Canadian Airways

"Canadian Airways" was an airline formed when "Western Canadian Airways" bought out "Commercial". It operated through the 1930s until it was purchased by Canadian Pacific Air Lines in 1941, carrying passengers on mail planes into smaller communities.

History

James Armstrong Richardson established WCA in March 1926 to serve the Red Lake gold rush. Operating out of Hudson and Winnipeg's Stevenson airfield. [ [http://oldbeacon.com/beacon/airlines/canada/wca.htm WCA History] ] Expanding in 1930 to operate across Canada, the "Western" part of the name was dropped. [ [http://www.waa.ca/?pid=25&newsid=0065 Winnipeg Airport Authority "Canada’s New Government Renames Winnipeg International Airport in Honour of James Armstrong Richardson" 2006-12-11 retrieved 2007-12-11]

Aircraft

Typical aircraft operated by Canadian Airways included the Curtiss Jenny, Junkers Ju 52 (CF-ARM), Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. (Canada) 71C (CF-ACO and CF-ACT), Junkers W 34, Lockheed Vega (CF-AAL), and Lockheed Lockheed L-10 Electra (CF-AZY) [ [http://oldbeacon.com/beacon/airlines/canada/ca.htm Canadian Airways history] ]

In its original configuration, designated the Ju 52/1m, the Ju 52 was a single-engined aircraft, powered by either a BMW or Junkers liquid-cooled engine. in 1936, Canadian Airways received (Werknummer J4006) "CF-ARM" , the sixth ever-built Ju 52. The aircraft, nicknamed the "Flying Boxcar" in Canada, could lift approximately three tons and had a maximum weight of eight tons. It was used to supply mining and other operations in remote areas with equipment too big and heavy for other aircraft then in use. The Ju 52/1m was able to fly on wheels, skis or floats. [ [http://www.scramble.nl/wiki/index.php?title=Junkers_Ju-52/1m Junkers Ju-52 - Scramble ] ]

Destinations

Destinations served included:
*Carcross, Yukon
*Lac-à-la-Tortue Airport (Quebec),
*Grande Prairie Airport (Grande Prairie, Alberta)
*Peace River, Alberta [ [http://www.abheritage.ca/aviation/history/ventures_canadian.html Alberta Heritage] ]
*Seattle, Washington [http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/caw37a.htm Time Table Images 1936] ]
*Vancouver, British Columbia
*Victoria, British Columbia
*Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba
*Sioux Lookout, Ontario
*Kenora, Ontario
*Red Lake, Ontario
*Pickle Lake, Ontario
*Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island [http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/caw3601a.htm Time Table Images 1936] ]
*Montreal
*Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
*Edmonton
*Toronto
*Winnipeg

References

Further reading

* [http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/ca/canadianairways.htm Air timetables]