Abandoned Boeing jetliner found in Alberta field

#PWA #pacificwesternairlines #boeing737
Hi there, this is Henry Tenby creator of JetFlix TV. I am in central Alberta and was shocked to find an historic Canadian aviation heritage item sitting by itself in the middle of nowhere in a field. The subject in question is a Boeing 737-200 jetliner that was painted into the scheme of Pacific Western airlines about 20 years ago. The aircraft was donated by Air Canada to the aviation museum at the Edmonton municipal airport around 2007. Flash forward to the mid 2020s and the aircraft finds itself rotting away in an abandoned field on the outskirts of Villeneuve airport north west of Edmonton, the jetliner and its fate remains a topic of debate and hopefully the Boeing will see brighter days in the years ahead.

[@geoffquickfall]

Spent many hours flying that aircraft between 1994 and 2003. Started at PWA which purchased CP Air and was called Canadian Airlines International. Merged with Air Canada in 2000 and was mainline with AC colours until the creation of ZIP airlines until 2003 when it along with the others were parked. I flew the Canadian, Air Canada and ZIP airline colours. The 200 series were a hoot to fly, minimal autopilot (no vertical speed dial, rudimentary VOR lock but good to CAT II for ILS. No GPS until late 90’s for only the cargo gravel ops equipped versions of which this was not. It was repainted in the original PWA colours after it was donated. My father and the chief pilot for PWA flew that aircraft up from Boeing field when it came of the production line. Good times, the early 70’s! Geoff Quickfall BSc, MSc, PhD candidate with 28,000hrs; DC10, B737, B757, B767, B777, B787, DHC2, DHC3, B18

[@PaulHodgson-gm6lg]

@@geoffquickfall my uncle Dan Sherwood used to fly that aircraft, glad to see it hasn't been scrapped.

[@BillKingsland]

Geoff! You were one of my Biology TA's at SFU back in the late 80's. Good to see you're still flying! Your flying stories (Ontario if I remember right) helped convince me to go the aviation route (ATC) for a few years. You were awesome then and obviously still are. Thanks for all the information on this aircraft. :-)

[@57Jimmy]

I can see now that the 200’s were a ‘hoot’ to fly! I witnessed that first hand at CYCG in the late 70’s or early 80’s! See my slightly earlier post. Maybe YOU were the pilot having a hoot that day!💕

[@geoffquickfall]

@@PaulHodgson-gm6lg I and flew with Dan, great guy and part of the aircrafts history.

[@geoffquickfall]

@@BillKingsland hello BILL!!! Lots of fun at SFU back then. Started my PhD with Rolf in 2020, just retired flying after 45 years in 2023, Jan 1st. Still want to use the brain, same studies; Paleoclimatology and Palynology. Glad the stories were no boring!!! Cheers! Good to see you are teaching, those were good times!

[@daviator4720]

I used to fly that airplane ... "Pacific Western Airlines" was a great company to fly with and that aircraft was a pleasure to fly ...

[@patreilly6826]

Rode on that same plane a number of times back in the 1970’s. It was used as an AIR BUS between Edmonton downtown Municipal Airport to Calgary International airport. There were two 737’s on that route and they would take off every hour from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM on week days. Walk on ticket was $35one way. Very popular with the oilfield crowd. About 25 minutes in the air. No security line ups and no been at the airport an hour before. You could park your car, buy the ticket at the counter and board the next plane out. So tell me again how what we have now is real progress where it takes 2 hours to fly to Calgary and costs $285 plus you have to go to the Edmonton International Airport 25 Km south of downtown.

[@northernlight696]

me too - lots of memories.

[@joshuaneilson]

Yep.. cheaper and less hassle to drive these days. That’s why the qe2 is always so busy

[@therandomytchannel4318]

A few years ago I did fly on an Air Canada Airbus A320 from Calgary to Edmonton 😊

[@terrymitchell5782]

The PWA 737 was forced out of the Edmonton Municipal Airport on it's final day of operating as a functional airport. The genius city council closed the airport to develop a dream subdivision, which has failed miserably. The museum is still in operation in the last remaining historic hangar on the field, very worthwhile to check it out before the city finds enough excuses to destroy it also.

[@jusportel]

Didn’t that Hangar just burn down last month?

