RCAF: LAS FUERZAS AEREAS CANADIENSES - UN PASSIÓN POR VOLAR:
Roberto Jaime Gourlay
E-MAIL ADDRESS: roberto@mailmallorca.com
TELEPHONES:
MOBILE: iPhone nº 1: (+34) 608.838.612
MOBILE: iPhone nº 2: (+34) 619.636.085
MOBILE: iPhone nº 3: (+250) 618.2670 (CANADA + USA)
HOME - OFFICE - CALL FORWARDING: (+34) 971-681873
FAX: DEDICATED Mallorca Real Estate FAX PHONE LINE 24 Hours: (+34) 971-680320
Mallorca Mailing Address: Roberto J. Gourlay, Apartado 1423, Palma de Mallorca, España - Spain 07080.
RCAF flying experiences: NEW PHOTOS ADDED on the:
The correct TIME on MALLORCA when you opened this page is:
Welcome to Roberto´s Experiences in the Royal Canadian Air Force. You are visitor number:
One summer day, in 1958, on a trip to TORONTO, my father stopped outside of TRENTON AIRPORT, near TORONTO ONTARIO CANADA, and there, parked very close to the fence, was this aircraft called "The BOXCAR" - it was just that - a cargo transport plane that could carry about the same load and weight as you could in a TRAIN BOXCAR. The sight of this plane in the eyes of an 11 year old made a terrific impact...it was that moment that ignited in me a tremendous desire to someday be able to fly an airplane.
This is a photo of the famous "BOXCAR" in flight:
The ABOVE fotos shows my very FIRST plane ride, in an RCAF "EXPEDITOR 507" twin engine aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Eric Cooke was the pilot. Taken on the 10th of January 1967. The photo on the bottom left is the take off on Runway 36 at RCAF Base Borden Ontario - you can see the Control Tower - very "old" from 1940´s, on the right you will see a small ARROW pointing to where I lived on that air base - Nº 19, 8th Street Camp Borden RCAF base from 1964 to 1967( My father was a Seargent Major in the Canadian Army and we were based there.).
The above photo, LEFT, you can see a trainer aircraft beside us, we are taxiing out to the runway for takeoff. On the CENTER, taken from the air, you can see the ROAD from RCAF BASE CAMP BORDEN to BARRIE ONTARIO, on the RIGHT, I asked the Pilot ERIC COOKE to fly over my SCHOOL - and there it is, the "I" shaped building upper right - CFB BASE BORDEN COLLEGIATE High School. I graduated there with a grade 13 Honours Graduation Diploma.
The above set of photos - PLEASE EXCUSE THE POOR QUALITY, I took them with a small camera using black and white film, these pictures are from a photo album of mine thats now over 42 years old! These were taken from the NAVIGATION DOME BUBBLE - a glass dome on the top of the aircraft used for spotting and visual navigation. The photo on the LEFT shows some of the radio antennas.
This first military airplane flight was taken on the 10th of January, 1967 at 11:28 in the moring, RCAF BASE CAMP BORDEN Ontario Canada ...it was 5 degrees below zero INSIDE the plane..and VERY noisy.
The above set of photos shows you how we had to dress - a Winter Flight Suit - VERY warm, thick and comfortable, but when inside the cockpit, you feel very CRAMPED. Because of the loud noise of the engines and the wind noise, plus the below zero cold, you had to wear HEADPHONES - it was the only way you could HEAR what the CREW were saying, AND it kept your EARS WARM!
The above photos shows you: LEFT PHOTO: The snow covered cold country surrounding the airbase, MIDDLE PHOTO is a rectangular building called the CROIL HALL where we had our flying training school. Aspiring pilots in CAMP BORDEN High School could become members of the RCAF flying club, and its there where we had our first introduction to the magic world of flying planes - it was unforgettable FUN! The PHOTO on the RIGHT is the HANGAR where this EXPEDITOR nº 507 was serviced.
This is whats it like to fly one of these "Bucket of Bolts"!.
This is a takeoff on a C-45 EXPEDITOR.
This is an AIR SHOW celebrating 100 years of aviation. There is a FANTASTIC shot of a C-45 EXPEDITOR doing a pass.
