February, 2014 Spartans Winter Newsletter 2014

Winter hit early this year and continues to annoy us, but not early enough to discourage faithful members from attending the annual Christmas luncheon. We were pleased to welcome first time visitors Linda Baxter and Pam Hillier and hope they will become regular attendees. We were also pleased to welcome Nancy Renz (Ingerville) from Florida who was able to arrange her personal schedule to be with us and was accompanied by Claude Richard and her friend Luralyn Wrightnour. As at several previous luncheons, we were joined by Dr. Marc Donato representing MDA senior management who gave a much appreciated briefing on current and prospective business at the Ste. Anne facility. Ristorante Linguini continues to provide the comfortable ambiance and good food that we expect and appreciate. I want to thank our committee members for their continuing efforts in maintaining our group. Al Lawson George Larder Gil Kerr Nicole Bourdeau Margaret Gross Picture taker, list maintainer, communications director Diligent Treasure Luncheon organizer Chief recruiter Web site editor

If you are reading this newsletter on line, it is due to Margarets skill and persistence in maintaining our website (http://clubspartans.weebly.com). As usual I remind those with access to our membership data that it is strictly for Spartan membership social purposes.

News Items It is with great regret that I inform you of the passing of former colleagues and Spartan members. In mid July George Larder informed us that his wife Dorothy (nee Beaudry), Aug. 21, 1933 July 15, 2013 had just passed away. Dorothy passed away peacefully on July 15, 2013, at the age of seventy-nine after a long illness. Devoted wife of George for fiftyeight years, loving mother to Stephen (Linda Lanno), Barbara (Ted Pearl), Douglas (Sarah Caden), and Tracey (Pat Lefrancois), nana to Christina, Jenna, Sophie, Nick, Marc, David, Claire and Christopher, and aunt to many nephews and nieces. Predeceased by her brother Deseri (Sonny) and her sister Patricia Marleau, (Dolly). George and the family would like thank the staff from the Signature wing at the Le Felix Vaudreuil-Dorion residence for their highly professional and loving personal care. I knew George from the early 50s when we both spent time in the RCAF Reserve Officer Training Program and I met him on my first day at work at RCA in early June 1954. I soon met his wife to be on one of my first weekends in Montreal when he invited me to join them at a Laurentian cottage on Fourteen Island Lake. Several RCA employees including Al Lavis, Ken Crook, Selwyn Bell, Ben Fratkin, Doug Langley and Laurie Vaux rented this cottage and were to become my lifelong friends.

