Events
Howard M. Malone
I was born and raised in Toronto. After high school, I enrolled in Civil Engineering at University of Toronto under the Regular Officer Training Program (ROTP) with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), and I was inducted into the Regular Forces with a Permanent Commission in mid-September of 1957, about two weeks after I turned 17. This program provided for flying training during the summer breaks from university classes and required a minimum service time of three years after graduation from university.
My first summer of flying training, after passing qualification tests, was at RCAF Station Centralia, where I commenced actual flying training on the DE Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk on 21July 1958. I had my first solo flight three days later after a grand total of six hours of dual flying. I completed Primary Flying School requirements in August.
My second summer of flying training took place at Flight Instructors School (FIS), RCAF Station Trenton, commencing in May of 1959, using the Harvard trainer. After eight hours of dual instruction, I made my first solo flight in June. Once again, I completed this phase of my flying training in the middle of August.
My third summer of flying training, again on Harvards, was at Flight Training School (FTS), RCAF Station Moose Jaw. This started at the end of May 1960 and included night flying, aerobatic flying, instrument flying, and formation flying.
I was President of the Engineering Society at the University of Toronto representing about 3500 Engineers in my final year at U of T, and after graduation in May of 1961, with a BA.Sc. in Civil Engineering, I proceeded to 2 Advanced Flight School (AFS), at RCAF Station Portage La Prairie to commence my final phase of flying training on the T33 jet trainer. During a break in the training program, I returned to Toronto to marry my school sweetheart, Pat Kirkwood, in early September, both of us being age 21.
The remainder of my flying training was not uneventful, as I was involved in a mid-air collision with another T33 who struck my canopy on final approach at about 400 feet altitude. Fortunately, the event ended safely, and I went on to complete my flying training. I graduated with my RCAF Pilot's Wings in November 1961.
I was selected for the position as a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) and, after the necessary instructor training, was posted to Primary Flying School at RCAF Station Centralia as a QFI on Chipmunk aircraft (where I had started flying in 1958). I served in this capacity until August 1964, reaching the rank of Flight Lieutenant, when I had fulfilled my commitment to the Queen and the RCAF to serve for a minimum of three years in Her Majesty's Forces after graduation from university. I was released from the RCAF on 31August 1964, the day before my 24th birthday.
From the Air Force, I enrolled in a Master's Program in Town and Regional Planning at University of Toronto and spent my next two years at school. As I finished my course work in 1966, there was a major growth period starting for the airline industry in North America. Air Canada was hiring pilots, and the opportunity was too good to pass. I applied and was accepted on course as a Second Officer (SO), on the DC8. This was the beginning of an Air Canada career that lasted over 34 years until September of 2000 when reaching age 60 required mandatory retirement.
During that career, I was fortunate to fly the DC8 as SO from August 1966 to June 1967, and then the DC9 as First Officer (FO), from June 1967 to 1972, I then flew the DC8 as a FO from 1972 to 1978 and finally transitioned to my first Captaincy as Captain on the B727. I flew the B747 Classic (Series 100 and 200) as FO from 1982 to 1986, when I moved to Captain on the DC8, which was exclusively engaged in flying freight, mostly through the night. In 1993, I had a short stay on the B767 as Captain before I moved to the B747 Classic as Captain from April 1994 to late 1998, when I made my final move to Captain on the B747-400, the ultimate flying job on the greatest aircraft that I had the privilege to fly. Interestingly, I spent approximately 25 of my 34+ years at Air Canada flying "Heavies" (which is defined as greater than 300,000 lbs Gross Take-off Weight).
In addition to my flying at Air Canada, I did indulge in flying at the other end of the scale and owned and operated a LA4-200, Lake Buccaneer, an amphibious 4 seat aircraft, for the years 1976 through 1981.
Outside of my flying career, I was able to utilize my Engineering and Town Planning training and eventually established and ran a successful planning firm with up to 30 professionals on staff at its peak. I also was involved in the establishment of an aviation consulting firm called AeroCan Aviation Specialists Inc. which continues to supply me with consulting challenges after a 30 successful years of operation, thus combining my Engineering background and my flying experience.
After retirement from Air Canada, I was introduced to the Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) when I was asked to make a presentation to one of the monthly meetings. On 3 October 2002, I spoke to the Toronto Chapter on the topic of " Flying The Heavies." This occasion led to joining, first the Toronto Chapter of the CAHS, and then the National level of CAHS. I eventually got involved in the executive of the Toronto Chapter, working my way up to President of the Toronto Chapter for five consecutive years and also on the Executive Committee of CAHS National as Vice President Eastern Canada, and finally as President of CAHS National. I have thoroughly enjoyed my association with CAHS, particularly the people I was able to meet. I found it a humbling experience, notwithstanding my approximately 20,000 hours of flying time, to meet so many pioneers of aviation in Canada.
