A division of holiday company Travel 'N' Save, Holidair operated 1988 - 90. The oil price spike resulting from the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait was one of the main reason's for the closing of the company. While the airline had five DC-8s on the Canadian register, C-FHAB seemed to the most seen aircraft in service for the airline.

Delivered to Central Mountain Air in October 1997, this Beech 1900D has also operated for sister company Northern Thunderbird Air since 2014. In the early connector days, Central Mountain had small Air Canada and Air BC titles on the nose forward of the entry door.

Victory Aircraft manufactured 430 Lancaster Xs at their Malton, ON plant, FM136 emerging in 1945. Sent to 32 MU St Athan in May 1945, it was too late to be issued to an active squadron and returned to the Pearce, AB depot in Canada. Eventually converted to Maritime Reconnaissance configuration, it was flown by 404 'Buffalo' (Maritime Patrol) Sqdn at Greenwood, Nova Scotia and later 407 'Demon' (MP) Squadron at Comox, BC carrying squadron markings RX-136 until struck off in April 1961. FM136 spent the next 30 years displayed on a pedestal at Calgary airport before joining the museum in 1992.

This Anson was constructed from a collection of parts from a variety of incomplete airframes lying in southern Alberta. The wing was manufactured from scratch according to original plans, with the port side left unskinned to illustrate the combined wood and metal construction. The aircraft is beautifully finished as RCAF 7401, which served throughout WWII with 18 SFTS at Vulcan, Alberta. It appears that substantial sections of 12587, a MkV, may have been incorporated.

Originally 47-0606 with the USAF, this Sabre became a chase plane at Edwards Air Force Base, CA for various high-speed rocket-propelled aircraft including the Bell X-1 and Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket. Registered N57965 and with the Museum of Flight, Seattle 1989-1997. Then restored using parts from Canadian-built Sabres. The serial 23175 was chosen because 23 was the prefix on all Mk5 and 6 RCAF Sabres, the 1 recognises 1 Air Division of the RCAF (Europe) and 75 for the 75th anniversary of the RCAF in 1999 when the restoration was completed. The real 23175 was CL-13A Sabre 5 c/n 965.

Built 1969 and registered to South-West Helicopters of Lethbridge, Alberta when cancelled in 1989 after crashing into water in northern Alberta while carrying a firefighting bucket

This Auster was purchased new by the RCAF in 1946 as 16691 and was flown from Winnipeg to Portage la Prairie, disassembled and put into storage with a total of 1.5 hours of flying time. In 1958 it was struck off strength and sold to a Calgary area businessman.

Only the second Twin Otter to be built, registered CF-SJB-X by DHC in June 1966

Just 11 of this Beech 18-style aircraft were built by the American firm Barkley-Grow, the T8P designation standing for Transport, 8 Passenger. Three now survive. This one was constructed in 1940 for Mackenzie Air Service in Edmonton but served many other Canadian companies, including Pacific Western Airlines, Canadian Pacific Airlines, Parson Airways, Sioux Airways, Northland Airlines and Associated Airways.

The original CF-AZM (c/n 4449) was a Waco QC-6 Custom purchased and operated by Grant McConachie, then President of Yukon Southern Transport and later CEO of Canadian Pacific Air Lines. It was lost through the ice of Watson Lake, Yukon in 1938. In 1983 Waco NC16520 c/n 4479 was imported to Calgary from Woodlake, California and restored to mint condition with new fabric and overhauled engine. After a special application, the re-use of registration CF-AZM to mark the previous aircraft was granted.

Built as a Harvard 4 by the Canadian Car and Foundry at Fort William (Thunder Bay), Ontario. Taken on strength with the RCAF with s/n 20273 in August 1952 and assigned to 4 FTS, Penhold, AB. Sold as surplus October 1964 and to Airdrie Aviation in April 1987 as C-FRUJ.

Acquired by the Canadian Ministry of Transport in the early/mid-1950s and repainted to an earlier livery from a basically silver/white top scheme after preservation in 1977.

Originally 42-108960 and registered CF-BZI in 1956. Written off while landing on 13th May 1971 in whiteout conditions at Somerset Island, Nunavut which is a large, uninhabited island of the Arctic Archipelago. The left main gear ski dug in when the aircraft touched down ahead of the runway and slewed it sideways causing major damage. It has been preserved at Calgary since the mid-1990s and some parts from C-FIQR c/n 11876 (which had also earlier crashed, in 1977) were used in its restoration.

Delivered 31Aug22 with sistership C-FLKO. Both of which now reside on Runway 26 in Calgary. C-FLRS is the latest MAX to be delivered but was in the hangar on this visit to YYC.

Originally painted and destined for SpiceJet in India, this Q400 now sits parked at YYC in arctic camo scheme awaiting a good home.

Delivered 31Aug22 to Flair and has been in storage in various places ever since. Now stored on Runway 26 in Calgary awaiting entry into service.

By far the most unique visitor was this Bonza 737 MAX which showed up the night before I arrived. It ferried straight from Boeing Field and has been sitting here ever since. Bonza is a new Australian ULCC startup which is part of the 777 Partners investment firm who also backs Flair Airlines. Note the unpainted LOT winglets which leave no questions asked as to who the original customer of the airframe was.