Time for another silly little post and here it’s a few random photos captured at the Red Deer Airport in Central Alberta. We came to document a vintage transit bus (teaser photo below) but in the end, found the background to our subject so interesting that we kept on shooting after it was gone. Turns out “YQF” is a hot spot for strange old planes and amazingly many of them still work for a living. It’s no museum!
Evening is upon us and it’s old metal…with wings.
Forest fires raging across Western Canada and the US made for the extreme smoky conditions seen. There in the sky it’s an eerie orange glow with the sun a little ball of fire and it’s as though a nuclear apocalypse is upon us. Later that weekend it cleared up, but here it was like being on set of Mad Men. Poor Connie and her asthma.
Smoky Times @ Red Deer Airport – random stuff under strange skies. With Chris Doering and Connie Biggart (BIGDoer/Synd)
This article was made possible by a gift from (our own) “Johanna (Connie) Biggart” and for that, we send her love ‘n’ thanks. Do the same…
Before anything else: Red Deer Regional (YQF), was once part of a military base (RCAF Station Penhold, later CFB Penhold) and is located south of the city near (you guessed it) Penhold. There’s no scheduled flights utilizing the facility although in the past there were, so mainly you’ll see personal aircraft flying out of here.
Scroll down for photos and to comment.
Still, there’s a couple charter/contract firms based at the airport and they got some some big, old stuff that’s super interesting. At Buffalo Airway’s maintenance centre, there’s an eclectic mix of aircraft, including World War Two era Douglas DC-3s for cargo use, plus Canadair CL-215s in the role of water-bomber.
Buffalo also has vintage Lockheed L-188 Electras, some equipped with tanks for firefighting and others outfitted as freighters. When built in the late 1950s/early-1960s period these were passenger liners. A number of non-flying examples are seen on the apron and these get scavenged for parts to keep others in the air. One Electra sits inside the hanger – well partially – with the tail section too tall to fit and sticking out.
Buffalo Airways famously appeared in the TV series Ice Pilots NWT.
A smaller Aero Commander functions as a spotter (bird dog) during forest fires and is one of the “newer” aircraft seen in these photos (so from the ’70-’80s period!). Its job is to get close to the action and orchestrate the water drops.
Air Spray, who’s business is aerial firefighting, is a couple buildings down from Buffalo and also operates Lockheed Electras. With their protruding belly tanks, a number can be seen in the background in the one photo. Interestingly almost all the Electras still flying today, and that’s in the entire world, are based out of Red Deer Airport.
A Piper from the late 1960s is also in that same scene. Yes, there’s quite the collection here.
Mounted at the entrance to the air terminal, it’s a Harvard from the 1950s. This one was built at a factory in Ontario and has been hanging around Red Deer since at least the 1960s. That same factory, incidentally, produced the old buses seen here: A Tour of Sandon BC.
Made by the thousands (US and Canada) from the late 1930s and into the mid-1950s, the Harvard was a well regarded training aircraft.
The strange looking satellite dish thingy (a technical term) comes from the Penhold radar base that was once located about twenty minutes to the east. A product of the Cold War this antenna would have sat inside a protective dome and as part of the Pinetree Line network, was entrusted to watch the skies for enemy (so Soviet) aircraft and missiles.
Radar Domes? Cold War? Curious? Take a look at last extant Pine Tree Line installation to know more. But with that comes a warning that it’s a deep rabbit hole: Canadian Civil Defence Museum’s Alsask Dome.
Both the Harvard and the radar unit belong to the Harvard Historical Aviation Society.
Reluctantly the road calls and it’s time to go. Ahead it’s a busy weekend documenting all manner of historic things, including this place: Rocky Mountain House Historic Site. Stay tuned for the article on that bus as well…it’s old, it’s ex-Calgary Transit, it’s mean and it’s green (yes green)! Oh, and it was AWESOME!
Something to say and no one to say it to? Go here: contact us!
Date of Adventure: September, 2020. Location: Red Deer Airport (YQF) @ Springbrook Alberta near Penhold. Article references and thanks: Red Deer Regional Airport, Canadian Civil Defence Museum, Harvard Historical Aviation Society, Buffalo Airways, Air Spray and finally AirLiners.net.