Now that I have retired from participation on the various CAHS executive positions, I can enjoy watching our daughter, Kelly, proceed through a successful aviation career which started out instructing at Toronto Airways at Buttonville Airport, to flying with Air Georgian on their Cessna Caravans, and then their B1900's, both as First Officer and also as Captain. She is now seven years into a career with Air Canada currently serving as a First Officer on the wide-body B767. Needless to say, both my wife and I are very proud of Kelly's aviation achievements on top of an Honours Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo.
William J. (Bill) Wheeler
A multi-talented Markham resident, dedicated to Canadian aviation history and passionate about art, has earned a place among distinguished achievers. William J. (Bill) Wheeler was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame at a gala dinner and ceremony on 26 May 2011. He was among four 2011 inductees at the event which was held at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario.
Wheeler's unassuming nature belies his many accomplishments as a teacher, artist, author and encyclopedic aviation historian. His home is a virtual art gallery of fine renditions of aircraft in flight and albums of illustrations he drew for high-profile clients. Shelves of books, including four that he produced, line the living room.
Wheeler's colleagues cite his outstanding volunteer effort as editor of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) Journal as key to his induction into the Aviation Hall of Fame, which is based in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. He held the post for 45 years from 1963 until 2008.
"The Journal was a labour of love," Wheeler said as he reflected recently on his stewardship of the widely respected quarterly publication. Its readership spans Canada and extends into the United States, Britain, and beyond.
"Aviation history is a rich and rewarding subject, diverse in so many ways. It was gratifying to meet all the people I came to know and recording their stories."
The Journal culminated Wheeler's vision of an organization that would promote the significance of aviation in Canada. He was a founding member of the CAHS, holding membership number 5, still proudly displayed on a personalized car licence plate.
Wheeler's interest in art and aviation took shape as a boy, in his native Port Arthur. "I always liked to draw. I was encouraged by my dad, who was the city architect. He designed and built the elementary school I attended."
Wheeler grew up in the 1930s, an era of record-breaking flights and of Don Winslow and "Tailspin" Tommy comic strips. He lived near the waterfront, where he would observe a red Stinson Reliant, a classic aircraft which occasionally flew over the Wheeler house.
"I was impressed by the Reliant's distinctive gull wing shape. I tried to carve one from orange crate wood."
During the war, Wheeler and his friends would listen for aircraft and count the combat planes -- Hurricanes and later Helldivers -- built by Canadian Car & Foundry Ltd at its Fort William plant. They would regularly go for a Sunday drive to visit the airport and park by the fence to watch yellow Tiger Moth trainers flown as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
"Tiger Moths seemed to be everywhere, landing surprisingly close to the hangars and bouncing. I was amazed that you could treat an aeroplane like that --- and that they didn't collide."
After graduating from high school in Port Arthur, Wheeler moved to Toronto to attend the Ontario College of Art (OCA). During his time at OCA, he met Pat Smith, a fellow student. They were married three years later in 1955, the same year that Wheeler graduated. They raised three sons.
Wheeler worked as a freelance illustrator during the early 1960s for the de Havilland Canada aircraft company, the Toronto Star Weekly, and various publishers. He also illustrated a boy's book on First World War flying -- Knights of the Air -- for Macmillan Canada. A bestseller, it achieved about eight printings in at least two editions. Wheeler illustrated 60 books in whole or part, often collaborating with Pat, also an OCA grad and a distinguished cartoonist.
In the late 1960s, Wheeler became a high school teacher. He was head of the art department at West Hill Collegiate in Scarborough for 25 years and retired in 1994 after almost three decades in the profession.
Wheeler was also active in the community, serving on the Local Architectural Conservancy Advisory Committee in the mid-1980s and on the program committee for the Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery. He has a slide collection of more than 1,000 historic buildings including many Markham homes that are now gone.
Wheeler has produced several books in addition to the numerous articles he wrote for the CAHS Journal. The titles include Images of Flight: A Canadian Aviation Portfolio, featuring paintings by Canada's best-known aviation artists; Skippers of the Sky, highlighting bush flying; Flying Under Fire: Canadian Flyers Recall the Second World War, and more. He made another contribution for the CAHS in 2009, as guest editor of a CAHS Toronto Chapter Flypast special anniversary edition celebrating a century of powered flight in Canada.
