When Darryl Schlitz came recruiting helpers to clean up our fuel tank building for an upcoming inspection, Peter Meyers was quick to jump in and help — but maybe NOT in the manner Darryl was hoping for…

The 99’s Poker Ralley was delayed a week due to inclement weather, but this past weekend the event went ahead.  The Nanaimo desk was manned by Lucille and Malcolm Baster.

Lucille and Malcolm currently live a little south of Nanaimo at Cobble Hill, but I first met Lucille (Haley) when she was one of the few pilots in Canada of the female “persuasion,” and working as a professional flight instructor at the Edmonton Flying Club.  She figured prominently in my first solo flight circa 1970 — as witnessed by my old logbook:

Around CYXD, Lucille was known for her strong character and unique style as illustrated by the Corvette she drove (and still owns), the altitude record she set in a Fleet Canuck (see clipping), and for getting married in an aircraft high above the city.  Her husband, Malcolm was a controller in the Edmonton Tower.

FleetAltitudeRecord

So, it was not only a great day for the 99’s Poker Event, but it turned into a wonderful chance meeting and reminiscing about our days in and around the historical Edmonton Municipal airport.  Our aviation community is a small world sometimes, isn’t it!?

Victoria guys got the Mosquito flying Monday – first flight after 48 years = pics via Dogsbody Drew Fidoe

Ron Whyte, along with David Powell-Williams had a great flight last weekend.  They happened to arrive at Victoria just in time to see the restored Mosquito fire up for its first test flight.  Later they took a flight over the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz as it lay at anchor in the Esquimalt harbour.  A great aviation-oriented day indeed.

It’s taken me a few weeks to finally get this flight report filed from Glen From (apologies to Glen and thanks for his patience!):

“Here are a couple of photos I took last Sunday when Ron Whyte took David and myself to Tofino for lunch.

Attached is a photo of Flairair 737 which had landed at ycd earlier that morning and a photo of the Bamfield Coast Guard/ Biological Station.”

NFC club member and Nanaimo Radio Operator, Willie Paterson, reports that his beautiful Bonnie Blue, may be leaving the airfield without him.  “Life is too busy and I’m downsizing my fleet of vehicles.” Willie reported.  Bonnie was originally a Ryan Navion built in 1947, but later she was rebuilt and issued a special C of A, becoming the only “homebuilt” Navion in existence.

Willie has been flying with Bonnie as part of the aerial demonstration team, The Fraser Blues, for several years now.  Once she moves to Pitt Meadows there is still a chance that Willie might have access to her to fly with the Fraser Blues for special occaisions.  Here’s hoping.

Last week Peter Timm flew in from Pemberton in his Europa to pick up a load of bees.  They keep his neighbour’s blueberry field blooming while producing honey for Peter.  I just hope the crates don’t open in flight…

Peter Killin and his son Robert dropped into the NFC fuel pumps last week enroute from Campbell River to Victoria.  The aircraft is a beautifully restored 1947 Piper PA12 which Peter rebuilt in 1987.

There may indeed be no free lunches, but there are lunches that are well worth $5…  Let’s see what the club chefs have planned for us this week —