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February, 2014 Spartans Winter Newsletter 2014 I was truly saddened to learn of Dorothy's death, and I offered my condolences to George, his family, and friends. I knew only too well the cruelty of dementia that slowly robs a loved one of memory and ultimately, personality itself. I have thought deeply of the nature of the bond with a loved one and concluded that shared experiences and values are the lasting ties that bind. It leaves one with a sad emptiness with the realization that with the loss of memory, the shared bond is broken. Only our memories of this warm and loving person survive, and I counseled George to concentrate on the good memories and not the sad ones at the end of life. From old friend Laurie Vaux in Melbourne Australia I received this thoughtful and tender recollection of her. Thanks for including me in your response to George. I still remember Dorothy as a lovely young thing, especially on her wedding day. Terrible to think she has died and with dementia. I think your message to George was right on the button and as you and I both know how difficult it is living with the disease. Remembering the past times is always a great help. The memorial service was well attended by Spartans who knew her well. The following obituary notice (forwarded by Alphons Evers) of Don Dashney's death reminded me that he must have joined RCA around the same time as I did in 1954, the same time as (the late) Bruce Berridge. I knew that he left RCA around the time of the Spar purchase but I did not realize that he went to the CBC. We never worked together but I knew him well partly through his radio amateur interests and also through his expertise in the broadcast equipment area. If I ever needed to know something in that line either professionally or personally, Don was always ready to help. Donald Raymond Dashney (1929 - 2014) VE3RM) January 23, 1929 - February 12, 2014 With great sadness we announce the passing of our dear brother Don, son of the late Donald Leslie DaWshney, and the late Mary Margaret Dashney, brother of Edna, of Ottawa, Jim (Clare Power) of Oakville, uncle of Stephen (Nancy), and their children Joseph and Adam of Kingston, Kevin (Suzanne) and their children Mark, Thomas and Marisa, of Whitby. He was pre-deceased by his nephew James Edward. Don attended Corpus Christi School, and St. Patrick's College High School in Ottawa, and graduated from McGill University in Electrical Engineering. He worked and travelled for RCA in Montreal, and later he was Chief Broadcast Engineer for the CBC in Montreal. When he retired Don moved to the Hawkesbury area so he could set up the towers for his amateur radio station. A life-long "ham" he is remembered by many in Montreal and Hawkesbury for his volunteer teaching of the requirements to pass the amateur radio license exam. Don was very active in various radio clubs and often hosted groups taking part in contests. He was a kind and generous man, and will be missed by his family and friends. Manfred Herings obituary in the Aug 31 Gazette was brought to my attention by Milt Lillo Manfred Hering Manfred Hering 1926 - 2013 Manfred Hering 87, passed away at the Jewish General Hospital's Palliative care unit. Beloved husband of Hildegard for 55 years. Born in east Prussia, came to Canada in 1951. As per his wishes there will no viewing, cremation has taken place. Manfred and his wife were long time members of SPARtans in the early days of the Club, but did not renew their membership. I notified committee members of his death and
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February, 2014 Spartans Winter Newsletter 2014 George Larder replied: Thanks for passing on the news Lorne, another one of the old RCA guys has passed on. I have memories of him working with us on the ARC X program in our location on the fifth floor in the old RCA building on the Lacasse Street side. He used to have his radio turned on all the time which was becoming annoying to me. I finally asked him if it was necessary to keep it on all the time and his answer was, Yes, but you see George I dont hear it. I was too flabbergasted by his response to ask , if that was that case, why did he have it on. He didnt talk much about his years in east Prussia but one time he did tell us of being a sla ve worker for the Soviets digging out coal by hand in a mine were there was not room enough to stand up. He was a quiet, unassuming person but a good man. He was also a good friend of Jake Kobayashi. Jake now lives in Etobicoke, but does not get around very much these days. (Als note) Peter Oswald and an old friend Keith Meredith both drew my attention to the passing of Phil Lapp and sent these links, commenting that although he was not well known in Montreal, it might be of interest to SPAR old timers. I did not have Phil as a personal friend but I worked with him professionally on two occasions so I readily agreed with observers who knew him well, that he was a modest and personable man with great skill and integrity that merited the position of respect that he held in the aerospace community. As pointed out in one of the tributes to Phil, he was a coauthor of the Chapman report that became the guideline for subsequent Canadian space activities. I hasten to add that our own John Collins was a coauthor and principal contributor to that same document for which he received little recognition.(perhaps another overly modest but valuable space pioneer in Canada) http://globalnews.ca/news/866192/canadian-space-pioneer-dies-at-age-85/ http://acuriousguy.blogspot.ca/2013/09/dr-philip-lapp-19282013.html?utm_source=Notes+from+the+Commercial+Space+Blog+October+1st%2C+2013.&u tm_campaign=Sept+24%2C+2013+blog&utm_medium=email During one of several exchanges with my old boss Greg Baylis concerning the early microwave radio relay days at RCA, he informed me that he would not attend the luncheon as Peggy was gravely ill in hospital. Shortly after, we received the sad news that Peggy Baylis had passed away. On Friday December 13, 2013 at West Island Palliative Care Residence. Peggy beloved wife of Greg, loving mother of Jean (Alex Murphy), Ronald (Vicki Foot), Elaine (Ron Creary), and Arthur (Cathie Haskins). Sister of the late William and Jack Kervin, Jean Williams and survived by Ruth Ross. Dedicated grandmother of twelve. Peggy embraced all members of her extended family above all else. She enjoyed being with them, listening to them and helped them at all stages of their lives.. I attended the service along with a strong representation of Spartans and current MDA employees where it was a pleasure to meet the children and grandchildren of this dedicated couple, and our friends. I had encouraged Greg on previous occasions to write down his recollections of the early days at RCA that otherwise might be lost. Although some of these stories might have technical content, the emphasis is on the human and historic aspects that are of equal interest to all. Greg responded with an account of his experiences in Columbia SA where RCA Ltd had been supplying radio relay equipment from the late 50s. An edited version of one of these stories is appended to this newsletter, see page 10

