Originally Posted by
Sotonsean
Wardair Boeing 727-11 CF-FUN operated transatlantic flights with a refueling stop in Gander, Newfoundland. CF-FUN also had additional fuel tanks fitted factory fresh for the transatlantic flights.
We actually went in it in 1968, Gatwick-Sondrestrom (Greenland)-Vancouver. I've written about it here in the past so won't repeat that. It spent the summer on Transatlantic work and the winter on flights like Vancouver to Acapulco. It spent most of its time in western Canada; Wardair's base was in Edmonton, they started off becoming known in Vancouver/Calgary/Edmonton, and only later moved into the Toronto market, especially that year when it was their first jet. With refuelling each way it couldn't quite make round transatlantic trips within 24 hours, but would do two or three days together. Definitely a holiday jet. Apart from Gatwick, and a few times a year at Manchester or Prestwick, Amsterdam seemed their other destination, and if they had any spare time in Europe they put themselves straight in the hands of a broker for any sudden subcharters - if they turned up in the Med, that's what they were doing.
Probably not many here who have been to Greenland. A few years ago on a December BA 744 Heathrow-Vancouver I could see we were going to route directly over Sondrestrom, presumably a beacon there. Looking down, eventually there it was, about five lights in the winter darkness.