April 09 - AMS Computer Group

vol. 30 • issue no. 2 • march • 2009
Newsletter of the Boundary Bay Flying Club

PROPTALK • MARCH 2009
bbfc - social EVENTS:
April 25th, 2009
Finger Food - Potluck Dinner
Arrive 5:30 PM - Dinner 6:00 PM
May 25th, 2009
Clubhouse and Grounds Cleanup - BBQ Lunch
Arrive 10:00 AM - Cleanup then BBQ
June 13th, 2009
Summer Windup - BBQ
Arrive 4:30 PM - Eat and Greet
September 12th, 2009
Corn Roast and BBQ
Arrive 4:30 PM - Eat and Greet
October 17th, 2009
Potluck Dinner
Arrive 5:30 PM - Dinner 6:00 PM
November 14th, 2009
Potluck Dinner
Arrive 5:30 PM - Dinner 6:00 PM
December 5th, 2009
Joint Xmas with Copa Flt 5 - Finger Food Provided
Arrive 5:30 PM - Eat 6:00 PM
January 24th, 2010
Annual General Meeting
April, Saturday 18th, 2010
Bellingham Heritage Flight Museum Open House
1200-1600 HR
fly-ins / fly-outs
April, 25th, 2009
Skagit Washington Tulip Festival Fly-In
May, 2nd, 2009
Vernon Annual Rust Remover Fly-In
May 10th, 2009
Cache Creek Fly-In Breakfast
Boundary Bay Flying Club
EXECUTIVE POSITIONS
President: Dave Turnbull
Vice President: Jim Steinbach
Treasurer: Jim Niessen
Secretary: Sandi Blakely
Past President: Gary Peare
Director Positions
Director: Al Blakely
Director: Gordon Hindle
Director: Peggy Gordon
Director: Lowell Breckon
Director: Mike Moffat
Director: Harry Pride
Director: Ray Griffin
Committees
Social Convener &
Phone out: Kathy Turnbull
Archives: Harry Pride
Dapcom: Mike Moffat
Photographer: Gordon Hindle
Prop Talk: Ray Griffin *
Web Site: Al Blakely
Membership: Peggy Gordon
* Prop Talk to be published bi-monthly
Special Committee
Club House & Accommodations
Lowell Breckon - Chair
Mike Moffat - Member
Ray Griffin - Member
Bruce Prior - Member
Jim Steinbach - Member
editor and design
Editor: J. Raymond Griffin Architect Inc.
Tel and Fax (604) 738-1461
jrgriffin@telus.net
Design: Dave Leitao - dleitao@shaw.ca
contact us
Boundary Bay Flying Club
Heritage Clubhouse at Delta Air Park
4103-104th Street, Delta, BC V4K 3N3
*HOTLINE* 604-473-6053
www.bayflyers.com
pg. 2

pg. 3
President’s Report:
Presidents Musings - March 20, 2009
As I sit here thinking about things that might interest you I am watching the rain hit
the window with a vengeance, saw a bit of lightening and heard the thunder that followed.
It just occurred to me that this is the first official day of spring. What a welcome!
Anyway, seems that way back I heard of a saying to the effect “In like a lion, Out
like a lamb”. We can hope.
We have had one very successful pot luck dinner and another is scheduled for the
21st, with about 27 of you indicating that you will attend. Being St. Pats day we should
be seeing a lot of green but not the wine and beer we hope.
So what is new? We have 22 paid up members to date with a few more to pay tomorrow
night at the social. Kathy has organized a schedule of social functions for the
upcoming year and is using the phone out volunteers to help in the solicitation of new
members and/or membership renewals by former members. I would like to suggest
that this is a responsibility of all members, so please do your best to bring in new or
former members.
I am sure that you are all aware that we have been served notice that the Old House
may not be available to us for much longer. In an effort to find a new location we have
formed a Club House committee chaired by Lowell Breckon with Directors Mike Moffat,
Ray Griffin, Bruce Prior and Jim Steinbach to explore avenues possibly open to us.
The committee has been following up on a few possibilities and while there is nothing
specific to report at this time, we hope to have something to say to you in April.
Your executive for
2009 will have lots’s
to do.
In an effort to find
a new location we
have formed a Club
House committee
chaired by Lowell
Breckon with
Directors Mike
Moffat, Ray Griffin,
Bruce Prior and
Jim Steinbach to
explore avenues
possibly open to us.
Dapcom, under the stewardship of Terry Wilshire, is holding a meeting of all Delta Air
Park users on Wednesday the First of April to hopefully obtain the support of this user
group for BBFC to occupy another area within the Dapcom administered Buildings at
that site. Because this meeting falls on the same day as out regularly scheduled Directors
Meeting, I have postponed our meeting to the regular date for our May meeting,
that being Wednesday May 6, 2009.
Being St. Pats day, or thereabouts, maybe a little “green” humor might be in order? Gallagher
opened the morning paper to find his name in the obituary column. He quickly
phoned his friend Finney and asked, did ye see the paper, they says I’m dead. Yah, I saw
all about it says Finney, but tell he asks, where is ye calling from?
Regards Dave.

