Why These Canadian Airlines Planes Still Exist

In the middle of the Canadian Prairies at Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker Airport are a dozen or so Fokker F-28s, in the livery of Canadian Regional Airlines.

But why exactly are these old planes sitting in Saskatoon, in the livery of an airline that hasn't existed for almost 20 years?

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SOURCES:

Air Canada - The History, by Peter Pigott (Dundurn Press, 2014)
[2a] p. 253
[2b] p. 179
[2c] p. 278-279

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© Alex Praglowski Aviation 2022

This video is the property of Alex Praglowski Aviation and may not be used for any purpose without prior permission. Contact me at the email in the "About" section of my channel for usage.

[jonengler]

Thank you for this! When I was a kid, Canadian Airlines was one of my core memories. Every glance of that red chevron at the airport meant that something wonderful was just around the corner...either picking up a loved one from far away, or going on an adventure in the sky.

Looking forward to (hopefully) more Canadian Airlines history on your channel!

[johnathansawicki]

I’ve seen these aircraft many times and always wondered why they’re still at YXE. Appreciated the info, the history of Time Air, and the link to the restoration project!

[danieleregoli]

What a great video, thanks. I was so sorry to see Canadian being merged with AC - we all knew where this was going to end! On a separate note, I absolutely loved the good old F-28. I managed to log in quite a few flights on it during the '80s and '90s, even though it was never a particularly common jet, neither over here in Europe. It was a delightful aircraft, which offered a nice spacious cabin (far better than the CRJ) that compared favourably even to bigger planes like the DC-9 or the MD-80.

[timeairhistoricalsociety]

Thank you for your great report, Alex! We appreciate your support. Hope we can have you down to CYQL, when we reassemble the F-28 in only a few weeks time (end of May, 2022)!

[logy]

As a native Saskatoonian, I was always curious how our winter city became an airplane graveyard.
Thanks for some great info!

[ssrc]

I worked for Canadian Regional years ago. Was a great company to work for. Those F28s were excellent aircraft.

[zakspeedf]

Always wondered every time I drive by the airport why the F28s were “dumped” there. Now I know. Thanks for the video.

[ddiamondr]

Thanks Alex. I wondered what happened to them. I worked for Canadian/Air Canada cleaning these aircraft on night shift at YYC Hanger 101. TIZ was a plane with a couple of accidents (ran off a runway and fell off a truck when being moved) and some coworkers wouldn't fly on it, even to the point of ticking off a spouse having to wait for a later flight on another plane LOL. I hope one will be preserved. Thanks!

[bozot]

Saskatoon Aviation Museum had an Aviation Days summer 2021 and had Fokker F28 C-GTIZ on display with visitor access, if I am not mistaken Time Air Historical Society was involved in that one as well.

[XantinovaX]

My dad was flying for them at the time. We still have old Time Air sweaters too 😆. Canadian had JUST started putting out their new paint job on the tail, a stylized Canada Goose. We lived in S'toon and just had to watch and mourn the beautiful F-28's rotting away, their parts sold piece by piece.

[Ahumanperson]

I work at Lethbridge and C-FTAV just arrived at YQL last week! I'm excited to be able to watch it be put back together and hopefully throughout the years, restored nicely!

[TMBBER]

Excellent info, love learning this stuff, , my step Grandma worked for Canadian for a long time( I have a rampie parka somewhere) lol, , and my Grandpa flew for nordair after his time in the RCAF flying sabres and then C-46’s for DEW line operations, , and later had an aviation consulting business called AVCON Aviation based out of Calgary

[jwedison]

Love to hear EPA mentioned, the airline of my hometown, Gander.

[anthonywalsh]

I remember flying the F28 with Ansett Australia in and out of Canberra. Ansett finally came to an end in 2001, unable to survive the onslaught of the recently privatised Qantas - rather similar to Canadian and Air Canada.

[skarabraeranch]

Very interesting Alex ... I flew, at one time or the other almost all of the carriers you mentioned. It certainly is a reminder of how large a factor consolidation has been in the Canadian airline industry.

[ELMS]

I was the only passenger on a Time Air DHC-7 when the pilot showed off a little with a “watch this” super-stol” landing. It was amazing.

[jimhall]

Great video. I arrived Calgary airport 1959 and saw many airlines come and go and their choice of aircraft. I’m looking forward to your next video.

[geoffreystuckless]

C-GKCR Overran the runway in my hometown in 2000. Cool to see it is here!

[TyNovakAviation]

I applaud your effort in making this video. 👏

[stickynorth]

Yes we do want the natural followup to this one with the ONEX battle for Canadian and eventually WestJet...