[@MrFezco]

@@jusportel no that was another WWII hangar on the other side of the airport property

[@Tundracats-u9k]

It was a sad day when that airport closed. Now there's dirt piled everywhere and other than a few townhouses it's a big mess. The civic politicians basically destroyed it.

[@ndenise3460]

How many billions in remediation. Years of oil/petrol heavy metals and uranium for flown in a gunnysack from Ucity. All so the mayor could give it to his real estate developer buddies

[@BillLaBrie]

Sheesh Why would anyone build anything in Canada? Don’t they know it snows there?

[@robertlyon8876]

I flew that 737 dozens of times as a first officer based in Edmonton in the 70s and 80s

[@Lstn2urmama]

My experience is a trip to Toronto and back in December 1988.. with my 2 month old baby. Left a temperate Edmonton to storming in Toronto that year for a week to visit relatives ... Came back to Edmonton in another 737 from PWA and was given a blanket for the baby to keep her warm... service was real and not plastic

[@barryhansen1111]

That pushout tractor was used by Canadian Airlines at YXD. I worked there from 1992 to 1995, and used it daily. Started with Canadian Airlines in 1989. I'm a ground handler and have loaded and unloaded that aircraft 1000s of times.

[@harveywright396]

@barryhansen1111 what kind of pushback is that. It looks close to some I have worked on, but just different enough to cast doubt.

[@lioii]

The registration C-GIPW is authentic. It's a 737-275 and was originally delivered to Pacific Western Airlines on 28th February 1979 and ended its days flying with Air Canada Tango.

[@umbattag]

@lioii do you know the date of its last flight ?

[@gregbell3559]

@@lioii but it's got Pacific Western livery on it now

[@mikemontgomery2654]

@@gregbell3559 Air Canada tango donated the aircraft, painted in Pacific Western colours, to the Edmonton Air museum. Mainly because of the history that PacWest and the airport have with each other, that airplane included. As soon as Tango ceased operating, Air Canada had no more use for the 200 and retired them.

[@14goldmedals]

@@umbattag Serial No: 21712. Last update shows 2002-08-22 Air Canada. Then a gap until 2013-11-26 Alberta Aviation Museum Association. Hard to say when it was last flown.

[@umbattag]

@@14goldmedals thank you !

[@ernieszelepcsenyi5710]

Registration is real. This aircraft started with Pacific Western then went to Canadian Airlines, then Air Canada. Registration followed it through it's entire lifespan.

[@Lightjug]

Correct - current registration C-GIPW Boeing 737-275 to the Alberta Aviation Museum Association since 2013-11-26.

[@dawnmanning3119]

I flew PWA for many years they were a good airline.

[@proudcanadian67]

PWA was a great airline. Beautiful livery. Sad they are gone.

[@karltous2386]

I attended kindergarten in Chipman, Alberta and for a class trip we took a PWA jet out of Edmonton for a quick flight. An amazing trip for kindergarten. One of the parents must have been in PWA for that trip to happen. These planes are still wanted for their gravel runway capabilities. Thank you for posting this video.

[@gregbell3559]

It's the original Pacific Western Airlines. Pacific Western bought CPAir, they then turned into Canadian Airlines Intl and then Air Canada bought them out. PCW was not a big airline as the airline they bought CPAIR. The new airline Canadian Airlines was never the same. It's sad because CPAIR was a premium airline and had impeccable service. They were such an awesome airline. It was a sad day...that's when Air Canada started bullying and hounding to obtain it's competition. Air Canada just wanted CPAirs flight lanes that's it. Air Canada was an aweful airline. They got worse . It wasn't until WestJet opening that Air Canada tried to get better, they just didn't want competition. They just wanted the monopoly.

[@ansett7272]

I agree CP Air early 1980's was great. Flying CP under the new name Canadian Airlines in 1998 was not the same. Air Canada in January 1981 and later on August 1998 service was not great same sectors. Memories of me flying with Air Canada Douglas DC-9- 32 was my final DC-9 flight on the aircraft was the best bit before retirement. Ansett 727.

[@gregbell3559]

@@ansett7272 I loved Ansett in Australia I flew from Sydney to Perth in a new 727 it was awesome.

[@shnorth888]

Now it's the complete opposite WestJet is gone downhill in service and Air Canada has at least gotten a bit better.

