Pacific Perspective - March 2006

By Tony Swain

IT’S A NEW WORLD

It was difficult to write this until our new government figured out who the Top Dogs were going to be. I was all expectant! And now they’ve gone and done it, and I find the writing comes no easier. Sheesh!

You’d think that if they can whisk David Emerson across the floor into a Portfolio, they could pluck little ole me out of Kitsilano into one of them Cabinets, as the new Minister of Transport, Heritage, Environment, Parks, what-ever and pay me a bundle of money to boot.

They’re just not thinking out of the box. That’s the trouble with politics, and we have to deal with them guys! Sigh.

Our friend Merlin Pruess says he must do what the ‘guys up there’ tell him to, depending on prevailing Public Opinion. Have we been ranting at the wrong blokes? Looks like we need to brush up our political skills and start writing lots of calm persuasive letters to Ministers and MP’s. Easier said, than done. Actually we need to talk to all of the powers that be, and be, and be.

It’s a delicate balance. We can’t go over people’s heads every time something doesn’t suit. But when necessary, we must do it with vigour, and the trick is, knowing when to do so, and whose head to go over. Clever stuff.

Unfortunately our election demographics rarely bring women to the Board. Sherry is an outstanding director, and one or two more of similar competency would help COPA negotiations with some government ministries. 

It’s too bad we don’t have some sort of ‘COPA Senate’ where The Board could appoint competent members to address things like NavCan Fees, Park Access, and the like. Trouble is we’re volunteers, and such a set-up really takes paid staff to work, which would mean a quantum leap in dues.

DELTA’S GREAT STORM

Well, not really. But when you live 35 kms away across two bridges and a tunnel, it’s hard to sleep when the telly is full of red warning screens yapping about high tides and 100 kph winds.

Snug in bed listening to the wailing wind crashing metal sheets about in the condo construction next door, gets you all agitated about the mayhem probably going on down at the Airpark. Planes sailing from tie downs, hangar roofs blowing off, the dike bursting, and everything neck deep in salt water.

Its compelling mental imagery and almost disrupts one’s sleep. However, with Bessy no longer in the barn, we didn’t dash off into the blackness of night to nail the doors shut.

Of course, next day the news was agog with massive flooding in Delta’s Tsawassen, where a berm had washed away, inundating 200 homes, and on flat land, water tends to spread about.

The drive out to Delta was fraught with mental images of very soggy runways. However, when we arrived, all was serene, the cat was mewing for lunch and we made coffee - then the power went off. No sweat. New tenant Joe Kaitabl came in and we chatted about how the airpark operated. As he was leaving, he said by the way, what are you going to do about the door blowing off?

“What!?”  Fortunately the damage wasn’t that serious and Les Mitchell came out and put it all back up with 2 x 4’s and a fancy nail gun. We’re fortunate that we have many talented tenants!  

ENGINE’S GONE

In mid-December they took away my spare engine. Sigh. It had really impressed the visitors taking a mini Tony tour of the Airpark. Sitting at eye level on a bench, actually an old party bar, it was impressively huge. A big nine cylinder 600 HP air-cooled airplane engine.

Most people had never seen anything like it before, and I enjoyed explaining how it worked a bit like a bunch of motorcycle engines joined at the hip. The big Pratt & Whitney had been sitting there waiting for Bessy’s Old Faithful to run-out!

So it was traumatic when Vicair called and said their guy Grant was on his way to pick it up. I fussed a bit, and waffled on about as how I had a proper P&W shipping crate. “Nah! Won’t fit in the truck,” they said. “Don’t worry about it.”

Now picking up 868 pounds is no easy matter, especially with all the sharp bits that stick out from a big radial. So I was in a bit of a flap. A forklift would be good?

Bruce Prior said no problem and promptly arrived with the field’s front-end loader and some chain hooks. Zoom zoom zoom! And my precious Wasp was tucked into the truck in nothing flat.

We soon loaded up a load of extra spare parts, and the Vicair Man tooted goodbye on the horn, and was away.

Seems my engine and other bits are going to power a new Reno racer by Dennis Buehn down in Nevada. Dennis called later and said how he’d pulled it apart, and it looked good.

I still have the exhaust, off an S55 helicopter, and it was a puzzle to fit together. There are two outlets, and not easy to sort out. I did it once before, but one forgets.

