Victoria Flying Services

[cyril444]

Hi,
Many years ago I worked for Billy Sylvester at Victoria Flying Services. I finally retired from CP/Air Canada and am trying to find anything from my time there about 1975. I remember a pilot, Brock Vandormal who worked for CP but I don't have any more info about VFS. I do have a vivid memory of the Apache when it didn't make it after taking off one afternoon!
Cyril Gibson

[Sly1]

Hello I am Bill Sylvesters grandson

[fleetcanuck]

I learned to fly there starting in '66 through the Brentwood club. Many fond memories of the place and some really good instructors. Never did fly KTV but got about half the float rating on KXE before running out of money.

I also knew Peg W over at Long Beach and spent many weeks there in the summers.

[North Shore]

Brock VanD wqs a regular around the Flying Club about 10-15 years ago. IIRC, he has stopped flying. He's still around Sidney, though, as I saw him in a restaurant there a while back..

[Bruce Gorle]

In 1965 I was hired by the Jackson family that owned the airstrip across the inlet in Mill Bay to wax their Aero Commander twin. I spent several weekends "piloting" my Austin A40 over the Malahat to the VFS hanger. On many occasions Bill would come up to help me and give advice. The next year I came over and completed my private pilot license. Geordie Jeune was my first instructor also Al Rowat, Gord Wicks and Mike Sealy. I went on to do my CPL at VFC but always had good memories of VFS. I also have a few hours in XKE and UTU nicknamed the "Rubber Duck".

In 1978 I returned to Victoria to work as a flight instructor for Juan Air at that time a couple of people were there from VFS prior to the bankruptcy. Vern Rogers who went on to Air BC then Transport and . Wilson who I believe quit aviation. In 1979 we purchased the assts of Juan Air and formed Juan Air (1979) which we operated until 2003.

Arnold Parlee would have been there in the 1970's and still lives in North Saanich.

I remember the KTV accident what a sad day.