Gander Meet and Greet

01/13/2025

TBT: On a recent trip to the Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland, Klaus Nienkämper came across this collection of lounge furniture at the Gander NL airport. Designed and made by Nienkämper 40 years ago and still standing!

01/04/2025

01/04/2025

Closing tomorrow. Open to US residents only. Fundraiser for a great charity.
Free trip to Gander! (And back)

Escape the heat of American summer 🥵 with a free trip for 2 to Central Newfoundland, Canada. The Great Gander Getaway Giveaway sweepstakes ends at 1 PM Eastern Sunday, January 5, 2025. This amazing travel opportunity provides round-trip airfare from the US to Gander or St. John’s, NL courtesy . It includes lodging, meeting real characters from the Come from Away, musical, tickets to the production and tours of the Gander International airport and many of the scenes portrayed in the musical. $25 per entry requested, but no purchase is necessary. See link in bio for rules and conditions and to enter.

12/30/2024

12/27/2024

12/27/2024

A Christmas story from Gander during WWII worth telling. The biggest thing lacking during Christmas for the airport’s 4 military bases were children. The RCAF base decided to bring the spirit of the season to Gander by bringing children from nearby communities into the airport by train for a Christmas party, returning them back home in the evening. War time security prevented the parents from visiting the airport except for the children. A visit from Santa for the very first time for some was one thing but it was also the first time they had even seen a real airplane up close when they were given an airport tour. The story is better told here http://ganderairporthistoricalsociety.org/_html_war/Xmas.child1943.htm. Merry Christmas everyone !

12/27/2024

Oct 23, 1956, The population of Hungary revolted against the communist government. The International Red Cross provided food rations, clothing and other essentials but the distribution to the refugees on flights landing at Gander, required volunteers to assist. I remember my parents being part of the refugee welcoming team, going to the airport at all hours of the day to assist. Telling me later, families had arrived with nothing. They arrived with just the clothing they were wearing and lacking food. Very little conversation was made because of the language but communication was made through handshakes and hugs. This was Gander’s first effort providing assistance to others from another country before they officially became a town. Something our history had forgotten. http://www.ganderairporthistoricalsociety.org/_html_4658/hungarian_rescue.htm

12/24/2024

BOAC double deck Stratocruiser in front of the old terminal at Gander. To give everyone an idea the volume of trans atlantic traffic just as the passenger jets were starting to fly, 9,723 airplanes landed at Gander carrying a total of 407,197 passengers during 1959.

12/24/2024

Stuck for that perfect Christmas gift? Give "Flown into the Arms of Angels" Hundreds of stories about the kindness of the people of this Province who hosted 13,000 passengers and air crew on 9/11. Available at Gander Coop, Town Square Books, Newfound Crafts and the Aviation Museum (both on the TCH), also available at all Irving Big Stops on the TCH, Coles, Chapters/Indigo and the Downhome store in St. John's and available directly from the Author in Gander with Free delivery by the author in the Gander Area.

12/24/2024

12/24/2024

NAV CANADA announced today that thanks to its alert team and an unconventional but brilliant lighting solution, Santa Claus departed safely from the North Pole Airport last night, ensuring the safe, orderly and expeditious delivery of gifts. https://bit.ly/403Bt2h

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NAV CANADA annonce que, grâce à son équipe d’alerte et à une solution aussi brillante qu’inusitée, le Père Noël a prêt à décoller de l’aéroport international du Pôle Nordpour mener à bien sa distribution annuelle de cadeaux. https://bit.ly/41M7ZqY

12/24/2024

Hey day

Step back in time to 1978, the golden age of aviation with this CBC archive clip about Gander Airport in Newfoundland. Once a bustling hub for the rich and f...

12/18/2024

January 11, 1938 The First airplane lands at Gander, it’s a ski-equipped Fox Moth, call sign VO-ADE. The single engine bi-plane is operated by Imperial Airways for the Newfoundland Government. But who flew it!?

12/18/2024

Due to layout of the airport town, it was almost impossible for a Santa Claus parade to travel through all residential sections of the town. Instead Santa decided it would be more convenient if everyone gathered on Foss Ave in front of the RCAF drill hall, he would arrive in his helicopter and hand out candy to the children. This became a tradition for many years as a part of the old town’s Christmas celebration.

12/18/2024

On this day in 1903, two men from Dayton, Ohio gave us all the chance to be Flyers. ✈️

Happy