PROPTALK • MARCH 2009
Grealis Award Presentation at the 2009 BBFC AGM
Harry Pride recieves the BBFC John Grealis Award
The 2009 AGM of Boundary Bay Flying Club was held at the
ABC Restaurant in South Surrey. Harry Pride received the
BBFC John Grealis Award, with Director Gordon Hindle
and Past President Gary Peare looking on. Harry has contributed
greatly to Boundary Bay Flying Club and Delta Air
park over the years. His enthusiasm about sharing the joys
of flight with friends, and his reverence for general and local
aviation history is infectious. This month’s Proptalk is mostly
devoted to the Commemorative Silver Dart flight which
he proposed ,and his fond memories of his early years at
YVR and the early planes that flew from there. He has a
vast photo collection (multiple discs) of early planes at YVR,
which were engrossing when I viewed them at length, and
brought to life a rich past of flying tradition and people at
Vancouver airport, which has so far largely gone unsung. We
have just used a representative few of the photos for the
History Corner article on YVR.
Ray Griffin
pg. 4

pg. 5
john grealis award
Harry Pride • Private Pilot’s Licence • 1946
Harry Pride at the controls of Piper Arrow • In Formation Flight

PROPTALK • MARCH 2009
100th Anniversary of the Silver Dart
BBFC AND COPA FLIGHT #5 CELEBRATE THE SILVER DART
Silver Dart Flight • Harry Pride, John McGregor, Al Blakely, Gordon Hindle
On Sunday, February 22, 2009, a seven plane formation
of various GA types, flew a one and a half hour circuit of
Greater Vancouver and the lower Fraser Valley. We pretty
well covered every city, municipality, and district to alert the
public that a noteworthy occasion was being marked… The
100th anniversary of Canada’s first ever powered flight of
the Silver Dart .
The flight was organized by Harry Pride with the help of
the whole group mentioned below. Donn Hubble, our lead
pilot on this flight and for our annual Remembrance Day
formation flights, did a great job with his leadership keeping
the activity safe. Words of appreciation have been expressed
to all the control tower operators who gave us much
cooperation in the organization and execution, as the large
formation zigzagged through five airport zones for over
ninety minutes.
Our public relations man, Pat Lobsinger, was effective in
arranging local media coverage of the original Silver Dart
flight, and photo reportage of our celebratory formation
flight. This ensured that the local populace was made aware
of the special occasion, and that many ordinary people fly
for pleasure, as well as for business. All participants enthusiastically
supported this flight for the same reason COPA
members have said for years, that we need to continually
focus public attention on “ our freedom to fly”. There is
constant pressure by developers to close small airports and
to use the land for housing and commercial purposes. The
Canadian Owners and Pilots Association does an excellent
job of countering these pressures and has won battles for
small landing strips at Banff and Jasper National Parks in
Alberta, at Nelson B.C., and at airports in eastern Canada.
Part of our flight’s intent was to support that objective.
pg. 6

