Air Canada has made this announcement:
In celebration of its 85th anniversary, Air Canada has donated its historic aircraft, an original Lockheed L-10A Electra airplane to Winnipeg’sRoyal Aviation Museum of Western Canada. The iconic aircraft, the first fleet type flown by the carrier, made its final journey as it taxied from the Air Canada hangar at WinnipegInternational Airport to the Museum at a handover ceremony. The airplane will go on permanent public display as an iconic piece of aviation history.
The aircraft, with registration CF-TCC, was one of three purchased by Air Canada’s forerunner, Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA), in 1937. It was until recently one of only two Lockheed L10-A Electra aircraft still flying in the world.
Named after a bright star in the Pleiades star cluster, the 10A Electra was the pride of the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. In the 1930s, this twin-engine, all-metal monoplane was the exciting new face of commercial aviation.
The History of CF-TCC
CF-TCC was one of three L-10A aircraft purchased by Trans-Canada Air Lines. The L-10A aircraft type operated TCA’s inaugural flight on September 1, 1937, a 50-minute trip from Vancouver to Seattle carrying mail and two passengers.
TCA had acquired the route plus two Lockheed Lโ10A aircraft from Canadian Airways. In that same month, TCA bought three additional Lockheed Lโ10A aircraft, brand new, from the Lockheed factory for $73,000 each. These aircraft were dubbed the “Three Sisters” and carried the registrations CFโTCA, CFโTCB, and CFโTCC. The first aircraft, CFโTCA is now at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa. CF-TCC last flew in 2018, and was one of two remaining Lockheed Lโ10A Electra aircraft still flying in the world.
After being operated by TCA from 1937 to 1939, CFโTCC was sold to the Department of Transport โ Canada. During the next 40 years, the aircraft was sold several times to various private corporations and individuals.
In 1962, CF-TCC was leased by TCA and six of the original TCA pilots operated a commemorative flight across Canada on the occasion of TCAs 25th Anniversary.
In 1975, a retired Air Canada employee recognized the faded old registration marks on the aircraft while attending an air show in Texas. Air Canada kept track of the aircraft until 1983, at which point the airline purchased back the aircraft, restored it, and flew it during the Air Canada 50th Anniversary celebrations in 1986. At the end of the Fifty stop Canadian tour, CFโTCC was featured in the Air Canada pavilion during Expo 86 in Vancouver.
Since 1986, the aircraft has been maintained in flying condition. Volunteersย and support from the broader aviation community, including fromย Air Canada Maintenance and Flight Operations, over the years haveย dedicated thousandsย of hours of personal timeย and other contributionsย into keeping CFโTCC flying for generations to enjoy. When not flying, the aircraft has been based in the Western Canada Aviation Museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba, or stored in Air Canada’s Winnipeg hangar.
On September 21, 2007, it recreated TCA’s first flight from Vancouver to Seattle, marking Air Canada’s 70th Anniversary.
In 2012, as part of Air Canada’s 75th Anniversary Celebrations, CFโTCC made several air show and public appearances, showcasing Air Canada’s heritage and the history of commercial aviation in Canada.
In 2017 to mark the carrier’s 80th anniversary, Air Canada’s Lockheed 10A took to the skies for a cross country tour, beginning with a public appearance at the Royal Aviation Museum in Winnipeg. Along the way, the aircraft made stops in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, Quebec City.
In 2022, on occasion of Air Canada’s 85thย anniversary, the airline’s Lockheed 10A made its final journey to the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada in Winnipeg. CF-TCC was taxied to the Museum from Air Canada’s Hangarย by the aircraft’sย long-timeย advocates and volunteers, Retiredย Captain Robertย Giguere, Retired Captain Gerry Norberg, Retired Aircraft Maintenance Engineer George Huntington, and Air Canada Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Mike Clarkson.
By the Numbers:
|
1937 Lockheed Lโ10A
Crew: 2 Pilots, 1 Flight
Attendant (known as a
Stewardess in 1937.)
Capacity: 10 passengers
Length: 38 ft 7 in
Wingspan: 55 ft 0 in
Height: 10 ft 1 in
Empty weight: 6,454 lbs
Max Weight: 10,500 lbs
Powerplant:
2 ร Pratt & Whitney Rโ985
Wasp Junior SB, 450 HP ea.
Cruise speed: 140 knots, 190 mph
Range: 713 miles / 1,147
kilometres
Normal Cruising Altitude:
6,000 โ 10,000 ft
ย
|
|
Boeing 777-300ER
(Air Canada’s largest aircraft)
Crew: 2 or 4 Pilots, up to 12
flight attendants
Capacity: Up to 450
passengers
Length: 242 ft, 9 in
Wingspan: 213 ft, 3 in
Height: 62 ft, 4 in
Empty weight: 353,600 lbs
Max Weight: 775,000 lbs
Powerplant: 2 GE90-115B
engines
Cruise speed: 484 knots,ย 557 mph
Range: 9,068 miles / 14,594
kilometres
Normal Cruising Altitude:
35,000 ft
ย
|
Air Canada aircraft photo gallery:
Like this:
Like Loading...
You must be logged in to post a comment.