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February, 2014 Spartans Winter Newsletter 2014 Although not technically the passing of a Spartan, the eventual failure of Radarsat 1 after 18 years of on-orbit operation was a noteworthy event. Operation long past the design life of five years is a tribute to the diligence and expertise of everyone who contributed to this outstanding success. It seemed incredible to me that so much time had elapsed since this program began, full of management, technical and financial challenges. Although I was not a participant, I followed the program closely and appreciated the complexities and innovations in design and testing that broke new ground. Many Spartans who did contribute to the program attended special ceremonies in Ottawa at the beginning of November (two days before the anniversary of the actual launch date). This was also an occasion to test the effectiveness of our web site in communicating the rapidly evolving events surrounding the special ceremony in Ottawa. I regretfully declined an invitation from Barb Newton, to attend the 90th birthday of her father and my old friend and colleague, Bruce Aikenhead in Salmon Arm BC. She wrote that Were having a party to celebrate our Dads birthday and wed like to invite you to join in the celebration. To which I replied, Thank you very much for including me in your invitation to this significant birthday, but distance and obligations in Montreal preclude my being there. Please wish Bruce a sincere happy birthday from me and give him my warmest best wishes. Bruce was a late addition to the Spartans but follows our activities with interest and still expresses the hope that he may join us in Montreal someday for one of our lunches. A little piece of History I recently participated in a ceremony at the Canadian Space Agency sponsored by the Canadian Society of Senior Engineers (CSSE) to honour the contributions of the Canadian Astronauts and the supporting space industry. It was my privilege to make one of the presentations to our colleague Dr. Marc Donato. During our tour of the CSA facility, conducted by Gilles Leclerc, we were reminded of the renowned Dr. Chapman for whom the center is named, and I commented that I may have one of the last pictures taken of him before his untimely death in 1979.(The picture is attached, see page 11) I had only recently completed scanning my large slide collection, and among them was the record of a memorable visit to Australia to demonstrate television transmission to small terminals in the Australian outback using the almost expired Hermes (CTS) experimental satellite (The report is attached, see page 6). Dr. Chapman was an important figure in this event and I took the accompanying picture of him at a reception and demonstration at the Canadian ambassadors residence i n the capital city Canberra. Sadly Dr. Chapman died on his way home from that very visit. ANIK E The ever observant Charlie Morton sends the following item concerning the 1991 launch of Telesat Anik E. Hi Al: You may find the attached Anik E newspaper cutting which was sent from Bill Perry to Ken Perry, as a worthy attachment to the next Newsletter. Weather and health permitting, will see you at the lunch. The weather took priority so Charlie later signaled us that, While planning to attend the lunch, news of the oncoming storm throws some doubt as to the wisdom of travelling, so I will watch situation carefully. (Newspaper clipping and full text are attached, see pages 7-9)

