We’re saddened to share that Sheldon Benner, a dedicated member of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society (CAHS), passed away on August 4, 2023. He was a passionate advocate for aviation history and served as the President of CAHS Toronto Chapter for a long time.  

Sheldon’s journey started in Fort Erie, Ontario, where his fascination with airplanes began. He captured moments in aviation history and contributed to preserving our rich heritage. 

His impact stretched over six decades, holding various roles within CAHS. He was a respected leader and earned admiration for his role as President of the Toronto Chapter, as well as being a dedicated CASI member since 1958. 

Beyond aviation, Sheldon’s presence was felt in his community involvement and dedicated leadership. He will be deeply missed by his colleagues, friends and extended family. Sheldon’s love for the skies and contributions will forever be remembered.  

Sheldon Benner at a CAHS National Event in 1982

Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Col (RCAF) Jeremy Hansen has been named as the first Canadian assigned to fly a deep space mission, part of NASA’s Artemis II crewed test flight to the Moon. The lunar fly-past mission is currently scheduled to launch from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center in November 2024.

Hansen has been assigned as mission specialist 2 and is proceeding with early-stage preparations alongside three American crewmates — Capt (U.S. Navy) Reid Wiseman will be flying in the role of commander, Capt (U.S. Navy) Victor Glover in the role of pilot, and NASA astronaut Christina Koch in the role of mission specialist 1.

While Hansen has provided critical support to dozens of international missions and on-orbit projects since first donning the classic blue flight suit of the astronaut corps, Artemis II will be his first flight to the stars. He was selected as an astronaut candidate in 2009, part of Canada’s third recruitment campaign. Through a rigorous, multi-month evaluation phase, he and David Saint-Jacques were identified to be strongest from a pool of over 5,300 applicants. Saint-Jacques flew to the International Space Station (ISS) in the role of flight engineer on Expeditions 57, 58, and 59.

Read the full article at Skies Magazine...

In April 1929, De Havilland Canada (DHC) purchased a 70-acre property in Downsview, Ontario – just north of Toronto. By the end that summer, a 20,000-square-foot plant had been constructed and Moth biplanes were being produced. Almost a century later, DHC is saying farewell to Downsview as the land is due to be redeveloped for residential and commercial purposes...

Read Full Article by Frederick K. Larkin at Skiesmag.com