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Aero Club of BC History
The Aero Club’s story is all about flying, people and airplanes. Our history is one of continuous change driven by two questions:
- What do we need
- How can we help
The Aero Club of BC Story CYPK Tenants Meeting October 3, 2018 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
The Aero Club of BC Story CYPK Tenants Meeting October 3, 2018 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
The Aero Club of BC Story CYPK Tenants Meeting October 3, 2018 Presented by Tom Heise President, Aero Club of BC Aero Club of BC History The Aero Clubs story is all about flying, people and airplanes. Our history is one of continuous
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1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1021 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928
Minoru
Our Beginnings – Duty Calls
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
The informal beginning of the Aero Club goes back to around 1912. It started as a patriotic effort by a few people to support Britain in WW1 The Aero Club’s official beginning was 1915 when the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) of France granted the club a charter We were one of two Aero Clubs in Canada to train WW1 pilots for the Royal Flying Corps of Britain (the
- ther was the Curtis Aviation School in Toronto)
Operations were set up in Minoru Park, Richmond
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1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1021 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928
Minoru
Curtis Pusher at Minoru Park
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
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1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1021 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928
Minoru
Billy Stark – Our 1st Instructor
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
In 1912 Billy Stark went to San Diego and learned to fly at the Curtis Aviation school. He graduated and returned to Vancouver with a new Curtis biplane In 1915 the Aero Club bought the airplane from Billy Stark, hired him as our first instructor and 15 students paid $200 each for flight training Since the plane was a single‐seater, Billy would sit
- n the wing and shout instructions to his students
With only 1 plane, flight training was impractical and ended that winter when the plane, now on floats, hit a log and sank
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1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1021 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928
Minoru
Let’s try this again
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
The Aero Club reorganized as the British Columbia Aviation School Ltd., a non‐profit venture that could sell stock to raise money They bought two new Curtis 2‐seater tractor aircraft that were built in Vancouver Training operations were set up in Pitt Meadows but were again short lived. They scared cows onto the runway and crashed while trying not to hit them
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1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1021 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928
Minoru
Third Time Lucky
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
The post war years were lean for aviation The club languished until 1927 at which time the Gov’t, alarmed about the lack of progress in civilian flying, offered Canadian Flying Clubs a free aircraft for every one they bought WW1 veterans reorganized us as the Aero Club of BC (Vancouver Branch), a non‐profit society, and bought several Fleets and DH Gypsy Moths In 1930, to further encourage training for war reserves, the Gov’t offered Canadian Flying Clubs a bonus of $100 for each pilot trained
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1021 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
Minoru
Our Constitution
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
The club objectives were to “bring together persons
- f either sex who are interested in aviation”
Our constitution allowed the club to “properly provide, equip, maintain, own and control aerodromes, landing grounds, air ports, seaplane bases, hangars, workshops, aeronautical schools, club houses, libraries, and all things necessary and conducive to carrying the objectives of the club”.
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1021 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
Minoru
We Need a Real Airport
In 1931 the Aero Club lobbied Vancouver City Council to get an airport and convinced local farmers to sell their land for the project The rallying cry was “If you build a mile of road, you have a mile of road; if you build a mile of runway you have a gateway to the world.” Vancouver Sun 1981 Sea Island Airport was built in 1933 and the Aero Club became its first tenant. That year Club members logged 754 dual and 1858 solo flights In 1948 Sea Island Airport changed its name and became “Vancouver International Airport (YVR)”
Sea Island ‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
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1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944
Minoru Sea Island
Duty Calls Again – WW2
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
We were part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during WW2. The government entrusted Canadian flying clubs with setting up and running the Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS) The Aero Club set up the Vancouver Air Training Co.
- Ltd. and ran four flight schools (Vancouver, Boundary
Bay, Abbotsford, Victoria) We were No. 8 EFTS and we were taken over intact
- n a civilian basis with a liability basis of $0.5M
During the crucial period between Jul‘40 and Dec’42 we graduated almost 1,000 student pilots. Canada’s 20 flying clubs produced 41,000 flyers for the RCAF
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1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946
Minoru Sea Island
A Little Down Time
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
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1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946
Minoru Sea Island
People and Connections
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
Terry Finney was associated with the Aero Club for 40 years as an instructor and then General Manager. He was a serious student of weather who would steer any conversation over to this, his favourite subject. In 1945 Terry bought 14 war‐surplus DH Tiger Moths for $1,417.88 (roughly $100 each). These planes became the nucleus of our flying program The Duke of Hamilton (Lord Clydesdale) was one of Terry’s ground school students. In 1933 the Duke become the first person to fly over Mount Everest. Later, in 1941, Rudolf Hess landed on the Duke’s estate in Scotland to negotiate peace with the U.K.