It was a long and difficult selection process to be accepted into the Royal Canadian Air Force, but finally I was enrolled and this photo below is the LAST picture ever taken of our home at Royal Canadian Air Force Base Camp Borden Ontario, house nº 19 on 8th street. We lived there for 4 years. Shortly after this picture was taken, my parents, brother and sister were transferred to the NATO base in LAHR, what was then WEST GERMANY.
Goodbye Family! After graduating from Grade 13 High School at RCAF Base Camp Borden Collegiate, and altho I was accepted to go to Carleton University in Ottawa to go for a Bachelor in Science, I was accepted to enter into the Royal Canadian Air Force.
It was a fantastic trip from Toronto to Vancouver by train. It took 5 days and 5 nights to get there. There was an observation car or DOME CAR where you had incredible panoramic views of the trip.
This is the EXACT SAME TRAIN I took from Toronto to Vancouver Canada in 1967!
This is a Canadian Pacific HOLIDAY train.
Below is the moment I arrived in Victoria, just off the bus after a ride on the Ferry from Vancouver. The center photo shows the Naval Basic Training Base of ESQUIMALT that the RCAF also used to train new AIRCREW recruits. The right photo shows my room in the barrack block 204, Room nº 10, COS Venture there, with a clock radio on my desk that was in our home in Kingston since 1955! It was a "going away" gift from my folks - and it brought great musical pleasure - 1967 was one of the BEST years for Pop music in history.
The music in this video WAS PLAYING ON THAT RADIO WHEN THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN! It was NUMBER ONE in JUNE of 1967 in Victoria!
One of the FIRST things I bought when at Esquimalt, at the base called "COS VENTURE", is the ORIGINAL ZIPPO lighter with the Esquimalt Emblem:
Here below are fotos in uniform at the Esquimalt Victoria British Columbia NAVAL training site during the June 1967 Canada Centennial Air Show and Celebrations. I visited Canadian warships, a submarine and a radar air to air anti aircraft gun.
In my spare time, on weekends mainly, I used to rent cars from AVIS and BUDGET, and cruise the beautiful city of Victoria - check out the MILITARY HAIR CUT! It did NOT help your social life when in 1967 the "Love Hippie Power" was the rage and long hair was the fashion!
When you study AIR NAVIGATION, it has a lot of things in common with SEA NAVIGATION, so the whole crew went out for a 3 day sea navigation exercise where each of us took turns to navigate the ships through the islands off Victoria. This was called the "YFP Cruise" on the Pacific Ocean Straight of Juan de Fuca on the 15th of August 1967. We camped on SATURNA Island.
While at Esquimalt, one of my friends on the course, PAUL, had a PRIVATE PILOTS LICENCE, so we agreed to RENT a CESSNA 172 single engine plane and fly over the city of Victoria and Esquimalt - we took off from the Victoria civil airport as Esquimalt is a Naval Port and not an RCAF Air Base. I had a girlfriend at the time called Sandy Askey who we invited to enjoy the ride. It was a hot, sunny Saturday in August when we took off.
Here is VICTORIA AIRPORT from where we took off:
In the foto above you can see we flew with Sandy Askey from Victoria, we circled the Esquimalt COS VENTURE Naval Base and got these pìctures of the base from the air. I really wish I had a digital NIKON camera in those days! We could have had some terrific pictures.
This is a Cessna 172 flying over the city of Victoria.
What its like to land in Victoria.
Cessna 172 doing a Takeoff and Landing.
After passing the tests at Esquimalt COS Venture, we were transferred for flight Navigation training at WINNIPEG International Airport where the RCAF shares the base.
Below you have the pictures and names of all the aircrew in my class in the RCAF: Course 6705 RN (LR) which means "Course MAY 1967 - Radio Navigator - Long Range. The lads that have an "X" through their picture were students that either failed the course or were transfered to another branch or course.
Here below is a group photo of all of us on 6705. I´m on the bottom LEFT, behind my bag-briefcase.
The ABOVE photo of the C-47 Dakota was taken by me in 1968 at the Winnipeg airport. My barracks and room was very close to the runways there, and for the first week we could not sleep..then later, you never noticed the noise.
Here below is my ROOM MATE at WINNIPEG - CADET LAMOUREAUX - He like many were from QUEBEC, he was quiet, soft spoken and a good room mate.