What won't disappear are Wheeler's indelible memories of fascinating personalities whose stories appeared in the Journal and friendships with aviation artists whose work graced its covers.
By Gord McNulty
Peter Allen
Peter Allen received his Canadian Private Pilot's License on his seventeenth birthday and has gone on to accumulate over 2500 flying hours in more than 120 different aircraft types. He holds Canadian and American Commercial Pilot Licenses, endorsed for multi-engine land and seaplanes, as well as Canadian and American Glider Pilot Instructor Licenses.
He is a past Director of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and Hamilton International Air Show, and he was the Executive Vice-President of the Canadian International Air Show. From 1985 to 1987, Peter served as National President of the CAHS, and he was the recipient of the society's "Mac McIntyre Research Award" for his article "The Remotest of Mistresses: The Franks Flying Suit" (CAHS Journal, Winter 1983).
A highly respected financial executive, Peter has lead the finance organizations of a broad range of Canadian private and public corporations, including Soundair Corporation (1987-1991); Merisel Canada (1991-1996); NAV Canada (1996-1998); Export Development Canada (1998-2008); Allen Vanguard Corporation (2008-2010); and BTI Systems (2010-Present).
Peter also serves as the Treasurer for Orbis (the flying eye hospital) in Canada. He is a Director with the Ottawa-based National Air Museum Society and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in London, England. A Fellow of the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants, Peter has twice been nominated as Canada's CFO of the Year, and he was six times awarded the Auditor General of Canada's Award for Excellence in Annual Reporting.
Gary Williams
I graduated from the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus, Luther College, class of 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Following a very short stint in Edmonton, working for the Citadel Theatre, I returned to Regina and began a thirty-four-year work experience with Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI), six years in the Claims Division, and twenty-eight years in the Systems Division. I retired on 31 January 2009.
While working for SGI, I assisted with the coordination and organization of the Corporation's participation in the 1990 through 1998 Moose Jaw Air Shows.
I became involved with the CAHS back in the 1990's, joining the Roland Groome (Regina) Chapter and attending the Thursday evening presentations. Over time, I joined the Chapter executive and held positions of Member-at-Large, Membership-Secretary, Windsock Editor, and now the Chapter President.
My first National Convention was in Calgary where I was so impressed with the knowledge and dedication these people had for history of aviation and the passion for Canadian aviation history. As a National member, I tried to attend every National Convention that I could, and in 2010, I accepted the appointment to the National Executive as the National Vice-President. Elected to that position at the Edmonton Convention in 2011, I carried on in this role until the current President, Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail, and I switched duties on 1 January 2012 as she worked on increasing our membership by having a baby boy. I was elected to the position of President at our 2012 Convention in Saint John, New Brunswick.
I have been a member of the Royal Canadian Airforce Association and 600 Wing Regina for nearly 20 years. I also hold memberships with the Canadian Warplane Heritage, Lancaster Support & Spitfire Support groups in Hamilton, Ontario. I joined Vintage Wings of Canada in 2011 when I organized their Regina weekend event for their Yellow Wings cross Canada Tour.
My other interests and activities include:
➢ acted as a technical advisor for Luther High School's musicals from 1991 through to 2000 and 2009;
➢ working for the Regina United Way;
➢ executive member of the SGI 25-35 Year Club, two years as a Director and four years as the President;
➢ an active donor in the platelet program for Canadian Blood Services;
➢ member of my church council from 1989 to 1993 and 2010 to present, and Treasurer on Church Council, 1991 through 1993.
Timothy Dubé
Timothy Dubé most reluctantly accepted the position of CAHS National President in June 2008 and served until October 2010 to facilitate the transition of the CAHS Board from its Toronto roots to one that draws its Directors from across Canada.
Tim is a CAHS Life-Member, having joined the CAHS in 1982. In 1985, he joined the Ottawa Chapter, taking on the job of Editor of the Observair newsletter in September of that year. He has served as Editor of the Ottawa newsletter from September 1985 through May 1990 and again from September 1997 to the present. In May 1989, Tim became Chairman of the CAHS Ottawa Chapter, a position he continues to hold. One of the original members of the Ottawa Chapter's "Airshow Crew," Tim continues to take the Ottawa Chapter's display unit to airshows and aviation events throughout Eastern Ontario and West Québec to promote the CAHS.
Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail
My first contact with the Canadian Aviation Historical Society was in Ottawa in late 2007. I had just begun researching the history of Laurentian Air Services, which had been based in that city, and I wanted to connect with people who had worked for them, or could steer me in the right direction.
The project had gotten its start that summer, when I had finished my MA at the University of British Columbia. While I could now call myself a trained historian and came from a family of airplane nuts, I actually knew very little about aviation. But I knew a good story, and an important one, when I saw it.