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February, 2014 Spartans Winter Newsletter 2014 Mike Morris has moved to Burlington ON but was able to organize his personal schedule to be with us in Montreal for the luncheon, where his broad smile indicated that he was enjoying the occasion. An unexpected phone call from Harry Moody prompted the following response from me: It was a pleasure to speak to both of you toda y after what seems like years of silence. I am sure we are all grateful for our relatively good physical and mental health and so have much to be thankful for. I am attaching my Annual Christmas letter, still in draft form as it was just finished as Ellen's call came in. As indicated, I will give you the link to our new Spartans web site for further news. If you want a membership with attendant privileges, it is a modest $20 for two years. I believe the application forms are on the web site. Raffle George provided the following on another successful raffle held at the luncheon: Nancy Renz, daughter of the late Curt Ingerville, drew the winning tickets. Three prizes were offered and the winner of the first draw was Carl Gaul who selected a set of four jars of homemade jam. The second draw was won by James Sisley and he chose a $50.00 meal voucher generously donated by the restaurant. The third draw was won by John Barkwith and it was one of the last of Curt Ingervilles mantle clocks which was completed by Claude Richard and donated by him. Claude has offered to supply an additional one or two clocks similar to Curts clocks but crafted entirely by him. Many thanks to our sales ladies Nicole Bordeau and Wanda Daniel, who reported an excellent response from our members and guests. Regrets Hazel Osborne called to confirm that she will not be coming to the Xmas luncheon. She has hip problems and the doctors do not want to operate. She is getting around using a walker. She hopes to attend the Spring luncheon bringing a friend to assist her. From Joe McNally, Hi Lorne, Carmen and I will not be able to make it tomorrow. As you know we're going to be digging out of a snow storm and the straw that broke the camels back is I got my snow tires on yesterday and the car developed a horrendous clunking sound on the way home. Therefore we better stay put. We are OK. We continue to be happy here in Aylmer. The only thing is that life tends to be meaningless unless one tries to keep busy, which we try to do. Pass on our best wishes to everyone and hopefully we'll see you in the Spring. Cheers We will have to wait for Spring breakup to find out how serious Joes horrendous clunking really was, but we expect his usual colourful description and mock outrage.
Also Sending Regrets Collette Besner Lionel Giasson Gilles Lachapelle Frank Maxwell Tony Raab Lloyd Slaven Georges Vaillancourt Honorary Members Mary Buchanan Ella Hall Nancy Renz John Burrows Ian Grier Louis Laroche Dan Mercik Jane Robinson Ed Sorochan Bronwen Williams Eric Caballero Gus & Margaret Gross Roger Louie George & Barbara Pastuszko George Rout Joe & Mary Soul Bill Corless Elsa Hore Richard Lubelsky Ted Phillips John Runeckles Heather Tanguay

Bill Corless Elsa Hore Claude Richard

Letty Cox (Bob) Pam Leahy Pierrette Stewart

Jane Gondos Hazel Osborne Mary Zacharatos

Your Reporter, Lorne Keyes Page | 5

February, 2014 Spartans Winter Newsletter 2014

Lorne Keyes Dec, 2013

Communications Satellite Demonstrations in Australia using the Hermes satellite Here are some personal recollections of a campaign in late 1979 using the Hermes satellite to demonstrate continent wide distribution of television direct to home, as well as voice and data communication with small earth terminals. I am not sure who suggested the initiative, but it may well have been my former colleague at RCA and Spar, John Collins, who was always promoting Canadian capabilities and the possibility of future sales. The project was supported enthusiastically by Canadian industry, and government departments including, Industry Trade and Commerce (ITC), the Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC), Embassy and Consular officials, and Telesat Canada. The Communications Technology Satellite (CTS) as I knew it while I was doing advanced technical planning on the project for the Communications Research Center (CRC), was begun in 1969 and resulted in a 1976 launch, and operations well beyond its design life of two years. By late 1979 the communications payload was still working normally but essential earth sensors and the telemetry transmitters used to report housekeeping information were showing their age. The hydrazine used to maintain the spacecraft orbit and attitude was also almost gone. The geosynchronous spacecraft was very carefully drifted westward so that at least the eastern part of the Australian continent saw the satellite at a modest 15 degree elevation angle. The elevation angle of the satellite as seen from the Ottawa control station was lower but still adequate. Not only was the satellite controlled from Ottawa but also the Australian television program material was transmitted to the satellite from there. As a comment, Australians were more sensitive to the cultural aspects of television than were Canadians living next to the USA colossus, so that high quality Australian Broadcast Corporation (ABC) material was used exclusively for the demonstration to Australian viewers. The project schedule did not permit time for modification of earth terminals and monitors to meet Australian broadcast standards, so North American (NTSC) standards and equipment were used in the demonstration. While capable and well briefed small teams of Australian Telecom technicians fanned out into the eastern Australian outback with one-meter size terminals to conduct public demonstrations, a two day conference and demonstration was held in the federal capital Canberra. Well-structured presentations were made by the aforementioned participants, showing the economic, technical, and regulatory feasibility of an Australian domestic communications and direct broadcast satellite system. One evening during this period, a reception and demonstration was held at the Canadian ambassadors residence and it was during that evening that I took the accompanying picture of Dr. John Chapman with two Australian government officials. As we know that Dr. Chapman died on his way home from this meeting, this picture may be the last one taken of him. In fairness, I know that Australian journalists were present and at least one photographer with professional looking equipment was there, so similar pictures may exist elsewhere. During the following week, further demonstrations were held in Sydney at a conveniently timed major IEE telecommunications conference. I learned that the Japanese had been alerted to the Canadian demonstration planned for the conference and intended to eclipse our modest demonstration with their latest receivers and large high quality professional broadcast monitors using the proposed Australian standards. They discovered to their chagrin that their equipment could not display the North American standard actually being transmitted, so that we had the only show in town, a small example of an adversity being turned to advantage. It was a fact that Japan considered Australia part of their market and did not welcome potential competition from abroad, although their discomfiture on this occasion was accidental and Canada posed no threat.