Above is the room I shared with Cadet Lamoureaux - and during the time I was there, I could not help but accumulate a nice music system - as besides flying, music was an important part of enjoying life.
If you carefully at my wrist, you can see I am wearing the RCAF standard issue WATCH:
Here are some fotos taken during our Flight training - they were taken with my 1965 Polaroid Camera, so the quality is very poor..some of the photos taken while flying in the C-47 Dakotas are really poor because of the constant vibration and movement..but it does give you the "atmosphere" of the surroundings. There is one silouette of me in the CO-Pilots seat, where for the first time I had my hands on the controls - a favour granted to my by the captain.
Above is a photo I took of the Cockpit, and if you look closely at the YOLK ("steering wheel") on the RIGHT, you will see there is an EMPTY ORANGE JUICE CAN tied to it - this was our ASH TRAY - altho it was tacitly NOT ALLOWED to smoke in the Cockpit, it was done by many..altho today this practice is forbidden.
Above - in the Navigators seat, we had to do Radio DR and Headings, we had the APS 33 Radar on board (If you look at my faded picture of the Dakota above, you will see a large black BULGE underneath the fuselage..that was the APS 33 Radar.
In order to do tests with JET SUITS and OXYGEN MASKS so we could pass medically and do at least a trial - test flight in a jet fighter to see if we liked the experience, we had to undergo decompression tests with masks in a huge tank, and then issued with these medical papers:
If you did not like the experience, you can choose to go to air transport command. The CF-101 VooDoo jet fighter - interceptor gives your body a lot of "punishment" - 40,000 feet in something like 90 seconds...when taking off and they kick in the AFTERBURNERS, its like someone hits you in the back with a huge SLEDGEHAMMER....and then when you LAND, you release the PARACHUTE brake to slow you down...this is like being in a Clint Eastwood Movie where they HANG you from a tree..the sensation is like you CAN´T BREATHE for a moment! If you DON´T release the parachute when you land, you tend to stick the nose of the airplane into Hangar Doors and similar...NOT GOOD when you have to later give a report to your commanding officer! The VooDoo is a BEAUTIFUL AIRPLANE, but the high tail elevator at the back makes it a bit unstable and risky on certain high speed manoevers. There were a few unfortunate crashes because of this - this lovely plane was retired in the 1970´s.
AMAZING FILM - CF101B VOODOO in action - take offs, landings, afterburner, cockpit shots etc.
Fabulous video taken from the cockpit. Unforgettable.
Below you can see the PILOTS seat cockpit of the CF-101B Voodoo. This of course is at the front.
Here below you see the WEAPONS OFFICER´s seat - OR the place you sit if you are doing a test flight - you sit in the back. This cockpit has all the controls for weapons firing, aiming and arming. You will notice, on the floor in front of the seat, there are NO RUDDER PEDALS...only the pilot cockpit has them...the pilot does not want the weapon´s officer to fool around with the rudder controls of the jet fighter! It takes getting used to ..the cockpit is very cramped and tight, not much leg room, but in full flight pressure suit and gear, you have little room to move around anyway. You are very firmly strapped in your seat, and I mean FIRMLY, as the seat also is an EJECTION Seat what, when you pull the BOTH YELLOW rings on the RIGHT and LEFT of your seat it blows off the glass top (canopy) and then an explosion shoots the seat - with you on it - super fast out of the cockpit and away from the high tail right behind you...it hurts when you do it, but it will save your life in an emergency.
The C-47 Dakota does a flyby.
C-47 DAKOTA does a TOUCHDOWN.
C-47 US MILITARY DAKOTA does a TAKEOFF.
Here below is the NAV Computer we used - I still have mine today - this is it:
The C-47 Dakota TAKEOFF from the Duckford War Museum.
Here was the Course 6705 Badge and Motto "DON´T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF" designed by all of us - we all took part in its design. Following that, our Division flight badge - "The Barons".
C-47 DAKOTA LANDING - Filmed from the Cockpit.
