A Weekend of Success- COPA 45’s Fly In - July 17, 2010

With the weather forecast less than ideal for flying, members of COPA 45 started to barbecue burgers for the pilots and people that flew to Goderich’s Sky Harbour Airport on Saturday, July 17th. Some even drove to our event because of weather. While Goderich basked in sunshine, it rained in Bayfield. There was also a line of weather from Sarnia to Hamilton. Owen Sound pilots were also unable to fly. Still over 35 aircraft landed at the airport.
During the morning and early afternoon, campers arrived. This year camping went Cadillac style with RV’s of all sizes parked on the field.  Read More...
 

A Great Fun-Filled Weekend - July 10, 2010

Great flying weather, friends and food. Life doesn’t get any better, remarked Don Jones sitting on the Queen’s Inn verandah in Gore Bay. Also enjoying that moment was Brenda Jones, Fred and Marilyn Bruinsma, Audrey and Steve Greenwell.

The weekend weather was absolutely perfect. Friday afternoon the planes left their home bases and flew to Killarney airport. Here we walked to the Killarney Mountain Lodge. At check-in there was an unusual sign, “This is a smoke-free and cell-free atmosphere. Read More...

COPA CONVENTION- 2010

PEI – that eastern island of Canada where lobster dinners, bagpipes, Celtic music, lighthouses, Anne of Green Gables and military training are all things to enjoy. COPA 45 members who attended were Fred and Marilyn Bruinsma, Jim and Jane Farrell, Chris McCullough and Anne Rock. Joining us were Adrian and Hortense Verberg from Welland, Kim and Sylvia Murphy from Alliston, John and Anne Donkers from Elora.   Read More...

IPAT – A Weekend of Flying
May  28 - 30 2010

    It’s spring, the weather is warm and sunny So what would some Goderich and area pilots like to do but fly. Several COPA Flight 45 members and friends participated in the 3rd annual Interprovincial Air Tour of Ontario and Quebec. Jim & Jane Farrell, Don and Brenda Jones, Fred and Marilyn Bruinsma, Steve and Audrey Greenwell, Chris McCullough and Anne Rock joined John Beimers and Dave Frayne from Sexsmith (Exeter) Airport for the first leg of the trip. Read More...

ELT Update – TC mandates 406 MHz ELTs for all aircraft
May 12, 2010

After 12 years of common sense arguments, consultation and negotiation, Transport Canada has decided to mandate new ELTs that broadcast on 406 MHz for most aircraft flying in Canadian airspace, including private aircraft (Canadian and foreign).
However, note that at the time of writing this article, the regulation has not yet been released. To be clear, the current regulation remains in place until such time as the new regulation goes into force, which happens when it is released in the Canada Gazette Part II. So, at this time, you are not required to do anything. Read More...

PORT ALBERT MUSEUM
May 12, 2010

Paul Carroll, a Huron County Historian, spoke to COPA 45 members at our May meeting to update us on the progress of the McGee collection and Gallery. He told the group that shortly Mr. McGee would write a letter to the Huron County Museum to turn over his entire collection with no conditions. The transfer will take place late summer or early fall where museum staff will come to assist in cataloguing and packing the collection. COPA 45 will likely be asked to move the boxes to the museum. Read More...

Rutledge Remembers the fallen “Men of Huron”
November 11, 2009

Co Captain Owen Delve introduced Jim Rutledge to COPA 45 members and friends. He told of Rutledge’s commitment to military history and local celebrations honouring our veterans. It was very appropriate to have him here on Remembrance Day, November 11, the annual celebration to remember our war dead and veterans.

Rutledge explained to the group how he came to write this book, “Men of Huron”. He started in 2005 and published it in July 2009. His motive for writing this book titled, “Men of Huron” happened after the Goderich Lancaster flew out of Sky Harbour from the 60th anniversary celebrations of VJ Day. At the same time, the ruling Liberal party was unwilling to pay $1000 per veteran to attend the Juno Beach reunion overseas. He felt this was not fitting considered what the veterans had sacrificed for our country and world. Read More...
 

Keeping our Aviation History
September 19, 2009

Recent letters and news articles published in the Goderich Signal Star brought attention to the readers about Eugene McGee’s extensive collection of artifacts and memorabilia from the Port Albert airfield and training base during the Second World War. Almost 80, Eugene’s wish is the collection be moved in its entirety from his home to a suitable location.

COPA 45 members felt the collection should be exhibited in the terminal beside the Sky Harbour Gallery, which displays Goderich’s collection from the days that it was a training base. Huron County was unique with the four training bases of Goderich, Port Albert, Clinton and Centralia within its’ borders. Goderich was for elementary air training while Centralia was for advanced air training. Port Albert was for navigation and Clinton was for radar. Both our neigbouring counties of Perth and Bruce went to Ottawa to lobby for a training base but were unsuccessful. Training over water would be an asset favouring the Goderich location... Read More...