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1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946
Minoru Sea Island
Traditions Continue
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
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1945 1946 1947 1948 1946 1947 1948
Minoru Sea Island
Our Facilities
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
By 1948 we had a “fine club house with office, coffee shop, dining room and spacious lounge, where flying enthusiasts of all ages and both sexes may be found “hangar flying” almost any afternoon or evening. They have parties and dances and their latest venture is their own
- rchestra, now in the cacophony stage.”
Vancouver Sun, May 15, 1948
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1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1948
Minoru Sea Island
Our Dinner Parties
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
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1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958
Minoru Sea Island Pitt Meadows
Got to Move
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
By the early 60’s we needed to find a new home (YVR had grown too big for us) Together with the local Chamber of Commerce we convinced Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge to let Transport Canada build Pitt Meadows Airport History repeats itself. The Aero Club builds a hangar and becomes Pitt Meadows Airport’s first tenant That year we had 37 members and operated six Cessna 150’s, three Cessna 172’s, twelve Fleet Canucks, two Piper Apaches, and a DH Chipmunk was available for aerobatics.
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1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963
Minoru Sea Island Pitt Meadows
Open House in Pitt Meadows
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
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1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970
Minoru Sea Island Pitt Meadows
Our heydays
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
The 60’s were the heydays of the Aero Club. We had
- 300 student and 300 regular members
- A Glider and Parachuting Wings
- A women’s group called the Aeroettes
- Ran “Satellite Programs” in Ashcroft, Alberni,
Terrace, Powell River, Quesnel and Williams Lake And we had an enviable safety record. In almost 50 years of flying we hadn’t lost anyone
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1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970
Minoru Sea Island Pitt Meadows
Field Trip to Japan
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
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1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970
Minoru Sea Island Pitt Meadows
Review, Renew, Refocus
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
In 1968 a new executive looked at our raison d’etre. Times had changed. We got a new focus on “a fellowship fraternity dedicated to fun flying … . The social aspect will be paramount to this group who will enjoy fly‐outs to distant places, hangar flying, cultural, social & educational get togethers” We kept three airplanes and sold our flight training
- peration to Staron Flight Ltd.
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1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975
Minoru Sea Island Pitt Meadows
An Opportunity to Help
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
In 1994 the major oil companies (Esso, Shell) removed their fueling facilities at Pitt Meadows airport, and no one was willing to fill the void The Aero Club stepped up to the plate and built a brand new state‐of‐the‐art self‐serve facility dubbed South Side #1. It was a huge gamble for the club that has immensely benefited the flying community at Pitt Meadows Airport. Fuel is an essential service
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1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Minoru Sea Island Pitt Meadows
Aero Club of BC History
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
In 1999 Transport Canada gave Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge joint ownership of Pitt Meadows
- Airport. The two cities then created the Pitt
Meadows Airport Society (PMAS) to run it In 2010 we signed two new leases with the PMAS and committed to a shared cooperative vision to … ‐ Build a new fuel facility (South Side #2) ‐ Remove South Side #1, return land to PMAS ‐ Build a second new fuel facility (North Side) We make the investments and the PMAS helps
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2010 2011 2012 2013
Minoru Sea Island Pitt Meadows
Aero Club of BC History
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
In 2011 construction began on both new facilities South Side #2 was opened in 2014 South Side #1 was dismantled and leased lands were returned in 2015 North Side is projected to be completed and
- perational in 2019
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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Minoru Sea Island Pitt Meadows ‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
Aero Club of BC Future
The Aero Club will continue to support aviation and help develop the Pitt Meadows Airport We will continue to actively support educational seminars, CASARA, NAVCANADA, the Air Cadets, the 99’s, COPA, COPA for Kids, and Pitt Meadows Airport through the volunteer efforts of our members and the use of our clubhouse facility It is the Aero Club’s future ambition to once again have aircraft available for our club members use
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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Minoru Sea Island Pitt Meadows ‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
Educational Tours
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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Minoru Sea Island Pitt Meadows ‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
COPA for Kids
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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Minoru Sea Island Pitt Meadows ‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
COPA for Kids
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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Minoru Sea Island Pitt Meadows ‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
99’s Poker Run
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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Minoru Sea Island Pitt Meadows
99’s Poker Run
‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Minoru Sea Island Pitt Meadows ‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
Today’s Dinner Parties
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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Minoru Sea Island Pitt Meadows ‐‐ 1910 ‐‐ 1920 ‐‐ 1930 ‐‐ 1940 ‐‐ 1950 ‐‐ 1960 ‐‐ 1970 ‐‐ 1980 ‐‐ 1990 ‐‐ 2000 ‐‐ 2010 ‐‐ 2020
Today’s Dinner Parties
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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
To Sum Up …
The Aero Club has 103 years of rich history We are the oldest continuously‐operating flying club in the Commonwealth The club is now over 150 members strong Our goal is to stay relevant and continue to serve our members and the Pitt Meadows Airport flying community for many more years to come
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