Author: acyyz58

At thirty thousand feet above the ground, The engines roar and the wings they sound. A journey high up in the sky, Where dreams and desires can soar and fly.

The mile high club, a mystery untold, Where secrets are kept and love unfold. A place where passion and excitement meets, A journey that’s exclusive, private and elite.

The clouds outside the window so serene, The cabin lights flicker, a romantic scene. As two hearts beat as one, soaring so high, Lost in each other’s embrace, kissing the sky.

The journey is brief but the memory lingers on, A tale of love, passion and a moment gone. A story of a flight so unique and rare, A memory that they’ll cherish and always share.

So when you’re flying high, soaring through the air, Remember the mile high club, a love affair. A journey that’s just yours, away from the world, A secret romance, a story that’s untold.

In the late 1950s, Canada was at the forefront of aerospace technology, with its cutting-edge program to design and build a supersonic jet, the Avro Arrow. The Arrow was the pride and joy of the Canadian aviation industry, and its designers and builders were some of the most talented and innovative engineers in the world.

The Avro Arrow was a marvel of modern engineering, designed to fly at speeds of up to Mach 2.5, or more than twice the speed of sound. Its unique design featured a delta wing shape, which allowed for high speed and maneuverability, and it was equipped with the latest in avionics and radar technology.

The team of engineers and designers who worked on the Avro Arrow were some of the best in the business. They were led by a brilliant aeronautical engineer named Jim Chamberlin, who had previously worked on the design of the Lancaster bomber during World War II. Chamberlin’s team included some of the brightest minds in aerospace engineering, many of whom would go on to have illustrious careers in the field.

When the Avro Arrow project was cancelled in 1959, many of the engineers and designers were left without jobs. But their expertise and experience were in high demand, and many of them went on to work for NASA in the United States. They brought their knowledge and skills to the American space program, contributing to some of the most important technological advancements in the history of space exploration.

Among the Avro Arrow team members who went on to work for NASA were Fred Kelly and Owen Maynard. Kelly was a leading expert in aerodynamics and propulsion, and he played a key role in the design of the Lunar Module that carried astronauts to the surface of the moon. Maynard was an expert in aircraft structures, and he contributed to the design of the Space Shuttle and other NASA spacecraft.

The legacy of the Avro Arrow lives on in the careers of the engineers and designers who worked on the project. Their groundbreaking work on the Arrow laid the foundation for some of the most important advances in aerospace technology, and their contributions to the American space program continue to inspire future generations of engineers and scientists.

Oh yes, who remembers the days

Of Terminal 2 at Pearson Airport’s maze

When smoking was still allowed to blaze

And the cafeteria had a back row, a smoker’s phase

Those were the days of clouded air

The sweet, smoky scent lingering everywhere

Back then, we sat in that row without a care

As if the world had no other layer to spare

The sound of planes roaring above

Made our hearts soar high, our dreams we’d love

We watched the people rush, from afar

As we sat and smoked, a never-ending cigar

But those days have now become history

Gone are the clouds, the scent, the mystery

No longer can we sit and puff with such liberty

And the back row of the cafeteria is now just a memory

Yet, still, we reminisce with a smile

Those days of Terminal 2’s style

The thrill of travel, the cigarette’s guile

Oh yes, those were the days, worth the while.

A group of aviation enthusiasts had gathered at a local airport hangar for their weekly poker game. As they played, they noticed a new guest who had joined their group – a mysterious man with a quiet demeanor and an air of darkness about him.

As the night wore on, the group began to suspect that their new guest might not be who he claimed to be. His knowledge of aviation history was unparalleled, yet none of them could recall ever seeing him before. And the way he talked about flying seemed almost otherworldly, as if he had a supernatural understanding of the mechanics of flight.

As the game went on, tensions began to rise. Each player seemed to be on edge, waiting for some sign that their suspicions were true. And then, in a moment of desperation, one of the players accused the new guest of being the Devil himself.