FOTO HERE BELOW: I bought my very first car while in the Air Force here in Winnipeg - a 1953 Chevrolet - with a new battery - it cost me a whopping $100.- ! The reason there is a cut in the photo, is because my first wife, Maria Fernandez Ortuño, was a very JEALOUS girl, and I was NOT allowed to have ANY photos of "ex-girlfriends" in my albums - the missing girl here was Judy Hutchinson from Shanty Bay dairy farm area, not far from Barrie Ontario. While I was in Esquimalt - COS Venture, she sent me over 80 lovely letters.
C-47 Landing Gear Extension safety check and test.
C-45 Cessna "Push Pull" 337 SKYMASTER lands at Ellington Air Base.
THE STUDIES: Here is an example of just some of the textbooks we used - the most freightening one was the book on NUCLEAR DEFENCE...it was during the COLD WAR when a Nuclear War was a REAL possibility.
The C-47 Dakota TAKEOFF and FLY BY at OTTAWA Ontario Canada.
C-47 Dakotas in NEW ZEALAND AIR SHOW Take offs and warm ups.
FLYING HOURS - DATES - MISSIONS - PILOTS - OBSERVATIONS:
C-47 DAKOTA SKY TRAIN HIGH QUALITY VIDEO.
PRIVATE PILOTS LICENCE - 1971 - PENTICTON BRITISH COLUMBIA CANADA:
After I got out of the RCAF, I proceeded right away to obtain a Private Pilots Licence so I could enjoy the fun of flying.
This BOOK (Photo below) is called "From the Ground up" which is the EASIEST book for learning the BASICS of learning how to fly a single engine aircraft. Our instructor called it "The Bible of Private Pilots". Its easy to read and understand. YOU could become a pilot in no time!
I have to thank Laine and Maryanne Klootwyk for their invaluable help, friendship, work and affection that enabled me to obtain the licence in record time.
Above is the CESSNA 172 and its cockpit. During the Private pilots course, I qualified on the Cessna 172, the Cessna Cardinal 177, and the Piper Cub as well as flights in the Cessna "Push-Pull" twin engine Cessna 337 "Skymaster" twin engine aircraft. The Piper Cub was the HEAVIEST in the sense that you really had to apply POWER for it to move and take off, the Cessna 172 is a wonderful plane to fly, and the most AIRWORTHY in my opinion is the CESSNA 177 CARDINAL - massive wings, flaps and takes off in short distances, and gets airborne easily...too easily at times!
Cessna 177 CARDINAL TAKEOFFS and LANDING - filmed from the COCKPIT.
Cessna 177 Cardinal Take off and Landing and FUNNY comments from Pilots.
Cessna Cardinal 177 Photo and Video TRIBUTE.
The above photo shows, on the LEFT, my Instructor and Onwer of Interior Aviation based in Kamloops and Penticton, British Columbia Canada, Mr. Laine Klootwijk who hails from Holland. We flew a Cessna 177 from Penticton to Vancouver as I was flying to Germany later to see my parents. This picture was taken at 10:15am, the 9th of November, 1971 at the Old Terminal of Vancouver Airport.
Below is a foto of the "MAIN STREET EXIT" store Ron Scott and I ran in Penticton British Columbia. I was gladly helping to promote Laine Klootwijks company, Interior Aviation, in return for the excellent work he did with me on enabling me to obtain my private pilots licence very quickly - he is an excellent instructor.
When flying a plane, you are supposed to have a RADIO OPERATORS LICENCE - so I had TWO Citizens Band Radio licences with the call Signs "XM-425825" and XM-425824". The photo below explains it all:
PLANE CRASH:
This below is the LAST photo taken of the Cessna Cardinal 177 that I did a lot of flying hours in. My car is parked next to it, a 1967 Jaguar XKE 2+2. My Nav computer and flight maps can be seen on the roof of the car. I took off from Penticton Airport to do touch and go takeoffs and landings at OLIVER airport south of Penticton. The Date: Thursday October 14th 1971:
READ The FULL STORY about this plane crash - tap here to see full detials.
Plane crash of my rented Cessna 177 Cardinal due to GROUND EFFECT when I was taking off from Oliver Airport south of Penticton British Columbia Canada - It was a miracle I survived.
After the crash, and when I was released from Hospital a few hours later, the instructor and owner of the Cessna 177 Cardinal WBZ landed at Oliver airport with this CESSNA 337 "Skymaster" twin engine unusual aircraft. He had me take off and fly home to Pentiction from there - the BEST therapy - get over the FEAR. It was one unforgettable day, thats for sure.
