[Note: Here, we sometimes mention and display the 737 Classic planes, but, not that often, the "747" Classic, which includes the 747 (-100/-200) Pax and (-200F) Cargo variants. Lovers of the 747 Classic, and I know there are many here, probably already know of the Just Flight's 747 Classic "In Development", by JF's in-house team. I examined it today, and it looks and seems wonderful (just view the numerous screenshots there - Kalitta and Atlas fans, especially). And, if you are more knowledgeable (than I) about this plane's avionics, characteristics etc., you may wish to contribute your suggestions to JF. And, I envy most of you, here, because, this SIM will be (rightly so) for only P3Dv4/P3Dv5. But, seriously, I don't mind it at all! You folks deserve it! BTW, do also keep a watch on JF's BAe-146 and A300B4-200, great planes, in their own rights, exclusively, for P3Dv4/P3Dv5, too!]

CP Air has caught my attention since a long time. In fact, if you recall my Flying Tiger (CS 707) (Polar) adventure to the North Pole, I'd actually meant to fly that route with this 747 Classic, and, in fact, at that time, had collected, much of the (CP Air) information, I've included in this post. This, below, is, probably, all most of you care to know about CP Air, anyway...so, here, we go...!

This post was triggered by two (other) recent (member) posts:

1. A Train SIM (where, I'd commented about my coincidental encounter, on the same day, I read the post), with a CP Rail freighter train, "gingerly" making its way past a Railway Crossing, in front of a long row of stopped traffic. And, yes, when, I thought, the train could not move any slower, it ground to a "complete" stop (restarted soon enough, though), much to the exasperation and irritation of the vehicle drivers (me, somewhat, excluded!). That was because my mind had already switched from CP Rail to CP Air, knowing that, there is indeed a connection between the two (please read on)...
2. An excellent (pictorial) narrative about an "After-Work" (evening) commute in a PACIFIC WESTERN B727. I'll (also) shortly establish the connection between CP Air and PACIFIC WESTERN Airline.

So, this post (and the images below) are about Canada's CP Air (brand name of original Canadian Pacific Air Lines, the identity and remnant trace, of which, would be eventually absorbed into today's Air Canada). I am, always, fond of (virtual) Bush Flying/Bush Planes (had contributed a post on it, a while ago), and of the stories of the bush-pilots, of the past, especially those from northern Canada (and Alaska), which remain legendary! So, here is the curious origin of CP Air: in 1942, the Airline had started by an amalgamation of ten (northern) bush-airlines...by a (pioneering) Bush Pilot..

Canadian Pacific Railway Company and the 10 Bush Airlines (plus Canadian Airways) had formed the Canadian Pacific Air Lines in 1942. Canadian Pacific Air Lines operated from 1942 to 1987. It operated under the name CP Air from 1968 to 1986. The Canadian Pacific Railway had other subsidiaries, too, including CP Hotels, CP Ships, CP Transport, and CP Rail. So, there you go, the "convoluted" connection between "CP Rail" that I saw (Real) and the "CP Air" that I'm flying here (Virtual)! For much of its history, CP Air battled, gallantly, with the government-owned (and government-financed) Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA), predecessor of Air Canada, for supremacy over rail-space and air-space (and you know who finally won!). I consider "CP Air" the "underdog", in this battle, due to the reasons, I've cited above...(and I'm always rooting for the "underdog"...)!

So, here, is the interesting flow of genealogy, if you wish to examine:
Canadian Pacific Railway (1881) -> Add 10 Bush Airlines (1940)-> Add Canadian Airways -> Forms Canadian Pacific Air Lines (1942-1967) -> Operated/Re-branded as CP Air (1968-1986) -> Acquired by Pacific Western Airlines (1987) -> Absorbed into Canadian Airlines (1987) -> Acquired by Air Canada (2001)
[Note: For fun, you may count the number of (pleasing) occurrences of "Canada" in this flow...🙂...]

Although Canadian Pacific was not allowed scheduled routes to certain European countries (as was TCA/AC), they were permitted to serve countries which TCA/AC did not choose to serve, so, instead, they developed highly inventive (and lucrative) schedules of their own. Their development of the great circle (or polar) route to the Far East from Vancouver base would become one of the pioneering routes of the time. Here is more about CP Air: For Polar routes, SAS was the first (for flights between Los Angeles and Copenhagen, on November 15, 1954), and Canadian Pacific was a (close) second, when they started their own Vancouver–Amsterdam (polar) route in 1955 (ahead of Pan Am and TWA!). However, by the late 1970s and early 1980s, as CP Air scrambled to upgrade and modernize its fleet to expand on newly available (non-stop) routes, it required massive fleet renewal and associated massive debt. This debt-load, compounded by the increased competition, and the economic downturn, would all work against CP Air's future. In 1987, Canadian Pacific (CP) would be sold to Pacific Western Airlines, which would be eventually merged with Air Canada, erasing any trace of the once-proud CP Air (ironically, CP Rail, still exists, today, though...)!