The room fell silent as the accusation hung in the air. The new guest simply smiled and asked if anyone would like to see him fly. Without waiting for a response, he strode out onto the tarmac and climbed into an airplane that was parked nearby.

The group watched in awe as the plane took off, soaring higher and higher into the night sky. It was as if the Devil himself had taken control of the aircraft, performing stunts and maneuvers that no mortal pilot could ever dream of.

And then, just as suddenly as he had appeared, the new guest disappeared into the darkness, leaving the group stunned and shaken.

For years afterwards, the members of the poker group would tell the story of the Devil who came to play. Some believed it was just a tall tale, while others insisted that they had witnessed something truly supernatural that night. But no matter what they believed, one thing was certain – they would never forget the sight of that plane soaring through the night sky, as if driven by a force beyond mortal understanding.

Joe Sprague was a retired commercial airline pilot who had lost his only son during the Vietnam War. The loss had left him deeply depressed and longing for an escape from the present. He began to experience strange delusions, believing that he could view his childhood past through the window of his bedroom, which he thought was a portal into 1930s Binghamton, New York.

One day, driven by desperation, Sprague took a chance and stepped through the window, finding himself transported to his childhood summer when he was just ten years old. As he explored the familiar streets and sights of his youth, he felt a sense of peace that he had not felt in years.

However, as the summer drew to a close, Sprague began to realize that he could not stay in this idyllic past forever. He knew that he had to return to the present and face his grief head-on.

Back in the present day, Sprague’s family was distraught at his sudden disappearance. His family doctor, Ike Colby, tried to console them but couldn’t shake the feeling that something was not quite right. As he looked out Sprague’s bedroom window, he too saw a portal into his own past – a wave-lapped shore in a tropical setting, and a familiar dark-haired woman beckoning to him.

As the vision faded, Colby found comfort in knowing that Joe Sprague had finally found his way home, both figuratively and literally. Though he had experienced a time-traveling delusion, Sprague had ultimately found a way to come to terms with his loss and find peace in his memories.

From that day on, Sprague’s bedroom window became a symbol of hope and comfort for all those who knew his story. Though he was gone, his legacy lived on, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is always a way forward.

Scott had been a pilot during the Vietnam War, and his experiences had left him with deep emotional scars. Despite his best efforts to move on, he found himself plagued by nightmares that would keep him up at night. One evening, he stumbled into an all-night diner, hoping to find some solace and companionship.

As he sat at the counter, sipping his coffee, he began to open up to the other patrons about his experiences. He spoke of the horrors of war, of the things he had seen and done that he could never forget. His words were raw and emotional, and the other patrons listened in respectful silence.

As he spoke, he found himself remembering the feeling of being up in the air, of the freedom and weightlessness that came with flying. It was the only time he felt truly alive, truly free from the weight of the world.

In that moment, he made a decision. He would face his demons head-on, and he would do it from the skies. He would fly again, not for war, but for the joy of flight.

The next day, he enrolled in flight school and threw himself into his training. It was difficult at first, as the memories of war still haunted him. But as he gained confidence and skill, he found himself soaring higher and higher, leaving his past behind.

Eventually, he became a commercial pilot, flying passengers to destinations around the world. Though he never forgot his experiences in Vietnam, he found a new sense of purpose and fulfillment in the skies.

Years later, he would look back on that night in the diner as a turning point in his life. It was there that he found the courage to face his fears and pursue his passion for aviation. And though the scars of war would always be a part of him, he knew that he had found a way to rise above them and live a life of meaning and purpose.

During the Second World War, many National Hockey League players put their careers on hold to serve in the military. Most players, though, did not enlist as dramatically as Milt Schmidt, Woody Dumart and Bobby Bauer. The three forwards for the Boston Bruins’ best line, ironically nicknamed the ”Kraut Line” because of their German ancestry, hung up their skates and enlisted together in the Royal Canadian Air Force on the same day in 1942. The fans went wild! All three saw action overseas as aircrew. Fortunately they survived the war and returned to the NHL, but not before they had given up three and a half years of their hockey careers to serve in the cause of peace and freedom. The teammates hadn’t lost their hockey flair and helped the Bruins reach the Stanley Cup finals in 1946.

