Membership

Dear CAHS member,

I just found out I'm a finalist in Chatelaine Magazine's 2011 Women of the Year Awards in the "Maverick" category. The other women in the category are amazing - Brigadier General Hilary Jaeger, Sheila Fraser, and Josee Kurtz, among others - and very accomplished. I don't know if I have a chance against such heavyweights, but I want to make the most of this opportunity to promote the areas I'm so passionate about, namely: Canadian history, writing, and aviation.

It's also a chance to highlight the CAHS, an organization that has given me so many opportunities to do what I love!

Here is the blurb on Chatelaine's site:

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail is the youngest-ever and the first female president of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society. She's a writer and historian with an interest in aviation and women's issues, and the author of For the Love of Flying: The Story of Laurentian Air Services. She recently hosted the CAHS conference in Edmonton, where she was elected president for another term, and is working on two books: a novel about a female bush pilot in the '30s and a history of aviation in the North.

[Disclaimer: I wasn't consulted on the blurb, so if there are any factual inconsistencies, I apologize in advance]

You have to log in to vote but it only takes a couple of minutes. Also, anyone can vote regardless of age, gender or country of residence.

Click here to vote before July 30th!

Feel free to pass the word on to your friends, family members or professional networks any way you like: email, phone tree, Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, etc. Thanks so much for your support!

Cheers,

Danielle

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Dear {tag:email},

The 2011 CAHS Convention is just over a week away and we have some important updates to share:

Journal Awards - Voting Extended

The CAHS will be handing out two Journal Awards at the Annual General Meeting, to be held June 23 in Edmonton.

Please click here to be taken to a hidden page on our website to access the online survey link or printable PDF voting form. Only CAHS National members may vote for the awards, and online voting will close at midnight on June 20 [please note new date!]. Also, for those who will be at the convention meet & greet on Wednesday, June 22, we will have paper ballots available.

Everyone is invited to check out the page to get a sneak-peek at the Winter 2010 issue (which is in the mail) as well as review the rest of the volume. We hope you enjoy them!

Last Call for Registrations and Bush Pilot Dinner/Show!

You can register for a full convention package and/or the Wetaskiwin day trip until June 15. After that you may only register for day passes (and you will be charged a $25 late fee).

Also, you may only purchase special event tickets (swing dance, dinner, and Airfest - the dinner and Airfest are included in the full package, FYI) through the CAHS until June 15.

Swing dance and Airfest tickets will be available at the door, but I've just been told the Alberta Aviation Museum has to have its Northwest Staging Route Dinner numbers in ahead of the event. So be sure to reserve your tickets with me (by June 15 - info@cahs.ca or 780-249-0750), or through the AAM (780-451-1175 - by credit card) by June 19.

Remember, the dinner is a themed affair and everyone is encouraged to dress up. We'll also be eating "bush fare" served buffet-style by the Alberta Aviation Museum's executive members: Traditional Beef Stew, Baked Potato, Vegetable, Salads, Dessert.

The dinner will be followed by a Stage & Screen Show hosted by the CAHS, highlighting different aspects of aviation history:

• Allan Cameron, founder and president of the Memories Recovered Project (soon to be renamed the Veterans Voices of Canada).

• Norman Leach, best-selling author and public speaker, and one of the many films he has been involved with, Hitler's Stealth Fighter.

• A dramatic reading from Letters from Wartime by award-winning actor, director and playwright Ken Brown (play co-written by Stephen Scriver).

• A multi-media spoken word performance by the inimitable Kathy Fisher.

Prizes and Auction!

My guest room is filled with door prizes that will be given out at the Meet & Greet June 22 and during the day on June 24 and 25.

We also have a number of silent auction items - including limited edition aviation prints and flight vouchers - so bring your chequebooks to the Meet & Greet on June 22 and raise money for future CAHS projects!

Last Chance for Football Tickets!

CAHS Director Richard Goette is organizing an outing Friday, June 24 to the Eskimos-Stampeders game for convention-goers who aren't planning on going to the swing dance. He needs final numbers by tomorrow, Tuesday, June 14 at noon (EST). If you'd like to go, please email him at richardgoette@hotmail.com.

