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Gemini200
G2WDA317
Wardair Canada Boeing 747-211B
C-GXRD "H.A. Doc Oaks”. S/N 2157 Boeing Line Number 368
1/200 Scale
Originally JC Wings but revised to a Gemini200 July 2017 Release
Post Card of C-GXRD
Finally! A Wardair 747 in 1/200 Scale!
It has been almost 10 years since Inflight200 released their Wardair B727-100 CF-FUN and five years since their twin Wardair B707-320C models and over 3 years since Inflight200 released a Wardair DC-10-30. It was just a matter of time - and now we finally have Wardair's B747-200 available to add to the collection.
The Airline
In 1946 Maxwell W. Ward founded the Polaris Charter Company at Yellowknife, North West Territories. In 1952 the airline was formed as Wardair and operations began in June 1953 using a single engine De Havilland Canada Otter. In 1962 it entered the trans-atlantic charter market using leased DC-6Bs and changed its name to Wardair Canada Ltd. Ward purchased Canada's first Boeing Jetliner B727-100 in 1966 and added a pair of B707-320s shortly after. Wardair's first of two B747-100s arrived in 1973. Later two new B747-200s were added to the fleet as well as three DC-10-30s. Wardair was immensely successful in the Canadian Holiday leisure market. Flights to Europe, Hawaii and the Caribbean were the core markets and passengers marvelled at the "Wardair Class" level of service. Meals such as Filet Mignon served on Royal Dalton China, a generous seat pitch, and exemplary service by the cabin staff often resulted in passengers giving a round of applause on landing. I have often heard from people who flew on Wardair years ago remark on how much they miss it!
My Personal Connection
I have a personal connection with Wardair as my Father was a Navigator on the B727 and B707. One of his perks was a pass for immediate family which Mom and Dad used regularly for yearly Hawaii getaways and for visiting relatives in the U.K.
One fateful day, my Mother, sister, and I travelled from Vancouver to Edmonton on one of Wardair's 747s. It was back when Wardair was restricted from carrying passengers domestically - so the aircraft was being repositioned (empty) after the crew flew in from Hawaii. As a result the three of us were the only passengers on board. My Mom knew the Aircraft Captain, and the crew generously offerred me the chance to sit up front in the cockpit from departing Vancouver until being towed into the Hangar in Edmonton! That was it for me. No doubt that day had a lot to do with my seeking a career in Aviation - first with the RCAF and later Air Canada.
The Model
Originally this was announced as a JC Wings release. However, since Gemini and JC Wings share the tooling and Gemini is more North American oriented - it was switched to a Gemini product.
This is my first 747 that was not an Inflight200 product and I actually prefer the JC/Gemini version. The big difference is that the magnetic landing gear allows for both gear up and gear down display options compared to Inflight200. The jewels used to represent the rotating beacon and landing lights are also a nice touch.
Overall a fantastic model and one I can heartily recommend for Canadiana collectors.
Dan
Below: Seen with Inflight200's previously released B707-320.
G2WDA317
Wardair Canada Boeing 747-211B
C-GXRD "H.A. Doc Oaks”. S/N 2157 Boeing Line Number 368
1/200 Scale
Originally JC Wings but revised to a Gemini200 July 2017 Release
Post Card of C-GXRD
Finally! A Wardair 747 in 1/200 Scale!
It has been almost 10 years since Inflight200 released their Wardair B727-100 CF-FUN and five years since their twin Wardair B707-320C models and over 3 years since Inflight200 released a Wardair DC-10-30. It was just a matter of time - and now we finally have Wardair's B747-200 available to add to the collection.
The Airline
In 1946 Maxwell W. Ward founded the Polaris Charter Company at Yellowknife, North West Territories. In 1952 the airline was formed as Wardair and operations began in June 1953 using a single engine De Havilland Canada Otter. In 1962 it entered the trans-atlantic charter market using leased DC-6Bs and changed its name to Wardair Canada Ltd. Ward purchased Canada's first Boeing Jetliner B727-100 in 1966 and added a pair of B707-320s shortly after. Wardair's first of two B747-100s arrived in 1973. Later two new B747-200s were added to the fleet as well as three DC-10-30s. Wardair was immensely successful in the Canadian Holiday leisure market. Flights to Europe, Hawaii and the Caribbean were the core markets and passengers marvelled at the "Wardair Class" level of service. Meals such as Filet Mignon served on Royal Dalton China, a generous seat pitch, and exemplary service by the cabin staff often resulted in passengers giving a round of applause on landing. I have often heard from people who flew on Wardair years ago remark on how much they miss it!
My Personal Connection
I have a personal connection with Wardair as my Father was a Navigator on the B727 and B707. One of his perks was a pass for immediate family which Mom and Dad used regularly for yearly Hawaii getaways and for visiting relatives in the U.K.
One fateful day, my Mother, sister, and I travelled from Vancouver to Edmonton on one of Wardair's 747s. It was back when Wardair was restricted from carrying passengers domestically - so the aircraft was being repositioned (empty) after the crew flew in from Hawaii. As a result the three of us were the only passengers on board. My Mom knew the Aircraft Captain, and the crew generously offerred me the chance to sit up front in the cockpit from departing Vancouver until being towed into the Hangar in Edmonton! That was it for me. No doubt that day had a lot to do with my seeking a career in Aviation - first with the RCAF and later Air Canada.
The Model
Originally this was announced as a JC Wings release. However, since Gemini and JC Wings share the tooling and Gemini is more North American oriented - it was switched to a Gemini product.
This is my first 747 that was not an Inflight200 product and I actually prefer the JC/Gemini version. The big difference is that the magnetic landing gear allows for both gear up and gear down display options compared to Inflight200. The jewels used to represent the rotating beacon and landing lights are also a nice touch.
Overall a fantastic model and one I can heartily recommend for Canadiana collectors.
Dan
Below: Seen with Inflight200's previously released B707-320.
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