As part of its 85th anniversary, Air Canada donated an original Lockheed L-10A Electra airplane to Winnipeg’s Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada. The Lockheed aircraft has arrived at a new permanent home, and the public will be able to enjoy it.
A new aircraft for Winnipeg’s Museum
The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada has a collection of over 90 aircraft, one of the largest and most historically significant throughout Canada. According to its website, the Museum has fascinating planes, such as the Avrocar, Canada’s flying saucer project, and many De Havilland aircraft. Now, the Museum has a new member of its distinguished family.
In celebration of its 85th anniversary, Air Canada donated an L10A aircraft registration CF-TCC, one of the three planes of this model purchased by Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) in the 1930s. Trans-Canada Air Lines was the forerunner of current Air Canada.
The L-10A aircraft type operated TCA’s inaugural flight on September 1, 1937, a 50-minute trip from Vancouver to Seattle, carrying mail and two passengers.
The iconic aircraft, the first fleet type flown by the carrier, made its final journey as it taxied from the Air Canada hangar at Winnipeg International Airport to the Museum at a handover ceremony. The airplane will go on permanent public display as an iconic piece of aviation history. Retired Air Canada captains Gerry Norberg and Robert Giguere guided the plane from the airline’s hangar.
Permanent display
Captain Murray Strom, Senior Vice President of Flight Operations at Air Canada, said there is no more fitting preservation and commemoration for one of the company’s original aircraft than for it to be on permanent display in Winnipeg. Thanks to its central location, Winnipeg was one of TCA’s original hubs when the airline launched operations in 1937.
“Air Canada has a long and rich history connecting Canadians from coast to coast, which continues to this day, and it all started with the Lockheed L-10A 85 years ago. As we celebrate our 85th anniversary, we mark this milestone by ensuring that such an important part of Canadian aviation history will be available for Canadians and aviation enthusiasts to enjoy for many years to come,” he added.
Meanwhile, Terry Slobodian, President and CEO of the Museum, said that the Lockheed Electra is a perfect picture of the early days of commercial air travel in Canada.
Many of you have already figured out which aircraft is being added to our collection. For those of you who haven't, it's the Lockheed L-10A Electra, CF-TCC, generously being donated to our museum by @AirCanada.#vintageaircraft #comingsoon #new #aviationhistory pic.twitter.com/RLGb7GdFkY — Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (@RoyalAviationMB) August 27, 2022
The history of CF-TCC
CF-TCC was operated by Trans-Canada Air Lines between 1937 and 1939. In September 1937, TCA acquired the route Vancouver-Seattle and two Lockheed L-10 aircraft from Canadian Airways. That same month, TCA bought three additional L-10A planes, brand new, from the Lockheed factory for $73,000 each. These aircraft were dubbed the “Three Sisters” and had registrations CF-TCA, CF-TCB, and CF-TCC. The first aircraft, CF‐TCA, is now at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa. CF-TCC last flew in 2018 and was one of two remaining Lockheed L‐10A Electra aircraft still flying in the world.
Meet some of the team who'll be taxiing Electra CF-TCC over to our museum from the @AirCanada hangar! Retired AC Captain Gerry Norberg (left) and Retired AC Captain Robert Giguere (right). Purchase an annual pass and join us on Sep 7: https://t.co/e1vSuBy2xI pic.twitter.com/lAdHqmjWNp — Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (@RoyalAviationMB) August 30, 2022
The L-10A had the capacity to carry up to ten passengers, two pilots, and a flight attendant, powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior SB engines. After it was sold to the Canadian Department of Transport in 1939, CF-TCC had a very busy life but returned home, to Air Canada, on several occasions. For example, the aircraft was leased in 1962 on the occasion of TCA’s 25th anniversary and operated a commemorative flight across Canada.
In 1983, Air Canada purchased back the aircraft, restored it, and flew it during the 50th-anniversary celebrations in 1986. Since 1986, the plane has been maintained in flying condition. On September 21, 2007, it recreated TCA’s first flight from Vancouver to Seattle, marking Air Canada’s 70th Anniversary. In 2012, as part of Air Canada’s 75th Anniversary Celebrations, CF‐TCC made several air shows and public appearances. In 2017 to mark the carrier’s 80th anniversary, Air Canada’s Lockheed 10A took to the skies for a cross-country tour, beginning with a public appearance at the Royal Aviation Museum in Winnipeg. Along the way, the aircraft made stops in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, and Quebec City.
Source: simpleflying.com