[@ansett7272]

@@gregbell3559 I agree it was long time ago still remember flying on original Ansett Boeing 727-77 VH-RMD with overhead hat racks December 1978. Great food drinks. Later on on Ansett Boeing 727-277A starting with VH-RMU 1973 with wide bodied cabin look VH RM.... multiple regos flights then final Boeing 727-277LR 1981 four in the fleet did Brisbane to Perth non stop. Ansett had three class service as with TAA Trans- Australia Airlines. First, Business and Economy. They were the days now long gone! Ansett 727.

[@ansett7272]

@@shnorth888 WestJet is a low cost carrier originally as first flown with the airline in 1998 YEG-YVR Boeing 737-200 was an interesting experience. A supermarket checkout ticket limited on board service it is 25 years ago now. With Air Canada on board service well catering terms pretty not much to say DC-9 YVR YEG YYC sectors have been nothing much better in 1981 or in 1998. Loved the DC9. Hughes Airwest DC9-15RC hot meals December 1980 LAX to YEG. They were the days. Ansett 727.

[@gcorriveau6864]

I'm so old I remember when Villeneuve airport, itself, wasn't much more than a gravel road. ;-) Thanks for sharing.

[@thomasherndon-io2gl]

@@gcorriveau6864 I also.

[@JetFlix]

Thanks for watching!

PWA was one of the best airlines in Canada and the only private company other than Air America that chartered Hercules aircraft

[@Dbodell8000]

It needs to be placed in a museum and preserved.

[@craigpetroskey8934]

It's owned by the Alberta Aviation Museum. Unfortunately there is no permanent facility to display the aircraft since the City of Edmonton gave the AAM the bum's rush off the former Blatchford Field museum site.

[@josephmeier5440]

Perhaps the AAM, should drive a fundraiser in order to build a hanger for this and many other aircraft that should be preserved and maintained. And to keep the dream alive!

[@Dbodell8000]

@@craigpetroskey8934 Hopefully it’s at no risk of being scrapped or vandalized? What an incredible piece of western aviation history.

[@mikemontgomery2654]

It was. The city of Edmonton wanted it out of there, along with museum. I think the museum is still there but, not sure for how much longer.

[@stickynorth]

The AAM should really move out to this airport and build the museum that was originally planned for the site...

[@lindafikkert6725]

My husband and I were out walking near Chickakoo Recreation Area when this plane flew very low over us on its way to Villeneuve. We didn’t know what it was until later.

[@jeffcrompton2767]

Wow that's something you don't see anymore. My family flew pw airlines a lot to Vancouver from Kelowna. They were a excellent airline to fly with. We cried when they folded. This is awesome thank you for showing us this and thanks to the people who preserved this aircraft.

[@owenmerrick2377]

My favourite 737 paint scheme.

[@owenmerrick2377]

@@MrKoocanusa PWA 737 in blue, was my first airline ride in 1981.

[@lrg3834]

I agree with one of the commentators regarding CP Air. However, the 70's Aloha livery was pretty funky and flashy too.

[@jfmezei]

737-275, built 1979. 75 was the customer code for Pacific Western airlines, Canadian Pacific Airlines's code was 17. (the 75 in 275 means the aircraft was built for PWA). CP abandonned its airlines , left to rot in the 80s and PWA then purchased it. PWA was at the time owned by Government of Alberta and there was fancy accounting footwork. Done. Both CP Air and PWA had some origins in the north, but it was PWA in the west and Nordair in the east that bult what would become Canadian North. The aircraft is owned by: Alberta Aviation Museum Association 11410 Kingsway Avenue Edmonton last registration was 2013. 1992 goes from PWA to Canadian Aiirlines Intl. (I beleived that technically PWA renamed itself to Canadian after it purchased CO Air which had already begun rebranding to Canadian Pacific Airlines with roughly the Canadia livery that lasted until near the end (at very end, CP moved to the Ganada Good livery but only transitioned a few aircraft). 2001: registration moved to Air Canada. Flipped a few times. 2013: registration moved to the Alberta museum. Note: Air Canada stop using the old 737-200s during its bankruptcy protection trip circs 2003-2004 as I recall. Not sure if plane remained registered to AC or if it went to foreign owner in the desert during that time (hence not on the CCARS registry).

[@stuartmassey6378]

I recall flying with all of those airlines throughout the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, and saw the evolution between CP Ir, PWA, Canadian and AC, pretty cool

[@GlenAndFriendsCooking]

It's a 737-200? There are still a dozen or so still in use in the North because you can fit them with a gravel kit and fly from unprepared or poorly prepared runways.