Anyway, this time I took a picture once sorted, so next time should be a doddle.

HANGAR FLOTSOM

Amazing the surplus bits you find once you start poking around a newly vacated hangar! A huge set of WAC charts we intended to paper the new walls with - bit dated now.

Two chests full of ex RCAF maintenance manuals. Boxes of circa 1964 military aircraft radios, old ICA 67s and ARN 6 ADF radio compasses. Spark plugs, EDO-Aire 360 channel ‘portable’ comm (Weighs a ton). 

My tools and a mint pair of genuine 1940’s AN6130 ‘John Wayne’ style pilot goggles in the original box! There’s even a detailed map of Kent in South East England showing the airfields there in WW 2.

What to do with all this neat stuff? Haul it uptown to store with the other neat stuff I put in storage when I shut down my drafting office? Who knows?

DELTA DOINGS

COPA’s Kevin Psutka was in town for Delta’s monthly Pancake Breakfast, and we made sure he was there to enjoy the experience. The regulars were surprised to find him in the Old Coffee Shop, and he enjoyed the friendly crowd.

He was particularly lucky in that Ray Roussey was taking his granddaughters to Chilliwack for pie, in the Navion - Kevin was invited to go along. I was invited too, but declined, cause Bessy was parked there, and I wasn’t sure I could stay cool, so close, so soon. It’s very emotional, this parting thing, you know.

The weather has not been good, so she’s still there, however, it’s a lot warmer here than on the other side of The Rocks!

Chris and Joan Cox held an open house for the guys to inspect their fabulous RV 7 in progress. Very beautiful! All blue, gold and silver looking. Very smart.

It was a mite crowded in the workshop garage, but the food and company was great. Even some serious gover’ment guys dropped by to see what the fuss was about.

The Coxes have been refurbishing a hangar at Delta for the project in the near future - when the weather warms up a bit.

Airpark Chair Terry Wilshire is working away on his Scale Spitfire plans and hopes to have his rebuilt prototype in the air come Spring. It really is an attractive look-alike, and everyone is looking forward to seeing it flying about once again.

We lost a couple of good friends lately, and brief reports follow on their leaving us.

MYRON’S FAREWELL

The turnout for the service and reception was incredible. An estimated, more than 600 people, including many icons of aviation came to Langley to pay last respects to Myron Olsen, a giant in B.C. aviation.

Myron certainly left his mark. An active watchdog about flying things, he sure knew when and how to make a noise to keep those responsible hopping.

Langley’s Canadian Museum of Flight was a superb venue to say goodbye. COPA President Kevin Psutka came all the way from Ottawa to show our appreciation for Myron’s past support and his efforts in the formation of the B.C. Floatplane Association, COPA Flight 72.

An enthusiastic COPA booster and Award winner, he was a great guy. His family is justifyingly sad, but very proud. And we’ll certainly all miss him.

AND GOODBYE GEORGE

Family and friends held a farewell reception for our good and popular friend George Spence. The South Delta Community Centre, a few blocks from the Airpark, provided a most appropriate place to say ‘Goodbye” to George. 

We’ve held numerous personal events there over the years, and its old world ambience is comforting.

The ladies did a wonderful job of preparing sandwiches and sweets, with coffee and tea. A number of people spoke of their high regard of George and how we’ll all miss he and Eleanor popping in to Delta in their magnificent blue camouflaged Chipmunk.

Sadly, both the Chippy and their new Glasair are to be sold, and they’ll be sorely missed if thus they move away. Sigh.

Those attending really appreciated the gesture by the Fraser Blues Navion formation team who carried out a flawless ‘Missing Man’ fly-over with smoke.  It was a very emotional and wonderful way to say “Farewell old friend!”

AND SO THAT’S IT

It was a strange month for us. No Bessy to fret about, not much happening, the weather keeping things quiet at the Airpark. Thought you’d like to see a dreamy pic of Mary from way back enjoying her beloved Harvard flying. Those were the days, my friends.  Fly Safe now!

Tony Swain is a COPA director representing B.C. and Yukon. He has also been a COPA member for more than 20 years and has been an active participant in many aviation groups. He flies many types of aircraft and is concerned about the rights of sport pilots.