Aircraft - Canada: Illustrated History Books & Guides

Air Canada - The History

"Air Canada: The History" traces the development of Canada's national airline from its founding in 1937 as Trans-Canada Air Lines, a subsidiary of Canadian National Railway, to its emergence as a major international carrier. Renamed Air Canada in 1964 to reflect the transition to the jet age, the airline's history includes major air accidents, financial difficulties, labour disputes, political controversies, privatisation and the Airbus scandal.

The book examines the airline's changing fortunes, the leadership of key executives Gordon McGregor and Claude Taylor, and its struggle against a hostile takeover. It also covers the merger with rival Canadian Airlines and the company's broader impact on Canadian commercial aviation and society.

Combining corporate history with an account of the challenges facing the airline industry, this illustrated book documents 75 years of Air Canada's development and its role in making commercial air travel accessible to Canadians.

Product details

Author:	Peter Pigott
Details:	328 pages, 10 x 6.9 x 0.98 in (25.5 x 17.5 x 2.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	illustrated
Language:	English
Publisher:	Dundurn Group Ltd (CDN, 2014)
ISBN:	9781459719521

Bristol Britannia: and the Airlines That Flew It, Including the Canadair Cl-44

This book presents the history of the Bristol Britannia, a turboprop airliner known for its smooth performance and strong design. It traces the aircraft's development, its years in commercial service, and its later redesign as the Canadair CL-44.
The volume includes rare photographs, technical notes, and detailed records of the airlines that operated the type. It offers a clear overview of mid-century air travel and the Britannia's place in British aviation.

Product details

Author:	Theodore Gianna
Details:	78 pages, 11 x 8.5 x 0.2 in (28 x 21.5 x 0.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	English
Publisher:	Thunderbolt 47 Publications (USA, 2024)
ISBN:	9798883061782

Bush Planes and Bush Pilots

"Bush Planes and Bush Pilots" explores the history of 16 notable bush aircraft preserved in Canadian aviation museums and the pilots who flew them. Author Dan McCaffery traces the development of bush flying in Canada, from the pioneering years to the modern era, highlighting its role in opening up remote regions of the country.

The book recounts notable episodes in Canadian aviation, including Wilfrid May's 1932 pursuit of the Mad Trapper of Rat River in a Bellanca Pacemaker, Russ Baker's rescue of 24 men from a Yukon mountainside in a Junkers W34 in 1942, and Jack Hunter's patrols against rumrunners off the New Brunswick coast in a Fairchild.

Each aircraft is profiled individually, with historical accounts, photographs and colour artwork.

This book documents the aircraft, pilots and daring operations that helped shape Canada's bush flying heritage.

Product details

Author:	Dan McCaffery
Details:	96 pages, 9.1 x 8.25 x 0.24 in (23 x 21 x 0.6 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	English
Publisher:	James Lorimer & Company Ltd (CDN, 2003)
ISBN:	9781550287653

Canada's Warplanes - Unique Aircraft in Canada's Aviation Museums

"Canada's Warplanes" examines 24 military aircraft flown by Canadian pilots during the First and Second World Wars and the Cold War.
Author Dan McCaffery covers a wide range of aircraft, from First World War biplanes such as the SPAD VII and Sopwith Camel to Second World War fighters and bombers including the Spitfire and Lancaster, Commonwealth training aircraft such as the Harvard and Tiger Moth, and Cold War jets such as the CF-104 Starfighter.

Each aircraft is profiled individually, with historical accounts, eyewitness recollections of wartime operations, photographs and colour artwork. The book also includes profiles of Canadian aviation museums, a glossary and a bibliography for further reading.

Illustrated with historical and contemporary images, this book provides an overview of the aircraft and pilots that shaped Canada's military aviation heritage.

