developments has unveiled the new name for what has been known as the Downsview Airport Lands since the airport by that name was closed, with Bombardier moving its manufacturing facility to Toronto-Pearson airport in Mississauga. The new name for the 370-acre residential and commercial community is, wait for it…. YZD. This was the IATA code and, with the addition of a ‘Y’ preceding it, the ICAO code for the airport when it was still in operation.
- Air Canada pilots are planning to picket several major Canadian airports next Tuesday (Aug. 27), ALPA, their union, announced this week. The move is being characterized as an “informational picket” and will not lead to any flight disruptions as those manning the picket lines in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver will be off duty. Air Canada pilots recently voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike if current negotiations for a new contract fail, according ALPA.
- The restoration of an Avro CF-100 Mk.3 Canuck is nearing completion in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. Owned by the City of Calgary, it was on display outdoors at Calgary’s Hangar Flight Museum for decades and had significantly deteriorated. Introduced in 1952, almost 700 of the Canadian-designed Canucks were built with some sold to the Belgian air force. It served in the RCAF for 30 years.