[@PaulHodgson-gm6lg]

@@GlenAndFriendsCooking they are combi aircraft, rigging the nose sheild was a bitch.

[@308media74]

My Dad flew that plane . He was the President of PWA at the time .

[@JetFlix]

Your dad must be in my DVD on the PWA visual history that I released about 20 years ago from the Denny Ranson archives.

[@DougRobertson-nr2pp]

My wife, Sue was one of 3 flight attendants along with Russ Revel and Ray Veosawich to take delivery of IPW at Boeing in Seattle. She is also known in the company as " gear door #745" Best regards, Doug and Sue.

[@JetFlix]

Wow, that’s amazing. Thank you so much for commenting on the video. I really appreciate it. I hope your wife is doing well. I’m guessing she is a flight attendant with AC now.

[@robertlyon8876]

@@DougRobertson-nr2pp hi Doug , how’s life treating you

[@pjimmbojimmbo1990]

It is parked at a corner of the Villeneuve Airport. It made its Last Flight, being pretty much the Last Plane to use the Edmonton Municipal Airport, after the City made the Stupid Mistake of Closing it... But Edmonton Council continues to make very Stupid Decisions, like $300,000,000 over 3 yrs for Effin Bike Lanes. JFC

[@danmcbride6258]

Pacific Western, Alberta based bought CP Air who in turn purchased Nordair of Montreal. The new Company was then called Canadian Airlines International. I worked for CAI in Toronto,Sault Ste Marie and Sudbury. It was a truly great Airline with CP Routes in Domestic Canada, Central and South America and the Pacific. This chain reaction all started with Pacific Western Airlines

[@ght33]

PWA. I have memories. Please Wait Awhile, Piggly Wiggly Airlines, Pray While Aloft. It was a great little Western Airline mostly flights north. Others in those markets were Ward Air (number 1 to Hawaii and Manitoba’s TransAir. I remember being stuck in Thompson, the flight was not leaving till after the pilots watched the end of hockey game.

[@PeterNGloor]

I wish the fences were low but security considerations prohibit this. When I tried to get photos through the fence at Hay River some nice Buffalo rampie opened a door for me and let me in.

[@pta3407]

It was actually deliberately placed in that position as it sits on an asphalt pad that was placed specifically for the aircraft. Regardless, its always great to see a 737 in PW colours - that is one airlines out of many that I genuinely miss.

[@lrg3834]

Canada's airline industry has been destroyed with all these lousy mergers. Sure the RPK's are way up, but service was better when we had AC, CP Air, PWA, Wardair, Nordair, EPA, Quebecair and Transair. I remember being served a delicious meal on fine china in ECONOMY class on a Toronto flight out of Vancouver! The airiline? Wardair.

[@pta3407]

@@lrg3834 Even if those airlines still existed today - service would have adapted to the market we know today. You wouldn't be getting a full meal in Econo, let alone on China, even with Wardair. AC was a fantastic airline as well during the same time period - getting a half decent steak in Econo YVR-YYZ was the norm. But, the traveller has changed and the market has changed.

[@christopherspencer8110]

With a bit of imagination on the part of municipal government, the plane could have been left next to the museum as a work of public art. It would be pretty cool to live in a neighbourhood with a 737 parked down the street.

[@cheriethievin9243]

flew PWA so many times including air bus between Calgary and Edmonton ❤ good memories...

[@crushingvanessa3277]

Surprising what's down the backroads. Last time I saw a picture of this one it was mint. Seems like Edmonton city doesn't like to preserve anything. My only memories of any 732 was when Canadian last flew them, ones with the gravel kit. I'd see them landing sometimes in peg city. Always knew the sound of those.

[@bobvidoni5898]

Wardair was one of the best charter airline companies around. It merged with PWA and Canadian Pacific to become Canadian Airlines, which had way, way better service than anything Air Canada could have and still cannot provide. It was driven out of service when the Canadian government subsidized Air Canada to fly with ticket prices at about 65% of actual cost because few people wanted to fly with Air Canada because of the lousy service and comparatively expensive air fares and would rather fly Canadian Airlines, which had good value air fares, even to the Orient. Flew to and from Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Manila, etc., many times on Canadian Airlines, including their last flight as they were pushed into bankruptcy to be bought out by Air Canada. On that last HKG to YVR flight, we were allowed to take the ceramic coffee cup and cutlery home, etc., which I still keep as a memento of what likely was the best Canadian airline ever. Part of PWA started out as Queen Charlotte Airlines and was known as the "accidental airline" because old man Spilsbury started it up to deliver radios and the Royal Canadian Mail along the BC coast. Queen Charlotte Airlines was a Canadian airline founded by Jim Spilsbury that operated on the west coast of Canada from 1946 to 1955, when it was sold to Pacific Western Airlines. Although the airline grew out of a bush flying operation, it became the third largest airline in Canada.