pg. 7
100th Anniversary of the Silver Dart
The people involved in our flight included pilots: Donn
Hubble (C150) lead pilot, Gerrard Van Dijkg (Turbi), Rick
Blue (PA28-180), Gary Peare (PA28-140), Henry Ilg ( C177
Cardinal), Al Blakely (C172-180), and Harry Pride (PA28R-
200). Gordon Hindle (Veri-Eze) and John MacGreggor (L19)
previously flew practice flights for this event, but their
planes were not available this day.
Assistants: Pat Lobsinger in the C150, Gordon Hindle in
the C172-180, Debbie Blue with husband Rick in the PA28-
180, Ruth Ilg with husband Henry in the Cardinal, Nick
Ilchuk in the PA28-140, Kevin Machel-Cox, Ginny Ivanicki,
(aviation artist), and Nicole Rittemann in the PA28R-200.
Gordon Hindle in Veri-Ezi, Al Blakely in C-172
Supporters: As usual, Mary and Tony Swain in their helpful
way, provided nutritious snacks before the flight, and a tasty
and satisfying lunch after. We had a happy and cheerful debriefing
afterward, with lots of food and camaraderie. This
type of communal flight, provided an experience similar to
that of being on a successful sports team after a satisfying
cooperative game, and enjoying a tremendous team spirit.
Submitted by Harry Pride, COPA Flight #5
and Boundary Bay Flying Club
Delta Heritage Air Park, B.C.
L to R: Gordon Hindle (Vari-eze), Ginny Ivanicki (airplane artist), John MacGreggor ( L19), Harry Pride (Piper Arrow), Al Blakely (C172-180), of BBFC
Henry Ilg (Cardinal-photo plane), John Manuel ( C172-180), Pat Lobdsinger (Publicist) of COPA #5

PROPTALK • MARCH 2009
History Corner
VANCOUVER AIRPORT 1920’s, 1930’s, 1940’s
Part I - Minoru Park 1900’s to 1930 and Early Sea Island 1930’s
by Harry Pride
Harry Pride in front of Cirrus Moth • Minoru Park, Richmnond
This story is presented, not as a historically detailed account,
but of the personal experiences of a young fellow
who had a very exciting and emotionally attached life beside
YVR as it grew from almost nothing, to what it became up
to the end of the second world war.
What glorious, exciting, and free lives we had on Lulu Island
and Sea Island in Richmond during the dawn of flying in the
region. There were barely 3000 persons living in the municipality
when my family moved in 1927 to 443 Lynas Road
when I was 2 years old. We had a two acre plot on which
we had chickens, fruit trees, and a wonderful garden. The
depression hit us but we always had lots of good, healthful
food. We were half a mile south of the banks of the middle
arm of the Fraser River, immediately across the river from
the site to which the Vancouver Airport would be moved
in 1930. Although I was forbidden to go near the “dangerous”
Fraser River, that is where we kids spent our free
time floating on logs and in leaky boats, sliding (in the flesh)
down the muddy banks into the water, and learning how
to swim. Wells Air Harbour was situated about one mile to
the east of our swimming hole and was used to build and
repair various float planes such as Fairchilds and Noorduyn
Norseman. It was also the base of operations for flying
companies such as Ginger Cootes Airways, and Canadian
Airways which flew the Fairchild 71 and Stranraers up the
coast.
The Vancouver Airport was originally sited in Minoru Park,
a grass field, next door to the Lansdowne Racetrack, and
I used to look in awe at the Fleet Finches, Puss Moths,
Aeronca Champ, Waco Biplane (water cooled), Sikorsky
amphibians, and others as we went by in the trams along
Garden City Road. Young Bill Spires, who was to become
a brother-in-law many years later, lived near Minoru Park
and took many photos, which I have borrowed from my
pg. 8