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February, 2014 Spartans Winter Newsletter 2014

Publication title: The Gazette Pages: E2 Publication year: 1991 Publication date: Apr 4, 1991

Full Text of the Article follows the image, see pages 8,9

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February, 2014 Spartans Winter Newsletter 2014

Launch of Anik E satellite is set; First Canadian orbiter to lift into space via Ariane rocket
Author: RAVENSBERGEN, JAN Abstract (Abstract): Spar was the prime contractor for design, manufacture, installation and testing of the Anik E series - Canada's fifth generation of Aniks. It's also the first Canadian satellite to be equipped with fold-out solar-power panels; fully deployed, the Anik E will span 24 metres. The Anik E is the largest and most powerful satellite ever built for domestic communications applications, according to Spar. Each can carry the equivalent of 56 television channels. The first is expected to relay mostly television signals; the second is to deliver mostly voice and data services. About 700 full-time and part-time personnel from Spar were involved in the Anik E program, of whom 600 were based in Spar's satellite plant in Ste. Anne de Bellevue.

Full text: Assuming both the weather and European space technology co- operate, early this evening an Ariane 4 rocket will boost Canada's newest telecommunications satellite into an elliptical Earth orbit. Liftoff has been scheduled for just after 6:30 p.m., from Kourou, French Guiana, on the northeast coast of South America. "We're very hopeful we can get it out of here tomorrow," an enthusiastic Martin Gray, Anik E program manager at Spar Aerospace Ltd., said yesterday afternoon from the launch site. Spar was the prime contractor for design, manufacture, installation and testing of the Anik E series Canada's fifth generation of Aniks. It's also the first Canadian satellite to be equipped with fold-out solarpower panels; fully deployed, the Anik E will span 24 metres. Spar has done $200 million worth of work - and prepared two Anik Es - since it was awarded the contract by Anik owner Telesat Canada in 1986. The second Anik E is scheduled for launch sometime in July. The full cost of the two-satellite program is about $600 million, said Telesat official Darrin Shewchuk. Insurance premiums alone account for about $120 million. "This is the first time a Canadian-owned satellite will be launched on an Ariane rocket," said Ken Perry, Spar vice-president and general manager of the company's Satellite and Communications Systems Group. "It's an important moment in Canadian space history," he added. "Based on all the testing we've done," Gray said, "we have very high confidence" that the satellite will perform to specifications. The Anik E is the largest and most powerful satellite ever built for domestic communications applications, according to Spar. Each can carry the equivalent of 56 television channels. The first is expected to relay mostly television signals; the second is to deliver mostly voice and data services. Page | 8