[@mylesflaig148]

😺 An Edmonton Journal article is titled “MAY 22, 1963 PWA starts Airbus service between Edmonton and Calgary”. As a kid in the late 60s I remember going to the Edmonton Municipal Airport to take my Dad who worked in the oil and gas industry to grab a short 737 flight to Calgary. In those good old days you got a ticket and just walked out to the jet with no hassles of x-rays or metal detectors and belts, coins and shoes 👞 into a bin. It was literally like getting on a bus! And I think there was one every hour!

[@hueyb8547]

My old man worked for PWA/Canadian Airlines for 25 years between the EIA & Edmonton Municipal Airport. Very cool seeing this 👍

[@lohikarhu734]

damn, i sure do miss Canadian Airlines! you know, polite gate agents, decent food, great frequent flyer program, pleasant flight and cabin crew...after the scare Canada takeover, for a few years, you could still recognise the former Canadian people, but, eventuallly....

[@darickymeister]

I once delivered a simulator for Pacific Western Airlines in Dec 1982 from Halifax, NS to Edmonton municipal airport. The sim was build in England by a place called crawley simulation. It was in a big box (wide load) on a flat bed...two other trucks carried the cables and other stuff...

[@georgenixon3827]

This aircraft is not abandoned! A bad decision by a previous museum director l;ed to it being flown to Villeneuve. The Alberta Aviation Museum still has ownership and keeps an eye on the airframe. Sadly it will probably eventually be scrapped.

[@dianedyck3474]

My husband used to work for Pacific western airlines as a ramp duty manager in Winnipeg …they were bought out by Canadian pacific airlines which overextended itself and went out of business!I believe Pacific western head office at time was in Calgary!

[@Dbodell8000]

Thanks for bringing it to peoples attention Henry.

[@JetFlix]

That was exactly my goal Wayne, just to bring it to people’s attention.

[@Dbodell8000]

@@JetFlix 👍

[@MrFezco]

Watched its final flight from the Muni airport. Bittersweet moment. I grew up hearing those 737s roar in midtown.

[@kitt2000car]

Back in the 80s there was an abandon plane in the middle of the field at Abbotsford airport. Some airline company that went out of business. That plane was cut up and scrapped. Is that the one you were talking about?

[@JetFlix]

My friend is referring to a Boeing 727-200 that is presently sitting at Abbotsford airport rotting away.

[@spl311bt]

PWA ……Used to be known as piggilly- wiggilly.I remember these flying into Penticton back in the mid 70’s

[@rogerreimer6787]

PWA was call Please Wait Awhile or the Priests used to called it Pray While Aloft originally it was Queen Charlotte Airlines started by Tom Spilsbury the PWA

[@guillermoolivera7086]

One of the 737 I used to fly continue its life as an very special classroom at a private college in Punta del Este, Uruguay, and kids love it.

[@04tsxpower]

Pretty sure you know why fences aren’t that low at most airports

[@therandomytchannel4318]

I remember seeing my dad off while he flew out to Calgary on business leaving the old Yxd airport for the 7 am flight to Calgary! The old Yxd terminal is now a first Nations college and the control tower is still there!

[@thisspacenotforrent]

Maybe the plane needs some parts?

[@nw6769]

Used to fly the PWA Airbus into YXD often. It was an exciting arrival on those short runways right in the middle of the city with a hospital on the approach. The landing included a very firm solid arrival with lots of thrust reverse & shaking. I used to joke the flight attendants would stand at the open door on landing holding an anchor & rope.

[@daviator4720]

You should have seen it out the front window !

[@Delta-rx6vu]

Awesome time capsule, wish you could go inside!!

[@JetFlix]

It’s an environmental hazard to enter this aircraft as it is filled with 11 years of rat excrement and breathing in the fumes would could contain dangerous toxins, which could be extremely dangerous without proper breathing apparatus.