Next about my post, here i.e. flight and plane:

I've chosen to use a unique CP Air livery, "Empress of Japan" (please note markings on the fuselage as well as in the cockpit), which was used on CP Air's Polar routes to Japan. But, for my flight here, I've preferred to use Anchorage (PANC) -> Queenstown (NZCH), to symbolize CP Air flights from North America to New Zealand (actually, it was, Vancouver <-> Auckland).

In this (moderately complex) SIM [CLS/JF B747-200], please do note the existence of triple INS units, although, I've used, here, only one, to simplify my flight. Notice, also, the (inset) INS CDU unit, in a few of the climbing/banking shots, as INS navigation is activated to take control of navigation to force the turn from RWY 32 (PANC)'s north-heading to south-heading, aligning with track towards the first INS Lat/Long WPT - (just past the Alaskan mountain ranges). GPS based navigation is not engaged. And, at New Zealand, I've landed on (ILS) Rwy 20 of NZCH.

Thanks for your interest! Further thoughts and comments, are most welcome (about either the Airline or the Airliner, I've chosen, here)...! Excusing any technicalities or/and errors, hope you enjoy the pictures of these "two" Classics...rolled into one...! Good rest of the weekend!

[CLS/JF B747(200PW), Orbx (AK/PANC/NZ/NZCH), REX]

Edited June 6, 20206 yr by P_7878

Great shots!  As you might be able to tell from my avatar I love that livery 🙂

Hi Dave: Thanks for the comments...(especially, coming from a "Canadian")....🙂....!

BTW, I read, now, more details about Just Flight's (WIP) B747 Classic...it seems to be really shaping up well...(almost all switches, knobs, and systems simulated and functional). It'll get a newly-developed Delco Carousel IV-A Inertial Navigation System (INS) fitted for realistic navigation etc...(And, for their advanced range products, JF is usually good about consulting with RW pilots, and using RW aircraft, as base...).....

(So, it should be fun to follow full check-list on that SIM...)...

It's also PBR Capable,.....which is a Plus....

[On the other hand, I just noticed, mine, here, is not even certified for FSX/SE operation...(explains why, I discovered several malfunctions, and unexpected re-setting of some of its knobs and switches etc.)...]

Anyway, P3D (and XP, also, btw) folks can surely look forward to this upcoming (JF) version....!

 

As I often like to do, I'd actually meant to say a bit, about the famous CP Air logo, (See e.g. Regis's Avatar...🙂..., or, you can also clearly see it, in most of my (external view) screenshots on the 747's tail...),

But, I thought the (original) text will become even longer. So, I say a bit here, now, ...any introduction of CP Air will be incomplete without a reference to the famous CP Air Logo.

I've also given an internet reference below, if you're (further) interested, that I found, extremely well-written...(with a good dose of humor, too)...

The word is "Multimark". Simply said, it is just a "curved line and a triangle within", with implied meanings as follows:
A portion of a square = stability
A segment of a circle = global activities
A triangle = motion and movement

The color schemes are, as below:
CP Air = Orange, CP Rail = Red, CP Ships = Green, CP Hotels = Grey etc.

Master Painters, here, please take note: The font predates the fonts currently available in most software, but is close to Helvetica Bold Oblique or Swis721 Black BT Italic...[My Note: Software may have likely changed since 2013, when this article was written...]

Anyway, I'll let you read more about it by searching for "cp multimark trackside treasure" (first hit, for me, on Google)...[BTW, don't skip, at least, the very last paragraph/photo...for a bit of fun...]

I took am looking forward to the justflight 742...previews are looking good so far!

Good, btw, I just noticed that JF's (currently-planned) version, does not have a 747 Classic in the color of CP Air, unless I missed it...

And, I also checked Canadian Pacific Airline's historical fleet, they seemed to have operated both (-100/200) variants:

Boeing 747-1D1 (1973–1984)
Boeing 747-211B (1978–1984)

So, you may like to put in a request there, for a CP Air livery, in the default package...I know lots of (PBR) repaints will surely follow, but, it will be good (for you) to have one, to start with...(at least, either in -100/-200,...(200 will be better, I think)...)...