If you have any questions, would like to register for the convention or events, please contact me at 780-249-0750 (Mountain Time) or by email at info@cahs.ca.

Sincerely,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

2011 CAHS Convention Chair and National President

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Dear {tag:email},

Traditionally the CAHS hands out two Journal Awards at the annual convention (this year June 22-26 in Edmonton), but due to the 2010 Journal publication schedule and concerns over Canada Post strike action, we faced a dilemma: how to gather votes in time?

We've decided this year, after much deliberation, to go the paperless route. We realize it's not a perfect solution, but seemed the most efficient course of action under the circumstances. We hope you'll find our online survey or PDF forms quick and easy to complete.

Please click here to be taken to a hidden page on our website where you can access the online survey link or PDF voting forms. Please note that only CAHS National members may vote for the awards, and voting will close at midnight on June 15th.

Everyone, however, is invited to check out the page to get a sneak-peek at the Winter 2010 issue (which is at the mailing house now!) as well as review the rest of the volume. We hope you enjoy them!

Sincerely,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

CAHS National President

p.s. I would like to say a special thanks to our webmaster, Alan Rust, and our graphics manager, Terry Higgins, who worked overtime this weekend to create the page, forms, and upload the journals.

Dear {tag:email},

Canada Post Strike

As you might have heard, there is a good chance Canada Post will go on strike starting tomorrow Friday, June 3rd. If you have sent your 2011 Convention registration form recently and haven't received confirmation from me - or were planning on registering in the next two weeks - please email me at info@cahs.ca or call and leave a message at 780-249-0750 (Mountain Time). If the strike goes ahead it may play havoc a little with logistics, but we'll work it out!

Convention Registration

Remember, June 15th is the cut-off for registration for the Wetaskiwin day trip, and for purchasing any special events tickets (for the Swing Dance, Northwest Staging Route Dinner, Airfest) through us. You can still purchase tickets at the door for these events through the Alberta Aviation Museum, and can join us at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum for the general tour, but the bus, lunch, and warehouse tour booking cut-off is the 15th!

June 15th is also when our late registration fee of $25 kicks in, so be sure to get in touch before then!

Hotel Bookings

Just a reminder that any remaining rooms in our block at the Chateau Nova (convention headquarters) were released yesterday. You can still book directly with them, however, or any of the other hotels in the area.

Eskimos vs. Stampeders!

Richard Goette is looking into buying tickets and organizing transportation to the football game on Friday, June 24th at 7pm. So if you weren't planning on going to the swing dance and are interested in joining in, please email him at richardgoette@hotmail.com.

Airfest 2011

The Alberta Aviation Museum just released some new information about this last, best Airfest:

Aircraft invited include two bi-planes from Vintage Wings, the CF86 Sabre Hawk One, as well as other military, experimental, and commercial types. STARS and Air One have also been invited.

If you're into cars and military vehicles, you'll want to check out all the muscle cars, street rods, and various race and custom automobiles on display from around the region.

Do you own and/or fly an aircraft? You can fly in and display it for the day, and get free admission and food for the pilot and onboard crew! More more information, please call 780-451-1175.

More details about the Northwest Staging Route Dinner and Stage & Screen Show (Sat, June 25) to follow shortly...

Sincerely,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

CAHS National President

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Hello  CAHS Member,

CAHS member Bert Davis will have his two recently-restored DH82C Tiger Moths (RCAF c. 1942) on hand in Wetaskiwin June 23rd for us to admire.

Dan Dempsey, team leader for the Discovery Air "Hawk One" F-86 Sabre, says he will have that aircraft on static display at the Alberta Aviation Museum during the convention. [The image below is from our friends at Vintage Wings].

2011 Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame inductee, Don Hamilton, will be joining us for lunch on Friday, June 24th. We will show the CAHF induction video of Mr. Hamilton's illustrious aviation career and then he has graciously agreed to say a few words!

To hear more about the CAHS conference, take a listen to a recent radio interivew I did with CBC Whitehorse's Dave White.