[@chrisshelly-ge6ig]

Loved seeing this video. I had a brief encounter with the plane while it was still on display behind the museum, while I was going through the NAIT Avionics program in 2006-2008. The museum gave us permission to use it for some labs, and a retired 737 pilot came out and ran some of the systems for us, if I recall correctly. Not long after they flew it over to Villeneuve where it sits now. Good thing, too, in hindsight, since the hangar at YXD burned down this year, probably would've damaged or destroyed the plane. What a waste that was.

[@waynetennant2736]

I remember flying Pacific Western 737 200s back in the mid 80s from Winnipeg to Thompson Manitoba. They were outfitted with the anti gravel kit. Great memories!

[@marknelson5929]

Fine looking aircraft, always like the 737. The colour scheme really suits it in this example. Thanks for the update.

[@ztublackstaff]

I found the aircraft on Apple Maps. Looks like it was part of an air show on the day the imagery was taken. What a great piece of Canadian aviation history.

[@trekkiepro]

I remember getting to sit in the captains seat of this aircraft back when It was at the museum. It doesn't deserve to rot away out there.

[@lauriemcdougall8415]

we flew PWA frequently when we were kids. We'd call it "please wait awhile" LOL

[@tonyklancar1101]

In the 60s I saw a hundreds of PWA planes flying into Edmonton municipal airport and then Fulton Field in Kamloops in the 70's. We lived close to the municipal Airport in Edmonton. PWA still had some prop planes and when they or any other prop playing flew over our house our tv reception would go for a crapper.. I was told that the aircraft flying overhead and the rotating props created multipaths for the signal to reach the antenna on our roof and as a result, there was ghosting and jittering of the pic. My uncle Joe Wilflingsider worked in sheet metal for North West Industries which had a major operation at the municipal Airport .. he explained the multipath signals to me when I was 6 years old... I remember that explanation well. Now 68.. miss u uncle Joe! By the way, the paint is authentic in the video!

[@JetFlix]

A lot of people have commented about my comment being incorrect that the paint is not authentic. The paint is not authentic because the actual PWA Aircraft had a silver belly and this aircraft is painted all white thus it is unauthentic.

[@johnki325]

My favourite airline was Ward Air. Flew to Hawaii and back on Ward Air and loved it, they treated us like royalty.

[@RoSchan-nu3hh]

Worked for PWA/ CAI for 21 yrs YXD, YZF, YEG, YYC as a Aircraft Mtc Engineer from 1967-1988.

[@KensHobbies409]

I remember flying on PWA as PWA came in after CP Air (Canadian Pacific Airlines). CP Air was the 1st to Introduce the Boeing 737 back in 1967 as I had a first Flight on it from Vancouver, BC to Prince George BC for Christmas when I was taking My course in Burnaby BC for Appliance Servicing but Had to Fly back to Vancouver on a DC 6 as it began only a 1 way rond, Vancouver to Kamloops, then Prince George, the Fort St. John, then Edmonton, & back to Vancouver. Blew My mind of the Air Time difference , 2 & 1/2 Hrs on the DC 6 vs 35 Minutes on the 737. Then later, I came to Edmonton once when it was at the Downtown Location. Might have just been on that one as I never looked at the registration number. Now, It's West Jet. Thanks for this great video!

[@JetFlix]

My pleasure I did my best. There are some people like you who really appreciate the history and I thank you for sharing it.

[@KensHobbies409]

I love History as A lot of it is so important as well. Dad used to always tell Me "History Repeats Itself."

[@rEdf196]

As a teenager I flew on a 1960's era first generation 737 in December 1980 operated by Aloha airlines from Honolulu to Maui and back again. This plane was part of the same fleet of first generation 737's which one of the airliner's roof peeled off in 1988. Those original Aloha 737's were retired from service shortly afterwards.

[@nobrainsnoheadache2434]

I want to go and see this now :) road trip!

[@colinshaw4592]

I saw its final flight as it made its way to Villeneuve. Definitely authentic. I used to watch the daily Air Bus blast out of the downtown Muni,multiple times per day to its destination of Calgary

[@davidcampbell1899]

What year was it put at Villeneuve????