Product details

Author:	Dan McCaffery
Details:	96 pages, 9.1 x 8.25 x 0.98 in (23 x 21 x 2.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	many b&w and colour photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	James Lorimer & Company Ltd (CDN, 2000)
ISBN:	9781550286991

Canadian Wings - A Remarkable Century of Flight

"Canadian Wings" explores the development of powered flight in Canada during its first century and examines the contribution of Canadian aviation to the history of flight worldwide. It documents the people, aircraft and achievements that shaped the country's aviation history, from pioneering flights to military and civilian operations.

Drawing on the collections of the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa, the book features nearly 200 images, including archival photographs, paintings and historical memorabilia. It also includes artwork by Robert Bradford, former director of the Museum, and photographs by aviation photographer and author Dan Patterson.

Combining historical accounts with anecdotes and a wide range of illustrations, this book examines the role of aviation in Canada's development, defence and exploration, as well as its contribution to the country's international profile.

Product details

Author:	Stephen Payne
Details:	246 pages, 10.8 x 9 x 0.79 in (27.5 x 24 x 2 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	many b&w and colour photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Douglas & McIntyre (CDN, 2009)
ISBN:	9781553654964

National Treasure - The History of Trans Canada Airlines

"National Treasure" traces the history of Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA), from its establishment in 1937 to its transformation into Air Canada in the 1950s. Before TCA was founded, Canada lacked an organised air service connecting its principal cities.
Created as a government-owned airline under the leadership of Transport Minister C.D. Howe, TCA was intended not only to provide commercial air transport but also to strengthen national unity and identity.

The book examines the political decisions behind the airline's creation, its early operational challenges, its contribution during the Second World War and its rapid post-war expansion. It also explores the rivalry between TCA and Canadian Pacific Airlines.

Aircraft featured include the Lockheed 14, the Lockheed Electra and the Lancaster, which set a non-stop transatlantic speed record on a flight from Montreal to the United Kingdom.
The book also profiles pioneering employees, including TCA's first pilot, Lewie Leigh, and its first female employees and stewardesses, Lucille Garner and Pat Eccleston.

Illustrated with historical photographs, the book draws on interviews with former employees, staff newsletters, annual reports and passenger correspondence to document the development of Canada's commercial aviation industry.

Product details

Author:	Peter Pigott
Details:	400 pages, 9.25 x 6.3 x 1.42 in (23.5 x 16 x 3.6 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	English
Publisher:	Harbour Publishing (CDN, 2001)
ISBN:	9781550172683

On Canadian Wings - A Century of Flight

This book explores almost a century of Canadian aviation through 50 aircraft designed, built and/or flown by Canadians. The historical overview covers key developments in aviation, from Canada's first military aircraft and Billy Bishop's Nieuport fighter to the early bush planes and the beginnings of commercial passenger air travel.

Combining historical analysis with a large collection of photographs, including colour images and rare archival material, the book documents both famous and lesser-known aircraft that contributed to Canada's aviation history. Each aircraft illustrates a stage in the development of Canadian aeronautical technology and the country's role in the evolution of flight.

The third volume in a series of photographic essays on Canadian aviation, this book offers an overview of the people, aircraft and innovations that shaped nearly 100 years of flight in Canada.

Product details

Author:	Peter Pigott
Details:	192 pages, 10 x 10 x 0.91 in (25.5 x 25.5 x 2.3 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	many b&w and colour photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Dundurn Group Ltd (CDN, 2005)
ISBN:	9781550025491

Polar Winds - A Century of Flying the North

"Polar Winds" explores the history of aviation in northern Canada from the Klondike Gold Rush to the end of the twentieth century. Through the experiences of pilots and northern communities, the book examines how aircraft transformed travel, exploration and everyday life in remote regions north of the sixtieth parallel.

This illustrated history covers a wide range of subjects, including airship expeditions to the North Pole, the development of passenger services using jet aircraft, supply flights to isolated communities and flights operated for residential schools. It also recounts the experiences of Indigenous pilots conducting mercy flights, as well as the accidents and other hazards faced by those flying in the North.