(A long read) After twelve years it's time to put a face to the name and come clean on something. That's rarely-seen Chris in the photo, one half of Team BIGDoer, my best friend for almost thirty years and orchestrator of everything you see here. For his entire adult life, he's battled a deep depression.
Mostly it's manageable, but there are extended bouts where it's crippling and his life comes to a grinding halt. Sometimes there are days or weeks where he's lost. Sleep does not come easy at this time and further aggravates the issue. As he ages, it's worsening and seems intent on destroying him from the inside.
If you see a lack of posts here, or ones poorly worded, confusing or simply off, it's from one of these periods.
Through all this, he remains as kind, thoughtful and loving as ever, but is somewhere else. To the family, it's just Chris and accepted as it should be. The kids and grandkids adore him no less. Until today, however, this has been hidden from the outside world, although closer friends and some readers were probably already suspect of his condition. I hope admitting this does not break the site.
He finds clarity when we're out and doing things, hiking or documenting something historic and it's only THE reason this page and our website exists. It's therapy. Then he's a new and passionate person, but the monster as he calls it always returns. The Beer Parlour Project has brought out a side I've never seen and when out in the field he's never been so on point and confident.
This post is not for sympathy but to inform. Just so you know where he is and here's what you can do to help (a last ditch request)...
If you see a missed comma or oddly worded sentence in a post, please be kind. You'll probably see his uncertainty when he's off and be nice there too. But if you like what you see, even if the write up could be presented better, post your encouragement. Say something and say it loud...it's important and will keep him sharing. Help Chris get better by cheering him on.
Other than some photos that are mine, everything else comes from him. All the tiring research and the writing (he admits he's NOT a writer), are his.
Chris puts every dollar he makes into this "project of a lifetime", and it's supplemented by donations from readers who enjoy the content. If you want to help...
Admittedly he was not thrilled with the idea of posting this but agrees it probably should be said, even if it makes him uneasy. He doesn't like appearing in photos either. He's so shy, thinks he looks goofy and hates his husky eyes. I love them and they're windows into a wonderful, complex and quiet, but tortured soul. It breaks my heart when he's in a bad space.
This image comes thanks to photographer Arturo Pianzola and was captured while exploring the historic Riverview Mental Hospital in Coquitlam BC. Chris thought since he was in the area last year, he'd stop by to visit with a grandfather he never really knew, who spent his last years at the facility and is buried on the grounds.
Thanks for listening and your understanding. Hopefully we'll see you next week. Johanna (Connie).
Journey of Natty Gann (Disney 1985) and the same location in the Crowsnest Pass 2014. We're visiting the Pass over the new year, as we often do, and this time we'll be staying at a house that appears (briefly) in the film. How cool, eh? Chris has decided it's time on this visit to reshoot this and other Natty Gann comparison shots we did from ten years ago. Stay tuned!
This scene was shot in historic downtown Coleman and shows the former Holyk's Grocery. It was built in the early 1900s and the store closed in the '60s. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
From 2015. Rob Pohl and his strange old-style view camera joined us in documenting the Laing House (with permission). Head down to the comments to see an amazing coincidence with something I found inside.
From the Crossley slides, it's an undated view of Towers School, out near Cluny Alberta. It was originally called Swastika School but that's before the word and symbol were ruined by negative connotations. Built 1922. Gone? _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
The same alley in downtown Calgary's west end, in the 1970s & today. You have to look hard to see the connection! The area was quite run down back then and is in stark contrast to all the shiny condo towers seen present day. Calgary Place West, an apartment block, appears in both images although it's barely a sliver in ours. Check the comments for more info.
Photo credit: James Tworow collection. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Lost highways (2022): a section of old #93 in Southeastern BC. That BIGDoer-mobile is gone now but quite famous and had a following of its own. Old mine roads, cow paths, 4x4ing across fields - no problem and people would recognize us out in remote areas just by this car. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
So fascinating!
Thanks for taking the time to stop by.
Very interesting story.
Appreciate it!
Awesome
Thumbs up!
Neat!
Short but sweet.
Love it!
Glad to hear.
Nice photos!
Thank you!
Cool!
I know!
Awesome finds!
Thank you sir!
The stories those old planes could tell….
I bet they’ve seen some action!
Only a few miles from my home
Oh yeah!
Yeah!