It turned out I was right to go to that CAHS meeting: I was immediately welcomed into the fold. Of course, I still had to prove my chops as an aviation researcher and writer (and rightly so), but the rivet counters were as helpful as they were rigorous.
When my book – called For the Love of Flying – came out in 2009, I was living in Wyoming. I came back to Canada, however, for a cross-country book tour. My husband, German Shepherd mix, and I drove from Quebec across the Prairies, and back down to the U.S. Along the way, I gave talks at CAHS chapters in Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Calgary and did signings at museums and heritage centres in North Bay, Sault-Ste-Marie, and others. At every stop, CAHS members came out to support me.
In 2010, I had the opportunity to give something back. I had just gotten settled in my new home in Edmonton when I jetted off to Montreal for the annual CAHS conference. At that event, buoyed by the camaraderie and the group's passion for Canada's aviation heritage, I signed up to be the new national membership secretary and to organize the 2011 convention in Edmonton.
Then, after a series of events, I ended up the national president, the first woman to hold the position in the society's 50 year history. I was 28 years old and a little daunted at the prospect of heading up a national charity with a long tradition and over 1000 members worldwide. But there was an excellent team approach with the executive and board, and I knew it would be a group effort.
As an entrepreneur with a writing background, my focus during my presidency was improving communications. I was really excited to manage the redesign of the website, create and edit a monthly e-newsletter, and launch an online membership option and the CAHS Facebook and Twitter accounts. These have all helped members connect with each other, and helped the media, scholars, and enthusiasts find the society in cyberspace and beyond.
In 2011, I stepped down from the position as I got ready to introduce a new little aviator into our family. I've stayed involved, though, first as vice-president and now as a director of the society.
I tell people I became an aviation historian by accident, but got hooked because of the great stories and people. It's also in large part because of the encouragement I've received from the CAHS.
I'm currently writing a book called Polar Winds: A Century of Flying the North, and have a historical novel in the works called Chasing Skies, about a female bush pilot who goes to Great Britain to fly for the Air Transport Auxiliary during the Second World War. I also write aviation book reviews and often find aviation angles for my freelance articles and columns.
For more information on me and my projects, please visit www.daniellemc.com or connect with me on Twitter or LinkedIn.
ANTONIOS (TONY) SPIROS SOULIS
Kanata, Ontario
Tony was born in 1943 in Montreal, QC. He was raised and schooled in Quebec City and entered the Canadian Army Soldier Apprentice Training Program at the Royal Canadian Electrical & Mechanical Engineer School at Barriefield Ontario, in 1959. After graduation, he joined Army Aviation in 1962, where he trained on Bell, Hiller, and Sikorsky helicopters at the US Army School of Aviation, Fort Rucker, Alabama, and subsequently deployed as a Helicopter Technician with NATO forces in West Germany.
In 1966, he entered the civil aviation field as an apprentice engineer with Skyrotors Limited of Arnprior, Ontario. He was contracted to maintain Hiller 12Es at Universal Helicopters in support of the Baie D' Espoir hydro-electric project in Newfoundland. After obtaining his AME licence in 1967, he remained with Skyrotors in helicopter maintenance throughout the Yukon and Northwest Territories, where he was one of the first AMEs to maintain Fairchild-Hiller, Bell, and Hughes turbine-powered helicopters.
Joining Transport Canada's Air Services Division at Uplands Ontario in 1971, he shortly thereafter transferred to Quebec City, assuming maintenance responsibility for the Coast Guard's helicopters. While there, he received several awards for maintenance procedure and operational cost improvements. In 1978, he returned to Uplands, responsible for the provision of initial and recurrent helicopter training to TC pilots and AMEs.
He transferred to Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) in 1985 as Superintendent in charge of Technical Inspector and Engineer training. He co-authored the Audit and Inspection Manual, and drafted the maintenance standardization rules for NAFTA's Air Speciality Operations. The 1999 regulatory changes to AME licensing standards, credentials, and associated control mechanisms were directly influenced by recommendations in his authored White Paper on AME Licensing & Training Change.
He served on CARAC for CAR Sub Part 403; the FAA's ARAC for Part 43 and 65; is a past president of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society; is a founding member of the International Society of Aviation Maintenance Professionals (ISAMP); is a recipient of aviation industry awards, including Flight Safety International's Master Technician Award; has authored technical and regulatory articles; was a Moderator for several World Airline Training Conferences (WATS); and has been a member of the Atlantic AME Association since 1983. Tony remained with TCCA until his retirement in 1999.