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"It's raining very hard but that that doesn't dampen our enthusiasm," Spar official Diane Chenevert said from Kourou late yesterday afternoon. About 700 full-time and part-time personnel from Spar were involved in the Anik E program, of whom 600 were based in Spar's satellite plant in Ste. Anne de Bellevue. Many are expected to be hand tonight at John Abbott College to watch live television coverage of the launch relayed on other Telesat satellites. Recorded launch updates and satellite-broadcast channel details are available on a special hot line, at (613) 748- 8704. Meanwhile, back at the pad, or at least near it, some 40 Spar employees are standing by with fingers crossed for the launch. Some have been posted in French Guiana without their families for two months. The Ariane 4 has been loaded with liquid fuel and "it's getting to the stage where everybody's hopeful it'll be launched on time," said Gray. This evening, separation of the satellite from its booster is scheduled about 18 minutes after liftoff. It will require a further 11 days and five satellite-engine firings for the 2,922-kilogram Anik E to arrive on station some 35,800 kilometres above the equator. By the time it gets there, it will weigh about 1,300 kilograms. It has an expected service life of 14 years. Following a checkout period, Telesat expects in mid-May to begin switching telecommunications traffic through the newest addition to its satellite fleet, Shewchuk said. Illustration Black &White Photo; CP; Ken Perry with mock-up of Anik E domestic telecommunications satellite. Credit: GAZETTE

Publication title: The Gazette Pages: E2 Publication year: 1991 Publication date: Apr 4, 1991

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February, 2014 Spartans Winter Newsletter 2014

Microwave Communication in South America by Greg F. Baylis Through the late 1950s and early 1960s these programs were managed by RCA International with the microwave equipment designed and supplied by RCA Montreal. At the time of my first visit to Columbia the communications system was operating hot standby meaning that transmit and receive standby equipment was fully operational but connected to dummy loads. The operating equipment had been so reliable that the standby equipment was never brought into operations, which gave the customers enginee rs some ideas that will be discussed shortly. The Columbian capital Bogota, located about 4 degrees north of the equator at some 8,000 feet in elevation, is an interesting city to visit. The boulevard from the airport to the city was lined with orchids and other tropical flowers. The weather pattern that repeated daily was clear each morning but by noon had clouded over and by 1pm there was a downpour lasting two hours. One afternoon, water flowed down the hillside carrying a tree trunk one foot in diameter and twenty feet long, to the hotel doorstep. Local laws were intriguing as I observed when an electric streetcar ran into a car. The streetcar doors opened and the motorman and conductor ran down a side street. On asking about this odd procedure, 1 was told that as long as both men were not found at the accident scene they could not be charged in any way. Our first visit to review the operation and reliability of the Montreal designed equipment was to the Bogota terminal. This entailed driving up a twisting and steep road where we found parking at the base of the terminal. Final access was via a wooden staircase of about fifty steps that we started to climb quickly. When we just as quickly ran out of breath, we were reminded by the Columbian engineer who was accompanying us, that we were over 13000 feet in altitude and so required a slower approach. Our second visit to Bogota was to review our proposal to our PTT customer for new higher capacity radio equipment. The requirement was for a complete system but as there were no elevation maps of the terrain, we bid only on the radio equipment. The engineering and financial personnel were very friendly through the two days of review that ended on a Friday afternoon. The PT&T engineer became very friendly on the way to his office but before entering, we met a British engineer who was a resident consultant to the PT&T. He invited us to his office to discuss an idea to better utilize the installed radio equipment. Some months before submitting our high capacity proposal we had received a request to design and supply one Radio Frequency (RF) filter. We provided it not knowing its purpose, but this was explained to us by the British engineer. The PT&T wanted to activate the standby equipment to operate on the common antenna system thus providing two separate radio frequency communications channels and so doubling the telephone traffic capacity. We cancelled our flight back to Montreal and worked with the PT&T personnel over the weekend. We did not get the large contract for the new system that we had bid on, but we did get a smaller negotiated contract to redesign the existing system for two channel operation, all due to a chance meeting in a hallway. The million dollar contract provided the required RF filters, new switching equipment, and one resident technician for a period of one year. Many other contracts have resulted from similar chance encounters such as the one with the British Engineer.

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