***Excellent Shots*** Love The Cockpit Shot on Final

That livery always puts a smile on my face...many fond memories!

My very first flight was on a CP Air 747-200 (Empress of Australia) from Vancouver to Amsterdam. Growing up about 3 km from YVR, my best friend in elementary school was a Captain for CPA, flying the 727-200.

My mother and oldest brother emigrated from Europe in 1957, flying on the CP Air DC-6 from Amsterdam to Edmonton then arriving in Vancouver.

A great set of photos once again!

Thanks!

Patrick and Rmeier: Appreciated the additional comments and recollections...!!

[Rmeier:

Just wonderful memories, indeed,....makes my effort "fully" worthwhile...🙂...!! Besides the two "Empress of ...", liveries we've referenced here, CP Air had, actually, a total of 15 or so "Empress" liveries, which shows, CP Air's (extensive) route-map reach across the globe, they were real pioneers...(please recall, they were "dis-advantaged", and fighting against TCA/AC in these extra-long routes...)

BTW, the CP Air 747-200, you've mentioned (per CP Air Fleet Data) is as follows: C-FCRD, Empress of Australia, Ship No. 743, Delivered December 1978.
(So, to get actual pictures of this one, that you flew in (RW), please search for "C-FCRD 747-200 CP Air images"....)]

12 hours ago, P_7878 said:

Patrick and Rmeier: Appreciated the additional comments and recollections...!!

[Rmeier:

Just wonderful memories, indeed,....makes my effort "fully" worthwhile...🙂...!! Besides the two "Empress of ...", liveries we've referenced here, CP Air had, actually, a total of 15 or so "Empress" liveries, which shows, CP Air's (extensive) route-map reach across the globe, they were real pioneers...(please recall, they were "dis-advantaged", and fighting against TCA/AC in these extra-long routes...)

BTW, the CP Air 747-200, you've mentioned (per CP Air Fleet Data) is as follows: C-FCRD, Empress of Australia, Ship No. 743, Delivered December 1978.
(So, to get actual pictures of this one, that you flew in (RW), please search for "C-FCRD 747-200 CP Air images"....)]

Not a great photo...the print has changed colour over the years. This photo was taken in the summer of 1977. (Airliners.net has photos as far back as 1976...I think there is an error in the Planespotters Fleet Detail delivery date for this particular airframe.)

None the less, I always enjoy your posts/information here.

BTW...there was a very real rivalry (distaste???) between CP and Air Canada...I always heard that from my best friend's father and his friends. Just another tidbit of information as I lived so close to the airport (and under the flight path of runway 12/30)...back in those days you could always hear the sound of the CP Air DC-8's spooling up prior to take-off...and see the black "soot" in the neighbourhood of departing CP DC-8's, 727's and 732's. Fond memories indeed!

CYVR was an important hub for CPA as you've mentioned...the road leading up to the airport is called Grant McConachie Way.

Thanks, Rob

Edited June 8, 20206 yr by rmeier

Interesting background.  Back when I started with the FAA in the sixties, certain airlines had specific callsigns - 'Empress' of course, 'Speedbird' for British and 'Clipper' for PanAm, to name a few.  All seems like a long time ago. 

Speaking of CYVR and the 70's, my family moved to Vancouver in 1971. Around that time, 1971 or 1972, we visited a family friend who lived in Burkeville, a small neighbourhood close to 26L and the South Terminal, just to the left of Grant McConachie Way as you approach the main terminal by car. I remember sitting in the friend's living room as jets taking off passed over head: it was so loud, you could barely speak over the noise, and I recall the little house shaking, as if during a loud thunderstorm.

With noise abatement rules and modern quieter jet engines, I'm sure that this doesn't happen nowadays, but it was really something back then.

As a teenager I once painted up an Airfix 747 kit in CP Air colours. One of our neighbours wanted to give a relative of theirs the model and they knew I was reasonably good with plastic model kits at the time. I could not paint on the lettering (no decal set at the time either), but the red, orange and white shapes & stripes I could manage. They were very happy with the result. 😎

Speaking of lettering (see what I did there?!), the paint scheme seems a little off. In reality the CP Air and Empress etc. lettering was a little bolder. It may even be the difference between Helvetica and Arial fonts.. The article you linked to did mention about Helv. Bold oblique being close.. In fact I'd go so far as to say it is such a difference - the uppercase C was the giveaway..

https://www.marksimonson.com/notebook/view/how-to-spot-arial

I can be such a nerd at times, but when your job is trying to recreate a customer's business name and logo for embroidering onto garments, then trying to find the correct font (especially when the customer doesn't know "Oh, it looked cool, but i don't know what it's called..") can be a major part of the operation. I don't know how many installed fonts are on my work's PC !! 😎

Rob:

Great supplementary notes and recollections...!