Flying the Cessna 337 Skymaster.
Cessna 177 TAKEOFF high with young lads.
On the 2nd of February 1972 I PASSED my Private Pilots exam after doing a long Cross country solo flight in a Cessna 172.
Cessna SKYMASTER takes off.
Twice I renewed the private pilots licence right up to 1979 at which time I was Europe. I can re-activate it at anytime by taking a Pilots Convalidation course here where I live in Spain.
Virtual landing of a Cessna Skymaster.
Just as in the RCAF and in ANY flying situation, you MUST keep a LOG BOOK: These are the hours I flew as in Canada before coming to Europe.
When in Mallorca, I had the honour, as Scout Leader for the International Schools here, lead some of the lad to visit the USS SARATOGA aircraft carrier - it was an amazing experience...seeing 98 jet fighters up real close. I would like to publicly thank the US NAVY for that opportunity.
When we go to NANAIMO on VANCOUVER ISLAND British Columbia for a vacation at Christmas, we sometimes rent a SEAPLANE, with pilot of course, and we fly around the surrounding islands just off the coast of Nanaimo. The experience is fantastic, as most of it is low level flying, like in the RCAF, very exciting and challenging. The Typical planes used are the De Havilland OTTER or BEAVER, both planes are extremely TOUGH and built for the COLD RUGGED winters and weather Canada has to offer.
This is where we rent seaplanes - NANAIMO BAY, Vancouver Island - video of a take off of a Beaver and an Otter Seaplane.
The photo ABOVE shows you the FUN of flying a SEAPLANE (Hidroavion) because when you are flying over WATER, you can fly as LOW AS YOU WISH..here we are flying just BELOW the tree top level. The photo BELOW shows us coming up right behind and later BESIDE this YACHT...we did a little "BUZZING"..flying really low near a boat..its ILLEGAL to do this in POPULATED areas over towns or cities. Its a refreshing sensation flying so low and so fast...the people in the Yacht waved to us and we "waved" back with our wings going left-right-left...great fun...an unforgettable experience.
The ABOVE PHOTO shows us flying REALLY LOW...almost LEVEL with the DOOR of the house you see on the small island there. We were flying out of Nanaimo harbour and going around the many small islands in this stretch of sea that goes between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia Mainland and Vancouver city (This stretch of water is called "The Straight of Georgia".).
This is what it is like to TAKE OFF from the water - OTTER seaplane takes off from Bull Moose lake.
OTTER Seaplane with a TURBINE engine lands at beautiful VICTORIA, south of NANAIMO on VANCOUVER ISLAND.
This has been a brief summary of an experience that has definitely been out of the ordinary. If you ever have the opportunity to enjoy flying, on your own, solo, its a feeling that you will never forget. Below is a picture of what most likely will be the destiny of the C-47 Dakotas that are in the Royal Canadian Air Force. They have served their mission well, since they were built in the 1930´s!
Some men see things as they are, and ask "Why?"....I DREAM things that never were, and say "WHY NOT!"...
***********
We WELCOME you would to share your flying experiences and photos with us. Contact us now. ***********
LIFE´s EXPERIENCES PAST AND PRESENT - HOBBIES, UNUSUAL MOMENTS and FAMILY - Roberto Jaime Gourlay:
LOCAL TV SHOWS since 1993 "Ciencia y Vida" with Roberto:
More fotos and history of shows on local and national TV with Roberto.
See the show "Universos Paralelos nº 1" on You Tube.
See the show "Universos Paralelos nº 2" on You Tube.
See the show "Universos Paralelos nº 3" on You Tube.
RADIO SHOWS since 1969 - Canada, Germany and Mallorca "Canadian Bob":
The Crystal Sound Barrier is BACK on MALLORCA thanks to the INTERNET. Listen to some shows "live" anytime.
*************
NASA - Visits and Interviews with TOP astronauts - a ONCE IN A LIFETIME HONOUR.
**************
1977: Industrial Electrician in the OIL FIELDS of the SAHARA DESERT at HASSI MESSAOUD and later GHARDIA en ALGERIA.