pg. 9
History Corner - Minoru Park 1900’s to 1940’s
to cross the Rocky Mountains, and putting the
airport in the history books.
Amelia Earhart • Lockheed 10 • YVR Tarmac • 1934
sister, Margaret Spires, and shown in this article. Vancouver
Airport at Minoru Park was the home of an air transport
company which flew Sikorski amphibians, and the base for
flight instruction. The latter included Morris MacGreggor,
Jim Spilsbury, Jack Wright who gave Rolie Moore her initial
flight training , the Aero Club of B.C. , and the Sprott Shaw
School of Commerce which had a Waco for flight training.
Air Shows and Barnstorming events were staged with
the usual aerial stunts. Rollie Moore, became a legendary
local female pilot to whom the “99s” dedicated a bench at
YPK. Included are photos of her and other pilots flying Puss
Moths, Fleet Finches, and Siskins at Minoru Vancouver Airport.
In August 1919 pilot Ernest C. Hoy flew from Minoru
Park to Calgary, Alberta, making the first flight in Canada
Harry Pride and Tiger Moth No.2 • YVR Tarmac • 1946
In 1930 the Vancouver Airport was moved to
its present site on Sea Island, but it occupied a
much smaller area than now and originally had
a main east-west runway 07 – 25 and smaller
10 -19. Most of the farms on Sea Island were
left intact and contained many school friends
that we visited to play unorganized games of
soccer or lacrosse. Gordon Irons, who was
later to become a brother-in-law, became
one of the early Control Tower Operators at
YVR (1940). He had his Private Pilot licence
and took me up for my first flight in 1941 in
a Fairchild KR 21 biplane (CF-AMH) . During those years
the planes we saw mostly were Aeronca Champ, Piper Cub,
Fairchild, Puss Moth, Aeronca LC (CF-BAT), corrugated
metal Junkers Ju 52, Junkers W34W, Fokker F10A, Taylorcraft,
Beechcraft Staggerwing ( used by Carter Guest , Aviation
Inspector), Sikorsky amphibian, Noorduyn Norseman,
Lockheed 12 and 14, Boeing 147, Douglas DC3, Tri Motor
Ford 5-AT-C, Stranraer, Dehaviland Dragon Rapide DH89,
and Barkley-Gross Boundary T8P-1 (wheels Bay Flying and floats). Club
Gordon obtained the Control Tower job in 1940 as a result
of a misfortune
President
that happened to the father of a friend
of mine – we used to fly our model planes together. This
father had obtained the Tower job and went
up flying in Frank Gilbert’s Aeronca Chief to
celebrate the event, but crashed into a tree
beside his house in South Arm and was fatally
injured. My friend had the misfortune to run
to the crash site, and in removing a cushion
saw that it was his father in the wreck.
The job vacancy then provided Gordon his
job opportunity and he was hired It also
provided him the opportunity to take 100s
of photos of events at the airport over the
years (his other hobby). When he died, his
wife Rena Irons, gave me his four huge albums
of photos, some of which record many
events at YVR during the early years. In those
days the Tower Operators also had to look
after the passengers, their baggage, and help
with the fueling of the planes. If a plane was
coming in from, say Seattle, the tower would

PROPTALK • MARCH 2009
History Corner - Minoru Park 1900’s to 1940’s
Rolie Moore, One of Seven Women Pilots • YVR • 1940
get a phone call about the timing of the flight, which would
prime the Control Tower Operators to spring into action in
the tower and down on the tarmac. For a long time there
was no official flight pattern for the sea plane base, and frequent
urging from the tower operators to the Department
of Transport in Ottawa did not result in action. So Gordon
organized the pattern and it was used. One day when the
DOT Officials came out to inspect and asked Gordon who
set up the sea plane pattern; he told them he did, and was
firmly criticized for doing something he was not authorized
to do. Before Gordon organized it there were many near
misses.
The early airlines using the airport were numerous and
struggled to keep going. These included Trans Canada Airlines,
United Airlines, United Air Transport, Yukon Southern,
Canadian Airways, Associated Airways, White Pass & Yukon,
Southern Air Transport, Yellow Knife Airways, and others.
There was also much activity from the seaplane ramp which
still exists on the south side, and from Wells Air Harbour
to the east. From where we swam on the south side of the
river, we watched Fairchild 41s, Stranraers, DeHavilland
Dragon Rapides, Grumman Goose, Noorduyn Norsemans,
Stinson Reliants, Barkley-Gross and other sea planes. There
was constant traffic as the marine airlines provided transport
to the many logging and mining operations on Vancouver
Island and up the coast. Zeballos was a much used
destination for them. I can still remember the first attempt
by Trans Canada Airlines to fly over the “Rockies” with mail.
We stood and watched as the Lockheed 12 slowly disappeared
to the east. It did not get over the Rockies, but had
to come straight back because of bad weather.
They used to have fabulous Air Shows at YVR involving
famous pilots and planes from all over the world. Autogyros
were more prevalent then, and helicopters seldom seen.
We saw the “Bat Man” jump out of a plane, glide down to
800 feet using his fancy webbed outfit , and then open his
pg. 10