"..lived so close to the airport (and under the flight path of runway 12/30)...", that must have been something...!

Yes, smoke and sound were the trademarks of those engines...

Correct about, CYVR/Vancouver: I see that, "CP Air e.g. was operating stretched Douglas DC-8-63 jetliners (which the airline called the Super DC-8 "Spacemaster") on the Vancouver-Honolulu-Nandi-Sydney route twice a week." So, you must have heard those Spacemasters...🙂...!

 

On 6/8/2020 at 8:10 PM, olderndirt said:

Interesting background.  Back when I started with the FAA in the sixties, certain airlines had specific callsigns - 'Empress' of course, 'Speedbird' for British and 'Clipper' for PanAm, to name a few.  All seems like a long time ago. 

Interesting (first-hand) recollections....of dealing with those call-signs...!

Exactly, the airline are call-signs, such, as the ones, you've mentioned below, seem to have been "revered"...when an airline disappears (via merger/acquisition etc.), I recall, sometimes, the right to the call-sign, carries forward, but, when that too disappears, the (last) heart-beat of the original airline is gone for ever...so to speak...

On 6/9/2020 at 12:55 AM, JRMurray said:

Speaking of CYVR and the 70's, my family moved to Vancouver in 1971. Around that time, 1971 or 1972, we visited a family friend who lived in Burkeville, a small neighbourhood close to 26L and the South Terminal, just to the left of Grant McConachie Way as you approach the main terminal by car. I remember sitting in the friend's living room as jets taking off passed over head: it was so loud, you could barely speak over the noise, and I recall the little house shaking, as if during a loud thunderstorm.

With noise abatement rules and modern quieter jet engines, I'm sure that this doesn't happen nowadays, but it was really something back then.

Joel:

Thanks for the memories! I can only visualize the "shaking" part....🙂..., but, the "real" thing...oh well....Anyway, as I was doing a post on Quito, I was reading about interviews with the local residents, living in the (densely populated) areas just under the take-off/approach paths of "Old" Quito airport, and what you're saying, here, reminds me of those accounts...

23 hours ago, HighBypass said:

As a teenager I once painted up an Airfix 747 kit in CP Air colours. One of our neighbours wanted to give a relative of theirs the model and they knew I was reasonably good with plastic model kits at the time. I could not paint on the lettering (no decal set at the time either), but the red, orange and white shapes & stripes I could manage. They were very happy with the result. 😎

Speaking of lettering (see what I did there?!), the paint scheme seems a little off. In reality the CP Air and Empress etc. lettering was a little bolder. It may even be the difference between Helvetica and Arial fonts.. The article you linked to did mention about Helv. Bold oblique being close.. In fact I'd go so far as to say it is such a difference - the uppercase C was the giveaway..

https://www.marksimonson.com/notebook/view/how-to-spot-arial

I can be such a nerd at times, but when your job is trying to recreate a customer's business name and logo for embroidering onto garments, then trying to find the correct font (especially when the customer doesn't know "Oh, it looked cool, but i don't know what it's called..") can be a major part of the operation. I don't know how many installed fonts are on my work's PC !! 😎

Mark:

So, you've dabbled, a bit, in CP Air color...🙂...you're on your way...then..to repaint CP Air....!

Very interesting remarks/reference about "fonts" etc...kind of, "Greek" to me...🙂...(btw, I recall you are familiar with the process of creating imprints etc. on garments....)

And, if you examine the Geometry of the hallmark Logo, in the article, I'd cited, you'll see that logo must have posed some unique (practical) problems (depending on space and size of the fuselage part of the CP aircraft, involved): CP Air's historical fleet been quite diverse: Bellanca through Britannia to 747/DC-8/10 etc.

I read that, since the angle of the multimark (per diagram), is pre-set at 40 degrees, and if the allowed space on the aircraft's fuselage part does not have enough room, the whole logo will not only be inaccurate, but, will also look "mis-shaped"....oh well...someone must have had to worry about such issues....bottom line, it does look nice on the 747 Classics...

 

Excellent articel and pics, as always, P_7878. When I saw the name "Empess of Japan", I remembered a liner, the RMS Empess of Japan, built in 1890 by Naval Construction & Armaments Co, Barrow-in-Furness, England for Canadian Pacific Steamships. So its nice to see, that CP used the same name (and other similar ones) again for their planes. If you allow me, here is a picture of that vessel, passing through First Narrows in BC in June 1893: