flying fireman cansoC-GFFJ

[CLguy]

He worked at Canadair til he had to retire, then came to Avalon on the Canso. That is when I flew with him and got to hear all his stories. The best one I heard was when he met Liz Taylor in Nigeria and had lunch with her. Richard Burton was there as well but he was to drunk to get out of the airplane so Larry filled in for him and entertained her. He told the story as if it was just another day in the life!! What a class act!

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Larry also worked for Avalon in the early seventies, I think he started in 1974.

I can't remember when he left to go to Canadair.

[Siddley Hawker]

Larry had a brother, Fred, who started his career with Hollinger Ungava Transport on the DC-3 back in the late 1940's - early 1950's. He was there until about 1975, then became the CP at Northern Telecom until they moved their flight operations to YZ.

I waiting for a pic of Canso FZJ that was taken by Larry. The airplane is sitting on the ice on a lake on the mains and the aft step, with the nose in the air. I don't know whether Larry landed it that way, or if it sat back on the tail while they were unloading drums. A cousin of mine is supposed to have mailed me a copy of the picture from Miami. I'll put it up here when I get it.

[CLguy]

I remember him telling me a couple of stories about landing a Canso on the ice. One was to drop off an engine for a Norseman that was stuck with a blown engine and the other was to drop off a small jeep that they had lashed to the wing struts. I believe he landed on the hull in the snow with the gear up so the pic wouldn't be of either one of those trips.

[Driving Rain]

Sonny, Cat or CL-Guy,
Was there not 2 different tank and door systems installed on the PBY's? I seem to remember one system was called the Field System named for Field Aviation in Toronto who developed it and the other was called the Ferry System made in the USA. Which one was on the Fireman planes.
I remember working fires and watching the two different systems release the load. One came out very quickly and the other had a slower release. I can't remember which system was which after 35 years.

[CLguy]

You're correct, two systems and the Field System was far superior. It is also predessecor the system that is used in the CL-215/415. The Ferry System was a bit of an abortion and not as safe compared to the Field System. The doors were hydraulically opened and spring loaded closed.

[BD8]

Fairey Aviation out of Victoria BC developed fire bombing systems for Junkers 33 (Skyway), Martin Mars (FIFT), TBM Avengers (Skyway) and the PBY (Flying Fireman).

[Driving Rain]

Thanks BD8 and CL-Guy. It was Fairey not Ferry. Was a proper investigation done to determine what exactly lead to FFC's downfall? I know in those days if the crew got out alive and ... oh well, good enough was the attitude.
DR