In case you hadn't heard and were hoping to attend, Maple Flag at Cold Lake, Alberta has been cancelled this year. For more details, please click here.

My basement is filling up with great door prizes and items for the convention packages, the Stage & Screen Evening program is coming together nicely (more on that soon!), and we've been having terrific weather here in Edmonton.

Don't miss out on what promises to be an exciting convention. You can find more information and a printable registration form at www.cahs.ca, then just pop it and your cheque (made out to CAHS National) in the mail to me at:

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

8712 42 Ave NW Edmonton AB T6K 1E7

See you soon!

Danielle

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Dear CAHS Member,

I just received word the Fall 2010 Journal went to the printing house today and, as promised, I'm passing the info along to you, our valued members. It will likely still be several weeks before it is printed and mailed, but I will update you every step of the way on the Journal page of the CAHS website (www.cahs.ca) and through Twitter (CanAvHistSoc) and Facebook.

The Journal team - and CAHS leadership more generally - is working hard to get back on schedule after a number of setbacks this year (including a recent broken wrist!). We appreciate your patience and support.

The Fall 2010 issue has articles celebrating the 100th anniversary of Canadian naval aviation, the 15th anniversary of the Canadian Aviation Artists Association, and much more.

Have to keep this short - time to get back to work on the Winter 2010 issue!

Sincerely,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

CAHS National President

www.daniellemc.com

p.s. Don't forget to keep checking the website for 2011 convention updates - registration details will be available soon!

To help keep your appetite for all things aviation satiated in the meantime, please enjoy the following that have landed recently in my in-box:

• P-39 Airacobra found intact in Russia! Click here for a four-minute video.

• “FAA-Conforming HondaJet Completes Maiden Flight.” Photos and more here.

• Ever wanted a 360 degree cockpit view of a DeHavilland Comet? Click here to get one!

• Amazing video of the making of Southwest Airlines’ Florida One.

March 18, 2011 -

Special Edition!

Canadian Aviation Historical Society
PO Box 2700 Station D
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5W7
www.CAHS.ca

Richard Goette says he’s got a winner for the “Mystery Airman ID” in the last newsletter: Clark Seaborn from Calgary, Alberta! Don’t worry, we’ve got another “Mystery Airman ID” in the works for next month (and another convention beverage up for grabs)…but boy, you have to be quick on the draw with this group!

In the meantime, can you help a fellow CAHS-er with who might have been the pilot(s) of the aircraft with the white rudder below, or any other pertinent details? Please email Almont with any info at dhhornet@ns.sympatico.ca

Speaking of Spits, I spotted the following in a recent Pionairs Netletter:

CLUB AIMS TO BUILD A DOZEN SPITFIRES

“It's an ambitious plan, but a group of pilots based at Enstone Flying Club in the U.K. hopes to build a dozen 90-percent-scale Spitfire replicas by the end of next year. The result will be a ‘living history’ squadron of aircraft that will perform at events around the U.K. The Supermarine MK26B Spitfires will be built from all-aluminum kits by teams of up to 12 builders and pilots. Fractional ownership options from one-twelfth to full ownership of each airplane will be available. Builders also can opt to be trained in formation flying skills. The group hopes to have the squadron ready in time to perform at the Farnborough Air Show in 2012.”

Hope you enjoy the rest of your month and that spring has sprung in your corner of the world...

Cheers,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

CAHS National President

www.daniellemc.com

March 10, 2011

Special Edition!

Canadian Aviation Historical Society
PO Box 2700 Station D
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5W7
www.CAHS.ca

Dear {tag:email},

This year’s CAHS convention will take place in Edmonton, Alberta from Wednesday,June 22^nd to Sunday, June 26^th and will explore the theme “Edmonton: Gateway to the North.” I hope you’ll be able to join us for a great program of speakers, visits to top-notch heritage institutions, and special events. Of course there will also be lots of time to catch up with old friends – and make some new ones!

The convention headquarters will be the Chateau Nova Hotel & Suites at 159 Airport Rd. We’ve secured convention rates of approximately $97 for a single queen room or $103 for a double queen room (taxes incl.). Please reserve by calling 1-888-919-6682 and quoting the group name CAHS and number 576.

