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AERO
CLUB OF B.C.
Pioneer
of Aviation on the west coast of Canada
Pitt Meadows Regional Airport
1915----2005
B
I G R E U N I O N
TO
CELEBRATE 90 YEARS OF HISTORY
The
Aero Club of B.C. a
non profit aviation society was officially organized
on December
15th 1915. Exciting events
responsible for the final realization of the Club
happened before that date. In our archives
we read: "May
24 1910 the first Aero Club licensees
of the world flew near Hastings Park, Vancouver B.C. Pilot
Clifford Turpin world licence holder number 22 and
Phil Parmalee world licence holder number 25, set
up their flight headquarters at Hastings Park."
In
an other document dated May
15th 1948, we read: "The Aero
Club of British Columbia has come a long way since
its inception in 1912. In that year a few
flying enthusiasts formed a Club and began building
their first airplane on floats at the edge of the Fraser River. Those
pioneers of aviation labored for two years to build
their first aircraft, a stylish model on floats. The
big day of the trial flight was made by a pilot who
had never flown previously and crashed into the water
moments after take off. The pilot survived. And
they immediately set about to rebuilding their plane. Such
was the spirit which motivated our Flying Club."
We
have a photo of the Aero Club of B.C. taken between
1912 and 1914.
Since
1915 the Aero Club was the training base for students,
male and female alike, to become Royal Air Corps Pilots
in W.W.1 and W.W.2, Airline Pilots for transporting
people, mail, and merchandise across oceans and continents,
Bush Pilots to serve small communities in isolated
valleys, Air Cadet Pilots, Instructors, Sky Divers,
Aircraft Owner Pilots and private Pilots. The
Aero Club is now a centre for Pilots, their families
and many friends that love aviation.
The REUNION is
an occasion to honor the pioneers of Aviation in B.C.
and the pioneers of our Flying Club. We are celebrating
the history of the oldest Aero Club in the British
Commonwealth.
Come
one come all, young or old, past members or relatives
of members. If
you have pictures or interesting stories, of yourself
or of your father or grandfather, related to the Aero
Club, send it to us. We are going to have a contest
with a prize for the best original picture, and the
best original story. Pass this request on to
your friends.
Keep
checking our website for more information as it becomes
available. For more direct information please
contact:
Peter
Olivieri, phone 604-465-8817 or
e-mail petronio@shaw.ca
Or Wilf
Chernesky at 604-465-5553 or e-mail wilfcher@intergate.bc.ca
The
reunion event has come and gone. The dinner
was a great success and the Club received many compliments
for a job well done. The big push was Peter
Olivieri, who was ably assisted by Wilf Chernesky
and Jim Zeilstra.
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