Boston Bruins Hockey Club

In Toronto, co-owner of the Maple Leafs, Conn Smythe (who had been decorated for bravery in the First World War) enlisted again at age 45. Leading by example, many Maple Leaf players also decided to join the war effort. Smythe was commanding an artillery battery in France when he was wounded in an enemy bombing attack. To this day, the National Hockey League trophy for the most valuable player in the playoffs is named in his honour. As Veteran Gordie Bannerman recalled in his memoirs, “Turk Broda of the Leafs and a few more NHL chaps were just overseas and had the help of Conn Smythe, Leafs owner, who commanded an artillery battery. Orme Payne, Sparky Ament, Darcy Spencer, Bob Bradley, and a couple more of our chaps, plus 5th LAA personnel were off to Amsterdam to play hockey. The fellows had a pretty good few weeks in the city of canals.”

Some players, like Maurice “Rocket” Richard, could not enlist because of injuries they had received during their hockey careers. Other players enlisted but did not make it to the front lines. Having them play hockey either in Canada or in military camps overseas proved to be a pillar of strength for both civilians and the military. Highly competitive regimental hockey teams were formed, serving such purposes as keeping the men fit and entertaining the serving members on military bases.

The war also had a huge impact on the Canadian economy. Various peace-time factories were converted to supply much needed products for the war effort. For example, the Canadian Cycle and Motor Co. Ltd. of Weston, Ontario, which had made bicycles and hockey skates before the war, took over the manufacture of armaments including gun parts, tripods for Bren guns, and cradles and pivots for anti-tank guns.

While firm numbers are elusive, hundreds of Canadian hockey players from all leagues would end up serving during the Second World War and sadly, more than 50 would not survive.

Following the Second World War, the 1948 Winter Olympic Games were held in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Many of the players on the Royal Canadian Air Force hockey team, representing Canada, were Veterans of the war. Despite a challenging tournament, the men finished in first place. In 2000, the 1948 Royal Canadian Air Force Flyers’ gold medal win was selected as the ”greatest moment in Canadian Armed Forces sports history” and the team was inducted into the Canadian Olympics Hall of Fame in 2008.

Based on a Twilight Zone episode “The Encounter”

While cleaning out her late grandfather’s attic, a young woman named Riley discovers an old Scottish claymore sword. A Scottish immigrant named Callum enters, looking for work as a handyman. Riley is hesitant at first, but Callum’s friendly demeanor puts her at ease. As they share a beer, Callum tells Riley about his pride in his Scottish heritage and the struggles he faced when he first arrived in America.

Riley shows Callum the claymore sword and explains that her grandfather, an American veteran of World War II, brought it back from Scotland after the war. Callum becomes fascinated with the sword and asks to hold it. As he grips the hilt, he suddenly says “I’m going to kill him. I’m going to kill him. Why?”

Riley is taken aback but Callum quickly apologizes, explaining that he felt a strange energy from the sword. Riley dismisses it and they continue talking, but tensions rise as Callum reveals his past experiences with discrimination and stereotyping as a Scottish immigrant in America. Riley’s casual ignorance about Scottish culture and language begins to grate on him, and he becomes more confrontational.

As they discuss the sword’s history, Callum begins to have flashbacks to his grandfather’s stories of the Scottish Wars of Independence. He becomes increasingly agitated, believing that the sword is meant to avenge the wrongs done to his people. Riley tries to calm him down, but the sword seems to take over, and they end up in a heated argument.

Callum accuses Riley’s grandfather of stealing the sword from Scotland and killing its rightful owner. Riley denies this, but Callum becomes more and more convinced. As they argue, the sword falls to the ground, and when they try to pick it up, they find that it’s stuck in the floorboards.