[@colinshaw4592]

@@davidcampbell1899 2013

[@davidcampbell1899]

@@colinshaw4592 thank you

[@JetFlix]

When I referred to the colour scheme not being authentic, I’m referring to the fact that the airplane fuselage is painted white .. were in fact the real Pacific western Airlines colour scheme had a polished aluminum silverbelly.

[@colinshaw4592]

@@JetFlix that's right!! I see what you meant now.

[@AuroraMeansDawn27]

I MISS Wardair.

[@robertavannorman5167]

I know a guy who flew for the snow birds and then he became a pilot for pacific western and air Canada and he has flew that very plane

[@barrys7515]

I remember in 1980 at Christmas time taking a flight on Pacific Western from Thompson Manitoba to Winnipeg and back.....the days when airplanes circled the airport until they obtained clearance to land......way before GPS!!! Also went from Winnipeg to Cambridge Bay when I worked on the DEWLine in the early 80s.

[@karan_IV]

I have been there to get photos of this aircraft 2-3 times. Quite an amusement to capture it at ZVL. ❤❤

[@murraydyck2127]

I flew with PWA they serviced the Northwest Territories. They had scheduled flights from Edmonton to Yellowknife to Norman Wells then to Inuvik and then back again. They were a very good airline. They severed meals on the flight. They were sometimes late so they got the nickname of Please Wait Awhile ( PWA ) lol!!

[@JetFlix]

Those were the good old days Murray. I also flew PWA in the early 1980s out of Vancouver. I even had a 1970s flight on PAAConvair 640 to Seattle in summer 1976 during the ATC strike.

[@virtuosoification]

first time ever viewer HOLY #$%^ that collection ! and im sure its multitudes bigger knowing my own pen'chant for hot wheels and model cars . cool video ,always be passionate

[@JetFlix]

Welcome aboard!

[@johnwang9914]

On my first trip to Caracas Venezuela, there was a partially burnt wreck of an airliner in the field beside the runway. Now, that's an abandoned airliner.

[@JetFlix]

This aircraft is filled with excrement from rats and other rodents. Apparently the cabin is filled with excrement and so is the eBay and the baggage pits and it’s a toxic risk to enter the aircraft because the excrement can pass serious disease through inhalation. Components have been robbed out of the aircraft. The airplane has also been vandalized and the Museum that owns it has taken no pride of ownership in the aircraft since it arrived here in 2013, and will likely finish off it days here .. so in my opinion, this aircraft meets the definition of being abandoned.

[@johnwang9914]

@@JetFlix True but it is in a private field where jetliners would normally not be and it's not as if an accident brought it there so it's placement there was arranged. With the crashed jetliner at the Caracas International Airport, the wreck was where it was because it crashed and burned there and just hadn't been moved off. For some bizarre reason, the jetliner in Alberta was arranged to be there presumably with the permission of the landowner. It may not be used for what it should be but it is still something owned and placed where it is most likely with permission of the landowner.

[@Oilerrocker]

Went out there today it’s been here for about 10 yrs but was moved recently as some work is being done at another location.

[@peteverhelst2088]

Pacific western flew me and my family to Smithers bc on our flight into our new home town. Special memories.

[@dawnmanning3119]

February 11, 1978, Flight 314 crashed in Cranbrook BC it was a PWA 737-200. That was a terrible incident in an uncontrolled airport.

[@gregbell3559]

@@dawnmanning3119 wasn't there a Chilliwack crash as well?

[@sharonfieber6458]

@dawnmanning3119 local newly weds on honeymoon flight, where killed. snow plow on runway, aborted landing one thrust boot did not close, cartwheel crashed

[@shaneb3792]

@@gregbell3559 the was the Mt Slesse crash in the 50s

[@dawnmanning3119]

I was a young reporter at the time , those images will never leave my mind.

[@josipcro]

West Jet did not exist when that aircraft was flying... I have worked on that aircraft.

[@JRWaite-ur5ge]

My Dad worked for PWA in Port Hardy in 1967. Ground crew.

[@DavidAviation-v3e]

I saw PW 737s in Orlando, Florida very many times in the 1980s - charter flights. Also many Nordair 737 charters too

[@Warhawknm]

really cool find

[@tomb1598]

@@Warhawknm It’s not a find. Everyone locally knows it’s at this airport.

[@litespeed65]

Watch fan Henry! Recently went to Nakano Broadway in Tokyo, checked out the used Rolex watches there.