**************
Enter into the fascinating world of LASERS and THREE DIMENSIONAL HOLOGRAPHIC "PHOTOGRAPHY"
**************
READ The MAJORCA DAILY BULLETIN ARTICLES "The Stars at Night" by Roberto:
Plane crash of my rented Cessna 177 Cardinal due to GROUND EFFECT when I was taking off from Oliver Airport south of Penticton British Columbia Canada - It was a miracle I survived.
A CLASSIC CAR COLLECTION, Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, Porsche, AMG, Mercedes Benz, BMW:
This Lamborghini Espada GT 400, newly restored, is one of the world´s fastest street legal true FOUR seater cars. More photos and information on the other cars.
Famous German Photographer Steffen Jagenburg has published a book of Car Photos called "You and Me", reflecting the thoughts and feelings of many a car owner. It is also published on the internet. See these photos taken in Mallorca.
A PASSION FOR MUSIC - DISCO DJ SHOWS from the 1970´s with Roberto:
A passion for music history while starting a new life on Mallorca.
A CANADIAN STAMP COLLECTION - A hobby since childhood:
Enjoy some samples of an interesting hobby - collecting Canadian Stamps. This one is the oldest in my collection- 1859 - It is OVER 150 YEARS OLD! To see MORE stamps over 100 years old.
DAUGHTER ANGIE´s FUN Webpage: A TALENT FOR ART, a PASSION for HORSES.
SON DANNY´s FUN Webpage: A passion for Drums, Electric Guitar, Internet Radio, Games & Star Wars.
INTERNET RADIO:
Listen to Danny´s INTERNET RADIO SHOWS now.
SON ROBERTO´s Webpage: Master in Marketing, Tiempos de Lirica, Director Internet Radio and Television.
INTERNET RADIO:
Enjoy Roberto "Robbie" Gourlay Jr. in CRONICA RADIO.COM and the show "LA MONDA" and MORE....
***********
If YOU share similar hobbies and interests, it will be a pleasure to meet you. Contact us.***********
Mallorca SERVICES OFFERED by Roberto Gourlay - Mallorca-Real-Estate.com:
*NIE Numbers- Foregin Identity Number: Needed to purchase home, boat, car, business in Mallorca.
*RESIDENCY- DONE in 24hrs for European resident, non resident NIE for non-Europeans 48hrs.
*TAX /FISCAL ACCOUNTING- In English for business/investments in Mallorca.
*POWERS OF ATTORNEY- Trouble-free way to buy, sell, administer property when not here.
*LICENCES- For your Business, Car, Boat, Plane on Mallorca.
*BUILDING PERMITS- Mallorcan Certificates of Habitability, Electrical Certificates.
*TELEPHONES:- Landline/mobile, ADSL internet, fax, pay as you go or contract.
*SATELLITE- TV, cable TV, ONO, IMAGENIO, TDT digital TV.
*DEED SEARCHES, MERCANTILE REGISTRY SEARCHES on Mallorca.
*LEGAL PROPERTY VALUATIONS- For Banks, court cases, inheritance settlements.
*TRANSLATIONS:- Contracts, Documents, almost any language.
*ON THE SPOT EMERGENCY TRANSLATIONS- English to Spanish via mobile phone.
*BANKING AND FINANCE- Loans, Mallorca resident/non-resident bank accounts.
*MEDICAL AND HEALTH INSURANCE-Coverage for you or Family.
*INSURANCE- Home, Business, Car, Boat, Aircraft on Mallorca.
*BUSINESS - COMMERCIAL PROJECTS-Obtain opening licences, town hall permits.
*CONSTRUCTION AND REFORMS- Supervision, estimates, recommendations.
* PLUMBER, ELECTRICIAN, LOCKSMITH, MECHANIC- Emergencies, Repairs or Instalations.
*PROPERTY ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT-Be it a Villa or block of apartments.
*SPANISH LAWS- Consulting, introduction to the correct professional you need.
*ADVERTISING AND MARKETING- Your property, business, or service. Radio, TV, Press.
*CAR and BOAT RENTALS, YACHT CHARTERS on Mallorca.
*TRAVEL - FLIGHTS/FERRIES- Mallorca to almost any destination.
AUTOMATIC REPLY MAIL FORM
