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Hello Everyone

I have just joined aviation.ca today as I have been an aircraft fan for many many years.
I have been photographing aircraft for some 30+ years in many different places but mostly at Toronto's Lester B Pearson or Malton (as it was known when I started photographing).

I have had some 450 photos published over the years in books, magazines and brochures. So anyone looking for a specific aircraft photo let me know and I will see if I have a shot!

I do have a quest that I have been working on for many years and just maybe someone here will be able to help me out. Back on or around August 30 1997 I was photographing aircraft at Pearson, I watched an Air Canada 747-200 taking off runway 24, I wasn't planning to photograph it, but after watching the take-off roll the aircraft I was sure was not going to get up in the air by the end of the runway.

I got my camera and just got a quick shot of it, it was just airborn at the last second at the end of the runway! I had never or still have ever seen any aircraft that close to the end of the runway.

I'm sure the pilot would love to have a photograph of that take-off that day.

My question is does this story ring any bells with anyone, or know anyone that could help me locate that flight crew?

Thanks for any help in advance.

Gary Gentle

Barrie,ON

I can't help with the pilot part, but I can tell you about long take-off rolls. Working in the tower at Halifax International, we saw several aircraft which used every inch of pavement. Russian-built IL-86s were known for lumbering into the air, making an 8800 foot runway look too short.

Every winter, cargo DC-8s would fly lobster to Paris and we swore that they would factor in temperature, humidity, actual winds, mood of the pilot and so forth to determine exactly how many lobsters could be piled on, and then pile a few more. I had the crash alarm's switch cover lifted with pressure being placed against the switch thinking I was watching a crash in progress on more than one occasion.

You just got me thinking about these, that's all. It's not *that* common, really, but there are enough memories that they surfaced quickly.

Hi micheal

Thanks for that, I still remember the feeling as if it was yesterday thinking the 747 was going to go off the end into the ravine. I'm posting the pic, you can even see the gravel cloud from the thrust as it went past the end of the runway.

Gary