[@JetFlix]

I look forward to hearing how that trip went. That’s fantastic. I hope you got an awesome piece. I’m looking forward to going to Japan at the end of the year.

[@stanleybest8833]

Sneak Preserving is unofficial maintenance. It could go a long way with this Bobby. Drain the tanks and sell off the kerosene locally. Re-fill with preservative. Slobber hinges and shiny landing gear cylinders with non-silicone grease. Recharge the batteries on an ongoing basis. Solar panels in the windows would do fine. Wash and wax it. Jack it off the tires and cover them with canvas. Let the pressure down. Paint the wheels. Replace the brake fluid every few years.

[@harleyray6642]

I flew on a Pacific Western 737 in 1975 from Victoria to Edmonton when BC Ferries went on strike.

[@Derwin63]

Pacific Western! Look at that! Growing up in North Leduc, how many of these used to rattle our mobile home walls? It was Daily!

[@Derwin63]

Also, FYI, Pacific Western is what became West Jet..(sort of)

[@TravelswithStevevancity]

Great find! I got many souvenirs from PW but this takes the cake

[@mikeparadis3662]

Flew on PWA several times out of Cranbrook

[@guybodner8536]

Always a thrilling take off and landing!

[@daviator4720]

Should have tried Castlegar

[@stevedemoe1359]

Awesome. That old girl use to fly into port hardy regularly👍

[@blableebleebla]

Doesnt look like its had the Lapjoint Mod... which was driven by the Aloha Airlines Incident.

[@hoboonwheels9289]

Drove by that airplane twice a day taking workers to Northwest Redwater Upgrader, in a coach, wondered what the story is.

[@jtwilliams8895]

You’d think that Air North or Yukon Air would be interested. They love the old 732s right? Gotta have the gravel kit, though. Nolinor flies them too, I think

[@KHKH-os6kt]

It belongs to the edmonton aviation museum.

[@joesutherland225]

Wow couldve flown on that one Vancouver to inuvik back in the day.probably have!

[@CoryGunterSmith]

First airplane flight of my life was Pacific Western from Victoria to Seattle on a 737. July 1981

[@australiantruckspotting8883]

That's quite astonishing !!

[@darrenvox]

Also want to say that of you so some research you might find that there was a crash that occurred back when pwa was around in cranbrook with a snowplow back in tje 70s or so...

[@malcolmwellings2198]

@@darrenvox actually flew into Cranbrook, the Monday after this incident had happened on the previous Saturday. Not a nice sight. The aircraft left Calgary with a timed flight to ( uncontrolled airfield ) Cranbrook. Snowplough cleaning the runway ( not informed supposedly ) and the aircraft spotted it on touch down with the reverse thrusters deployed. Against the rules, the pilot tried to retract the reverse thrusters but one remained so the aircraft could not ' jump ' the plough. One thruster on and the other off ( left ) threw the aircraft into the trees along the runway. Mondays flight, seeing the debris, was very upsetting. 1979?

[@tct9mm151]

That's awesome! GREAT VIDEO

[@JetFlix]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jralphdelaney2192]

PWA was the lead airlines that flew into the NWT from Edmonton

[@JetFlix]

Yes, this is true. PWA owned Yellowknife and Inuvik vertical out of YEG in the 1960s and 1970s, before Canadian North and NWT took dominance in the 80s.

[@v8Mercury]

I'm glad the comments have some of the story i was hoping would be in the video.

[@regbutcher5913]

Thanks for sharing. Loved flying those planes out of the Industrial Airport (City Center Airport)

[@JetFlix]

My pleasure.. I did my best to present this with the information I knew at the time of filming.

[@dchawk81]

Makes it sound like it's way out in the middle of nowhere but it's 900 feet and visible from the main road.

[@JetFlix]

For me, it’s in the middle of nowhere.

[@antiprogpragmatist859]

In the late 70’s, when I was in highschool, I worked for PWA in their flight kitchen at yeg. That was my first hourly paid job

[@RuiPlaneSpotter]

Nice video!

[@JetFlix]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MisatoBestWoman]

Looks and sounds fascinating.

[@lotharvonrichthofen4474]

We live in Northern Idaho and so spend several days a year up in Canada…we very much enjoy our time there and find our Canadian Brothers and Sisters to be wonderful hosts and hostesses. What are your thoughts on general aviation up in Canada? Whenwe visit there we don’t see many small private aircraft flying