pg. 11
History Corner - Minoru Park 1900’s to 1940’s
parachute to settle smoothly to the ground. Rolie Moore
would fly a DH Moth on its side and pick up a scarf suspended
close to the ground with the wing tip. Tex Rankin,
the famous stunt pilot and racer, visited often in various
planes and put on displays. Many of the aircraft companies
increased the carrying capacity of their twin engine craft by
putting a third engine on the nose and these visited Vancouver’s
air shows.. These included : Ford 5-AT-C, Boeing 80-A,
Stinson U and T, Junkers G-31 and 52, Fokker 18 and 32 and
several less well known makes.
The airport originally had the one main runway, but as the
clouds of war started to appear, the typical military configuration
was installed. This included the main runway 07 - 25,
and others 11 – 29, and 02 – 20 in the triangular shape. The
interior was grass which was useful for the many tail draggers
with no radios. (Later “07 – 25” was changed to “08
– 26”). During the war all civilian flying other than essential
commercial was stopped, and many instructors were either
seconded as civilian RCAF instructors, or were enlisted
in the R.C.A.F. The same was also the fate of the control
tower operators.
Attached are photos of the action at the Minoru site of Vancouver
Airport, which existed there from before 1919 to
late 1930, and some of the earlier planes at the Sea Island
airport.
Lockheed 12 • RCAF Station, Sea Island • Parade Special • YVR • 1941 / 1942

PROPTALK • MARCH 2009
boundary bay buzz
Mt. Baker
Lunch with the guys at Rudy’s recently was abuzz with new
slants on local flying: Gerry Janes, Don Crowe, Jack Pomerlau,
Adrian Cooper, Russ Popel, and Colin Monteith contributed
some interesting insights:
US Customs: The new deal is that we need to email flight
plan ETA’s in for border crossing to Customs, instead of
just phoning an hour ahead. We also need to await US Customs
email reply. In order to even be able to email, we have
to go online to register with US Customs. To get current
decals, we also have to go online. We cannot just get the
decals when we get to the US, like before. To file for return
also requires emailing in the request. No wonder a lot of
U.S. pilots fly with a laptop! The consensus is that the new
US system is kind of a schmozzel, so get organized or don’t
try to head south in a hurry.
US Border Overflight: Aftermath of 9/11: Gone are the days
when we could overfly the US border with impunity, as long
as we were not landing there. Adrian Cooper described
how a Delta Air Park pilot who decided to do a scenic flight
south with a friend, over the border and around the back
of Mt. Baker. Upon his return flight to Delta, he was treated
to the new paradigm: he was met by Delta Police and a
Swat team, spread-eagled on his stomach on the ground,
handcuffed, and taken to Delta jail. Oops, I’d done that flight
more than once with guests a few years ago, even checked
in with Seattle to clear for circuits around the volcano.
New ELT’s: There was no definite consensus on the 406 ELT
among the group, except by Russ Popell and Colin Monteith
insisting “406 is here, it is a done deal”, and it will cost
about $2,000 per light plane, the cost being roughly $1000
for the ELT, and $1000 to install, depending on the plane.
Consensus was that the install is tricky getting the wires
through the fuselage to the cockpit, so best to do it at time
of annual. The consensus by Colin and Russ was that the
new ELT’s will have to be done by this time next year.
Russ’s New Venture: Russ Popel, founder and formerly proprietor
of Victoria Air Maintenance, is now a bush pilot at
his Forde Lake Air Service. Based at Wawa Ontario, he has
two Beavers and a Cessna 208 on floats, and services his
fishing lodge and fish camps. Many of his flights are only 10
minutes between camps, in a big 60 mile circle route back
to Wawa. Sounds like a lot of fun, and a way to pack in a lot
of, low-level fun flying. The only “not-fun “part is loading and
unloading passenger baggage and gear. Russ and Colin flew
over for lunch at Rudy’s in Russ’s Skymaster, which he still
hangars with his T-28 at Vic Air in Victoria.
Adrian “Coop” Cooper of Boundary Bay, with Jack Pomerlau
as crew chief, will be competing at Reno Air Races, for
the third straight year. Last year Coop won Bronze with
“Little Miss Twichie”. This year, the engine has been tweaked
for more RPM, and the plane is undergoing more “mods” to
increase speed.
Jack Pomerlau is now involved with Alpha Aviation, as a
Consultant on management of Boundary Bay airport. Finally,
we have someone on the airport management team who
knows airports and aviators and how to develop the airport
for our whole flying community.
Ray Griffin
pg. 12

