Airliner Classics - July 2018

In October 1978, Wardair maintenance moved from its

birthplace, Edmonton, Alberta to Toronto, Ontario. There

were many reasons to relocate the operation – a key factor

being government regulations that would not allow Wardair to

carry passengers between Canadian cities. With the majority

of flights originating from Toronto, moving empty aircraft to

Edmonton for maintenance was causing Wardair great expense.

In November and December, the two hard-working 707s

departed the fleet, but they bowed out gracefully. While

moving the last lot of equipment and parts from Edmonton

to Toronto, C-FZYP did not leave Edmonton empty-handed;

not only was the belly full of aircraft parts and equipment, it

also carried some employees relocating to Toronto with their

families. The cabin was quite a mix of people and pets, along

with seats full of office plants...

In December 1978 the airline operated a pair of aircraft with

the WR ‘Wop’ May name: the outgoing 707 C-FZYP and the

incoming DC-10 C-GXRC. This minor hiccup was caused by

McDonnell Douglas retaining C-GXRB for flight-testing and

delivering C-GXRC early!

The second 747-200 (C-GXRD) arrived on April 25, 1979

and the following day was christened ‘Doc Oaks’ by the late Doc

Oaks’ wife Bernice; one of Canada’s first women aviators.

Polar Survey

On March 23, 1979 the Dash 7 carried a 30-man scientific

team to just 76 miles shy of the North Pole on a two-month

survey. On April 1, while delivering more equipment to the

team, Murray Oakenfold and Craig Narraway flew around the

Pole at 500ft, a journey that was technically considered a round-

the-world trip – making the aircraft the first and probably only

Dash 7 to fly non-stop around the globe.

June 5, 1979 was a black day for the world’s DC-10 fleet when

they were all grounded following the loss of American Airlines

DC-10 N111AA at Chicago O’Hare. Like many airlines,

The airline would
go on to operate f ive
Boeing 747s, beginning
with C-FDJC Phil
Garrett joining the
f leet in 1973. It is
seen here at Toronto
in October 1985, with
C-GXR A Herbet
Hollick-Kenyon
and C-CXR D
HA Doc Oaks.

The airline introduced
the DHC-7 into
service and the f irst
was handed over on
May 23, 1978. Here
C-GXVF is seen over
Ontario later that
month.

A   •
Her Majesty the
Queen shortly after
disembarking from
Wardair Dash 7
C-GXVF in July 1978.

http://www.airlinerworld.com 11

THE cabin was quite a mix of

people and pets, and seats full of

office plants...