For regular members and guests, the convention kicks off Wednesday evening with registration and a meet & greet. Thursday morning we’re off on a day trip to Wetaskiwin, home of the Reynolds-Alberta Museum and Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. We’ll also get a rare glimpse inside the RAM warehouse. After supper will be the CAHS Annual General Meeting and Election of Officers.

During the day on Friday and Saturday, you’ll be introduced to dynamic speakers with heavily-illustrated presentations on a variety of military, civil, and heritage topics connected to Edmonton, Alberta and the North. Scroll down for a quick list, then visit the convention page on www.cahs.ca for full bios and descriptions.

We’re holding the convention to coincide with the Alberta Aviation Museum’s AirFest, and we’ve been invited to attend several of their events. These include:

• A Friday-night swing dance featuring a big band and static display of Second World War-era armoured vehicles
• A Saturday-night Northwest Staging Route-themed dinner
• Sunday AirFest activities – including the fly-in breakfast

Full program details, including registration costs, will be on the website and circulated by newsletter in a few weeks. We will also provide information on other places you may want to visit in the area, such as: 4 Wing-CFB Cold Lake, Nanton’s Bomber Command Museum, and the Aero Space Museum of Calgary.

Keep checking www.cahs.ca for updates and information!

Looking forward to seeing you in June!

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

CAHS National President and 2011 Convention Chair

info@daniellemc.com

Dynamic Speakers and Fascinating Topics!

•  John Chalmers  -  "A Century of Aviation in Alberta"

• Shirlee Smith Matheson & Fred McCall -"Freddie McCall: Maverick of the Sky"

• Chris Weicht - "High River: Alberta's First Air Station"

• Denny & Margaret May - "Mercy and Mail by Air: Wop May's Historic Interwar Flights"

• Clark Seaborn - "Flying is Funny: The Lighter Side of Alberta Aviation in the 1930s"

• Bill Zuk - "Tom Lamb: 'Mr. North'"

• Rachel Lea Heide - "British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Bases and Towns in Alberta"

• Whitney Lackenbauer & Richard Goette - "Frigid Wings, Warm Hearts: RCAF Arctic Mercy Flights During the Early Cold War"

• Todd Kristensen - "Archaeology of a Crash: B-17 Discovery and Heritage Survey in the Yukon"

• Darrell "Doc" Knight - "Buffalo Airways: Diamonds, DC-3s, and 'Buffalo Joe' McBryan"
  

Exciting Aircraft on Display!

One of our partners, Vintage Wings of Canada, will be doing its Yellow Wings tour with BCATP aircraft this year. They will be leaving two of these – a Tiger Moth and a Fleet Finch – in Edmonton during the convention.

Also in the works: a “Stage and Screen” evening highlighting Canadian aviation history in film and theatre!

Feb 18, 2011 -

Special Edition!

Canadian Aviation Historical Society
PO Box 2700 Station D
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5W7
www.CAHS.ca

Good afternoon,

It has come to our attention here at CAHS National headquarters (i.e. my home office in Edmonton) that some members still have not received their Summer 2010 Journal issues.

The Journals went to Canada Post December 22nd but according to the CBC evening news yesterday CP has been experiencing significant delays due to employees out sick with the flu, a larger than average mail volume, and general restructuring issues. Apparently Toronto and Moncton, N.B. have been particularly badly hit.

If you were a paid up member for 2010 and you still have not received your Summer Journal by February 5th, then please contact Treasurer Rachel Lea Heide via the website, www.cahs.ca.

If you're simply ticked off at Canada Post - and rightly so - for this huge delay, then please complain to them directly as 100 individual complaints will have more impact than one 'class action' email from CAHS National.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to get in touch with me at info@daniellemc.com. Also, I'd love to hear what you're planning for Canada's National Aviation Day February 23rd via email, Facebook, or Twitter [CanAvHistSociety]!

Sincerely,

Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail

Jan 20, 2011 - Update

Canadian Aviation Historical Society
PO Box 2700 Station D
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5W7
www.CAHS.ca