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| My flight on the Air Canada (Trans Canada Airlines) Lockheed 10A |
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| By Carl Robinson� |
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| The Lockheed 10A sitting at the FBO. |
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| ����������� On July 7 2006, I had the chance to do two things I always wanted to do.� Go see the Concorde at the Air and Space museum?s Udvar-hazyCenter and ride on a vintage airliner.� With the help of Airliners International 2006, I was able to do that.� This is the story of my flight on this wonderful Lockheed aircraft.� |
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| ����������� The History of the aircraft is that it was bought by Air Canada in 1937 and was used to fly Air Canada?s first flight which was Vancouver-Seattle.� Little was know about its use after it was retired but ended up in the USA in an aircraft graveyard.� When someone found it and noticed that it was previously owned by Air Canada, they decided to rebuild the aircraft.� Some time was put in to rebuild it and some challenges came up too.� A spar which the two wings are connected to and is the most important structural part of the aircraft was in bad shape and needed to be replaced.� There wasn?t one like it and it had to be made from scratch.� Finally it was restored and flyable.� Air Canada pilots had the chance to fly it and its employees rode on it.� For the AI2006 convention they decided to bring the aircraft for flights for a donation to a non-profit organization the airline recommended.� |
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| The day was a wonderful day and we arrived at Landmark Aviation which is a FBO (Fixed Base Operator) who services private jets, similar to what an airline does to one of its aircraft at the gate.� Landmark Aviation is one of two FBO?s WashingtonDullesAirport has to cater to the private jets.� Since Reagan National has strict rules about entering it?s airport, most pilots fly to Dulles or any of the other smaller airports around the area.� The other problem is this zone called the ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone).� Certain aircraft are allowed in this area which is the airspace around Reagan, Dulles, and BaltimoreAirports.� Aircraft are not allowed in the restricted area and if someone tries to challenge it will be dealt with severely.� There have been some incidents with small aircraft flying into the area and almost getting shot down by the Air Force. |
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| After we arrived we were given some rules like following the pilot to the plane and watch out for the aircraft around us.� The two pilots who were flying us were Captains Jim Mason and Harvey Reid.� Captain Reid is an Airbus A340-500 captain on Air Canada?s Toronto-Hong Kong route.� Captain Mason is a longhaul pilot as well with other aircraft.� |
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| Our walkaround���������������������������������������������� ������������ Captain Reid shows us the baggage compartment |
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| Captain Reid walked us around the aircraft and told us a little information about the aircraft and its history.� As soon as he was done, we got in and both captains did their checklists.� The flightplan was to fly at 1,500 feet to avoid the ADIZ and to fly around the airport area for about 25 minutes flight time.� The engines were started and we were off to Runway 1L for our departure.� What was weird was we stuck out like a sore thumb and I wondered what the pilots in the large aircraft were thinking when they saw us taxiing out. |
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| �A United A320 watches us pass by�� |
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| �We saw some nice aircraft like a DHL 767, UPS DC-8, and some international airliners.� As soon as we got to the beginning of the runway, we were off.� The ride was smooth and we were able to see the suburbs and flew near the Mountains.� Once we were at a level flight we had an opportunity to see the cockpit and get some photos of the cabin.� After that, we were in a holding pattern for runway 1L and were a little long for our flight due to other air traffic.� Once we were ready we were on a final for 1L and had a chance to see some aircraft after landing.� We taxied back to the FBO and our flight was over.� We received a postcard of the aircraft and I had it autographed by the two pilots.� It was a wonderful experience and it was a great pleasure to be able to ride on a piece of history.� I hope to see it again in 2007 when Air Canada celebrates their 70th anniversary with their first flight and the delivery of their first Boeing 777. |
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| Thanks to the Air Canada flight crew Jim Mason and Harvey Reid, Airliners International 2006 Landmark Aviation, and the other passengers who flew with me. |
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| Copyright 2006 Carl Robinson.� All pictures are from me and must not be reproduced without permission from me. |
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