1/144 Scale – Thunderbird Models – Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair – Eastern Provincial Airways
Eastern Provincial Airways was founded by ex-RCAF pilot Eric Blackwood with financing by Ches Crosbie at Torbay Newfoundland in 1949. EPA provided government air services such as air ambulance, fire patrol, geological survey, airmail, and communications. In 1963 EPA took over Maritime central (a much larger airline) and began a period of rapid expansion. EPA entered the jet age in 1969 with the purchase of its first two 737s, CF-EPL and CF-EPR. In 1982 EPA began merging its services with CP Air until being completely absorbed by that airline in 1987. CP Air was in turn bought by PWA and folded into Air Canada.
In 1968 EPA purchased three ATL-98 Carvairs to carry cars and cargo between the mainland and Newfoundland and Labrador. CF-EPX was written off in a crash at Churchill Falls and the remains were sold to British Air Ferries for parts. By the end of their careers, EPW and EPV were starting to look pretty ratty and were eventually sold to BAF as well.