Drawing on the stories of aviators and the people who depended on them, "Polar Winds" documents the challenges, achievements and practical realities of northern aviation. It offers an account of the pioneers, bush pilots and commercial aviators who helped connect Canada's remote northern regions throughout the twentieth century.

Product details

Author:	Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail
Details:	224 pages, 10 x 6.9 x 0.35 in (25.5 x 17.5 x 0.9 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	English
Publisher:	Dundurn Group Ltd (CDN, 2014)
ISBN:	9781459723795

Royal Canadian Air Force 1939-45

When Canada entered the Second World War in 1939, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) had only 4.000 personnel and 270 aircraft, most of them obsolete.
By the end of the war, it had grown to 250.000 men and women, becoming the world's fourth-largest air force, with 47 squadrons overseas and 28 in North America.

This illustrated history traces the expansion and wartime operations of the RCAF across several theatres of war. It covers the defence of Britain following the evacuation from Dunkirk, operations over Germany, France and the Netherlands, and campaigns in the Aleutian Islands, Burma, Italy and the Atlantic.
It also documents the RCAF's contribution to the Allied invasion of Europe, from D-Day to the end of the war in Europe.

Although under Canadian command, the RCAF included aircrew from several Allied nations, including Poland, Belgium, Britain and the United States.

Featuring hundreds of historical photographs, maps of the various theatres of operations and images of battlefields as they appear today, the book also includes profiles of notable RCAF pilots, fighter aces and military leaders. It provides a comprehensive pictorial and historical account of Canada's air force during the Second World War.

Product details

Author:	Simon Forty, Leo Marriott
Details:	208 pages, 11 x 11 x 9.02 in (28 x 28 x 22.9 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	many b&w and colour photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Firefly Books Ltd (CDN, 2320)
ISBN:	9780228106425

Taming the Skies - A Celebration of Canadian Flight

Published to mark the centenary of powered flight in Canada in 2003, this illustrated book explores the country's aviation history, from the pioneering Silver Dart to the modern Cormorant helicopter. It presents an overview of Canadian aviation through a wide range of photographs and informative accompanying texts.

Covering the development of aircraft and aviation in Canada, the book combines historical accounts with interesting facts and lesser-known details about notable aircraft. It also reflects on the state of the Canadian aviation industry at the time of publication, including the difficulties facing the country's airlines.

A photographic retrospective of 100 years of Canadian aviation, this book documents the aircraft, achievements and developments that have shaped the nation's aviation heritage.

Product details

Author:	Peter Pigott
Details:	232 pages, 10 x 10 x 0.98 in (25.5 x 25.5 x 2.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	English
Publisher:	Dundurn Group Ltd (CDN, 2003)
ISBN:	9781550024692

The Avro Arrow - For the Record (2nd Edition)

The cancellation of the Avro Arrow programme in 1959 remains one of the most debated events in Canadian aviation history. Developed as an advanced interceptor aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Avro Arrow represented a major achievement in Canadian aerospace engineering.
Following the programme's cancellation, all completed aircraft and those awaiting assembly were destroyed, along with the associated tooling and technical documentation.

This book examines the history of the Avro Arrow programme, the circumstances surrounding its cancellation and the consequences for Canada's aviation industry.
This revised edition includes newly discovered documents that shed light on the position of the United States government regarding the continuation of the project.

Combining historical research with previously unpublished information, the book investigates the political, military and technological issues behind the decision to abandon the Avro Arrow.

Product details

Author:	Palmiro Campagna
Details:	336 pages, 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.98 in (23 x 15.5 x 2.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	illustrated
Language:	English
Publisher:	Dundurn Group Ltd (CDN, 2024)
ISBN:	9781459753167

The Avro Arrow - The story of the great Canadian Cold War Interceptor jet (New Edition)

The Avro Arrow was an advanced supersonic interceptor aircraft developed by Canada's Avro Canada in the 1950s. Although it never entered service and all completed aircraft were ordered destroyed, the programme remains an important chapter in Canadian aerospace history. This revised edition traces the development, public reception and cancellation of the Avro Arrow, examining its technological achievements and lasting legacy. It also explores Avro Canada's wider engineering work, including the design and construction of Canada's first all-Canadian electric car. Written by Lawrence Miller, this book documents an important period of Canadian innovation in aerospace and engineering.