In a moment of vulnerability, Riley confides in Callum that she’s been struggling with depression and grief since her grandfather’s death. Callum softens, and they bond over their shared struggles. But the moment is short-lived as Callum becomes more and more convinced that the sword is cursed.

In a fit of rage, Callum attempts to attack Riley with the sword. She manages to fend him off, but in the scuffle, the sword becomes wedged in the wall, pointing upwards. Callum tries to retrieve it but ends up impaling himself on the sword. As he dies, he utters a final cry of “Freedom!”

Riley is left alone in the attic, shaken but alive. The sword remains lodged in the wall, a reminder of the violence and history that it represents.

In 1969, a young Cuban man named Rafael Trujillo made a daring escape from Cuba in search of freedom. His journey began in Havana, where he managed to sneak into the airport and hide himself in the undercarriage of a Spanish jet bound for Madrid.

The flight was over 5,000 miles and was expected to take around 10 hours, but Trujillo was determined to reach his destination. He huddled in the cramped and freezing space, enduring turbulence and the deafening noise of the engine. Despite the conditions, he managed to cling on to the aircraft for the entire journey.

When the Spanish jet finally touched down in Madrid, Trujillo emerged from his hiding place and was immediately arrested by airport security. Despite being taken into custody, Trujillo refused to give up on his quest for freedom.

He was eventually able to secure a ride on an Air Canada DC-8 that was traveling to Toronto, and with the help of a group of sympathetic technicians, he was able to hide himself in the undercarriage of the aircraft once again.

The journey from Madrid to Toronto was even longer than the first leg of his journey, but Trujillo was able to endure the harsh conditions once again. When the Air Canada jet finally touched down in Toronto, Trujillo emerged from his hiding place and was finally free.

Trujillo’s incredible story of determination and perseverance captured the attention of the world, and he became an inspiration to others who were seeking freedom from oppressive regimes. His bravery and resourcefulness serve as a testament to the human spirit and the lengths that people will go to in order to achieve their dreams.

Today, Trujillo’s story is remembered as a true example of the power of the human spirit, and it continues to inspire people around the world to pursue their own dreams and fight for their own freedoms.

In 1940, as the Second World War raged on, the United Kingdom found itself in dire need of military aircraft to counter the German Luftwaffe’s superiority. The situation was so critical that the UK Ministry of Aircraft Production, headed by Lord Beaverbrook, decided to procure newly manufactured planes from Canadian factories, as well as purchase from US manufacturers.

The Canadian factories worked tirelessly to produce the aircraft, but the challenge was transporting them across the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean to the UK. The first step in the process was to transport the planes to Dorval Airport near Montreal, where they were made ready for the long journey ahead.

From there, the planes were flown to RCAF Station Gander in Newfoundland, where they were prepared for the transatlantic flight. It was from this airbase that the first ferry flight of seven Lockheed Hudson bombers took off on November 10, 1940. The flight was a major milestone, but it was only the beginning of a massive operation that would ferry thousands of planes across the treacherous North Atlantic.

As the war continued, the demand for aircraft grew, and the UK needed a faster and more efficient way to transport them. In 1941, the Atlantic Ferry Organization was established, staffed by civilian pilots who flew the planes to the UK. The organization was later handed over to the Air Ministry, becoming the RAF Ferry Command, with its headquarters located at RAF Ferry Command in Dorval, Quebec.

The RAF Ferry Command was responsible for the safe transportation of thousands of planes across the Atlantic Ocean. The operation was fraught with danger, as the planes had to fly through unpredictable weather conditions and face the risk of attack by German submarines and fighter planes. Despite the risks, the pilots of the RAF Ferry Command bravely took to the skies, delivering much-needed planes to the UK.

By the end of the war, the operation had ferried over 9,000 aircraft across the Atlantic, making transatlantic flying a safe and common practice. The contribution of the Canadian and US factories, as well as the brave pilots of the Atlantic Ferry Organization and RAF Ferry Command, played a significant role in the Allied victory.