pg. 13
meeting minutes
BOUNDARY BAY FLYING CLUB
Meeting Minutes - March 4, 2009
Opening: The executive meeting of the Boundary Bay Flying
Club was called to order at 19:30 hours.
Directors will hold same positions as last year.
Approval of Minutes:
Minutes were accepted as circulated.
Minutes of the 2009 AGM were accepted as circulated.
Treasurers report:
Review of 2008 financial report was accepted as circulated.
Archives: Harry is working diligently on the archives to
ensure they are up to date.
Membership: 22 members at this time.
Club Socials:
Kathy provided a proposed list of the upcoming social
events. The dates may change as the year progresses. Kathy
thanked all the gentlemen for doing the clean up at the last
social. Just a reminder, that there is a $5.00 donation at the
social events.
Clubhouse Maintenance:
Nothing to report.
DHAPCOM:
Mike attended the meeting on Feb 26th. He has brought
an open invitation to the RAA awards Dinner to be held
on the 4th of April. Doors are open at 18:30 and dinner is
at 19:00hours. Cost is $30.00 per couple. Please see Terry
Wiltshire for more information.
Terry Wiltshire will be host a meeting for all non-affiliated
tenants to attend. This is to advise the proposal of the
conversion of the Charlie Brown Hanger a club house for
the BBFC. This will be the time for the non-affiliated tenants
to voice their concerns. Gary has been given a verbal
proposal of a new home for the BBFC could be moved to
the large hanger at Boundary Bay airport. Gary will pursue
this further.
Dave has expressed his concerns about the club being
in limbo to Bruce Prior. The changes may not take place
until 2011. At this rate the club itself may not be able to
survive. The moving of the Club has been on the agenda for
sometime.
The BBFC are the hosts for this month’s pancake breakfast.
March 8, 2009 4.00 per person.
MEMBERSHIPS & CLUB RELATIONS:
Nothing to report this month
FLYOUTS:
A full listing of fly-outs can be found on the website.
PHOTOS:
Gord has photos that have been burned on to CD’s for
Harry to archive and Ray to post in the prop talk.
PROP TALK:
Ray Griffin is in the process of publishing a newsletter for
the March issue.
WEBSITE:
The website now has a blog for the members login is bayflyers@gmail.com
login: BBFC blog,
CLUBHOUSE:
Lowell has received positive feedback from Terry at this
time. Lowell will keep us advised as more information
becomes available.
PHONE OUT COMMITTEE
This is running smoothly.
NEW BUSINESS
Gary spoke about the 406. As of Sep 2009 an AME will not
be permitted to install the 406 elt. This will only be allowed
to be installed by an AMO. The installation of the 406 in all
aircraft has not yet been turned in to law.
It was proposed that the Treasurer be allowed to sign
cheques up to and including 500.00 with only his/her
signature. This will allow the treasurer to pay the debts as
they become due; e.g. rent, phone. Etc. This was motion was
proposed by Lowell, 2nd by Al and voted and carried.
Honorary / lifetime memberships were brought up for discussion.
There had been some confusion at the AGM about
the rights of these members. Life members are eligible to
vote and nominate at the elections. Honorary members do
not have the right to vote.
Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned at 21:00 by Gary.
Minutes submitted by: Sandi Blakely