In 1973 a Wardair 727 established a World Record Flying from Windsor,Ont, Canada to London-Gatwick,UK
The great circle distance from CYQG to London Gatwick is 3768 sm, the normal range of a Boeing 727-100 is 2590 sm. The record flight was 3930 sm. How was that possible? The article below has the answer. To correct the above statement, it should read “covering 3930 sm”. I suspect the actual Flight Miles were substatially less due to a stront tailwind during the flight. I do not know how much extra range the cargo hold tanks would give, but not enough to make up the 1340 sm difference.
Wardair operated a single Boeing 727-100 registered CF-FUN, taking delivery of the aircraft in March 1966 and named it “Cy Becker”- rather uniquely for the time, Wardair operated the 727 on trans-atlantic charter flights to Europe. It was fitted with additional cargo hold fuel tanks by Boeing before delivery.
CF-FUN was a first in several ways.
It was the first Boeing jet on the Canadian registry. It was the first Boeing 727 on the Canadian registry. It was Wardair’s first jet aircraft.
It was the twilight of Wardair’s Douglas propliner fleet.
Cy Becker, born in Medicine Hat, was World War One flying ace who flew with the Royal Naval Air Service and made his claim to fame by making the first air mail deliveries to remote northern communities in Canada as one of the province of Alberta’s first bush pilots. His father was one of the first conductors on the Canadian Pacific Railway. Becker later became a successful lawyer in Edmonton and was instrumental in the construction of downtown Edmonton Airport.
Refueling stops were made at either Gander, Newfoundland, or Sondrestrom Fjord, Greenland. When Wardair acquired long range Boeing 707-320s that eliminated the need for a refueling stop, CF-FUN was shifted over to charter flights to California and Mexico. At London Gatwick, CF-FUN arrived at 1100am local and departed again for Western Canada at 100pm local. It was known as the “Clockwork Mouse”- never delayed due to mechanical issues.
Wardair phased out the aircraft in February 1973 and it was sold to Brazilian airline Cruziero do Sul.
Wardair also operated 747’s into YQG. One volunteer at the museum told me that he witnessed the takeoff of a Wardair 747 from runway 30. The runway is 5150 feet long and the 747 may have been re-positioning to YMX with very few passengers. In such a case 5100 feet would be sufficient.
I would appreciate more information and pictures you may have for the Wardair story.