Product details

Author:	Lawrence Miller
Details:	112 pages, 10 x 8.1 x 0.31 in (25.5 x 20.5 x 0.8 cm), paperback
Language:	English
Publisher:	James Lorimer & Company Ltd (CDN, 2024)
ISBN:	9781459419520

The Bombardier Story - from Snowmobiles to Global Transportation Powerhouse

"The Bombardier Story" traces the eight-decade development of Bombardier from a small Canadian snowmobile manufacturer into a major international transport and aerospace company.
Founded by inventor and entrepreneur Joseph-Armand Bombardier, the business initially relied heavily on its successful Ski-Doo snowmobiles. However, the economic difficulties and declining snowmobile market of the 1970s brought the company close to collapse.

The book examines how Bombardier responded through strategic diversification, expanding into railway equipment and later aircraft manufacturing. A major breakthrough came in 1982 with a contract to supply more than 800 subway cars to New York City. The subsequent development of the Canadair Regional Jet established Bombardier as an important manufacturer of regional passenger aircraft.

Particular attention is given to the company's leadership, from founder Joseph-Armand Bombardier to his son-in-law Laurent Beaudoin, who guided its expansion for 45 years, and the next generation under Pierre Beaudoin.
The book also explores acquisitions, corporate restructuring, succession planning and the challenges of managing a growing multinational business.

Combining business history with insights into entrepreneurship and management, this book documents Bombardier's transformation into a global transport and aerospace group.

Product details

Author:	Larry MacDonald
Details:	320 pages, 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.79 in (23 x 15.5 x 2 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	geïllustrreerd
Language:	English
Publisher:	John Wiley & Sons Inc (USA, 2013)
ISBN:	9781118482940

Wings Across Canada - An Illustrated History of Canadian Aviation

"Wings Across Canada" presents a retrospective of Canadian aviation through more than 100 photographs of 50 historic aircraft that have served Canadians over the past century. The selection ranges from military aircraft such as the Fairey Battle and CF-18 to commercial airliners and the classic North Star.

Rather than comparing aircraft or ranking them by performance or historical importance, the book examines a diverse range of planes that each fulfilled a role in their time. Through its photographic collection, it documents the development of aeronautical technology and the variety of aircraft used in Canada for military, commercial and other purposes.

This book offers an overview of a century of Canadian aviation, featuring aircraft of different designs, generations and operational roles.

Product details

Author:	Peter Pigott
Details:	192 pages, 10 x 10 x 0.98 in (25.5 x 25.5 x 2.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	100+ b&w and colour photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Dundurn Group Ltd (CDN, 2002)
ISBN:	9781550024128

Wings Across the Water - Victoria's Flying Heritage 1871-1971

"Wings Across the Water - Victoria's Flying Heritage 1871-1971" documents a century of aviation history in Victoria and on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Featuring more than 600 photographs, most previously unpublished, it traces the development of flight from nineteenth-century balloon ascents and early aeroplanes to bush flying, wartime aviation and the arrival of the jet age.

The book draws on the extensive photographic archive and expertise of Elwood White, a Victoria-born aviation pioneer who obtained his pilot's licence in 1938. His photographs and records document the aircraft, pilots and events that shaped the region's aviation heritage between 1871 and 1971.

Product details

Author:	Elwood White, Peter L. Smith
Details:	208 pages, 11 x 8.5 x 0.51 in (28 x 21.5 x 1.3 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	600+ b&w and colour photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Harbour Publishing (CDN, 2005)
ISBN:	9781550173550