There's lots being said, these days,
about how the world is changing or has changed. In many ways, our
world is much more complicated...and yet, things have also simplified
and become easier....maybe too easy. Take for instance air travel.
Distances between destinations seem to have diminished, at least with
the increased flight range of today's modern jets and direct
flights (when you can find them) between airport locations that used
to take two or more legs of travel.
Planes have always fascinated me.
Getting ready for this adventure I've had time to reflect and try to
figure out just where and when. As I await my travel details for
Rankin Inlet, I got thinking back to my first exposure to an airplane
at Malton airport in the late fifties, early sixties. My Aunt Edna
and a co-worker had booked a trip to Hawaii (she also travelled to
Acapulco and many other destinations
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| 1963 Trans Canada Airlines becomes en francais "Air Canada" |
Our family had taken her in our '49
maroon Plymouth to the airport outside Toronto. In those days, there
were no seat belts and you could stuff as many people as possible on
those bench seats...sometimes with us “kids” sitting on the laps
of adults or the older kids. I can't remember how many pieces of
luggage but I do remember her carry on...probably because a nine or
ten year old could carry it. It was leather with well-rounded
vertical corners, a top-opening style and a zipper that would travel
on three sides. On top were her initials, “E.B.J.” in silver
printing, just below the large handle and inside, on the top, was a
mirror. The leather, outside, was neatly stitched and dyed a “baby
blue”...can we even say that as a colour anymore?....and was part
of that matching set, all packed and ready for “the handlers”.
Some recollections of the airport,
itself, include large windows facing the planes on the runway and a
coffee shop style lunch counter. As well, there was a staircase to
the terminal's rooftop allowing you to view the comings and goings of
the various propeller driven airframes. The wind was always blowing
up there, but as kids we were eager to see her “off” and we
waited and waited while the steps were finally backed away after the
various other service vehicles had left. Those props finally started
to spin, one, then two, and eventually all four before the plane
taxied out. The large field area, decked out with various small
signs, lights and ribbons of paved runways seemed to go on forever.
Further delay meant we watched as her plane finally lifted.
The best thing about taking her to the
airport, was the bonus of accompanying her across the tarmac and
carrying her hand luggage up those moveable stairs. And then, at the
top, she asked the stewardess, if I could enter the aircraft to see
where she would be seated. My first time on a plane...no flight...but
what an experience for this wide-eyed kid. This was a four engine
prop style plane...was it a DC6, DC7 or a Lockheed
Constellation???...not sure. It was big with a gleaming, shiny
aluminum skin...along with well over 100 passengers on board. From
that point there, my fascination with aircraft has continued to this
very day.
A couple of years ago I decided to try
a new hobby, radio controlled model flying. Finally last fall, I
achieved a personal quest of “getting my wings” from the local
model flying club. I was able to become certified in the operation
and flight of radio-controlled aircraft in Canada and the USA thanks
to the dedicated and unselfish efforts of a great group of
instructors and a large support network of club members. While I have
yet to actually receive them, I GOT THE PAPERWORK TO PROVE IT!!
Now, if you think it's difficult
sitting in an aircraft while the guy (or gal) up front takes you on
your journey, try standing on the ground and orientating yourself as
that RC plane flies toward you at a fairly quick speed. You can't
panic or gravity will take over and you'll go home with a green
garbage bag full of parts and pieces....we all keep one in the trunk
just in case. It took me a while to get the hang of it (with the
assistance of a computer flight simulator...thank you “Phoenix”
versions 3 to 5)...but now I can fly without the mandatory electric
tether of a buddy box system. Ergo, I am now free to crash these
things all by myself.
With this new found skill, I look at
planes, their body shapes and wings differently. I now have to
consider wind speed, direction, air flow and those physical
principles of Bernoulli. It's amazing, as you get older, how you
grasp concepts differently...and this hobby really makes you
appreciate those subtle differences. Experience is your best teacher
and the student must stay on constant alert or suffer the
consequences.
Yes, our world has changed, and
continues to evolve. Modern plane designs have seemed to reduce the
distances between our destinations and, for the flying public, it has
made those points seem closer
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| The distances Toronto-Winnipeg and Winnipeg Rankin Inlet |
And those long distances, while not any
closer physically, have seemed to become closer. In six hours of
flight we can be anywhere in North America and, even Rankin Inlet.
Next Up:
THE BATTLE OF THE GROUNDHOGS
