Flying Ace

It was always difficult for me to collect foreign airlines...I just really had no interest in them. But if I was ever going to seriously build this Aero Mini collection of mine I was going to have to learn to think outside the box so to speak.

A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to acquire what has become one very special piece in my Aero Mini collection, a near mint Air Canada 747. I don't have to really state here the rarity of this piece, except for perhaps the benefit for those who may not be in know that may happen to wander on by and read this.

But what is even more remarkable about this piece is to understand how it survived and remained in great condition. At the time of Aero Mini's bankruptcy, the company had just completed a run of these Air Canada 747's and had ceased operations. As a result, of the cease in operations, these planes were never boxed. Instead, when the cleanout crew arrived they were simply dumped into large barrels and most were either destroyed or severely damaged. A few that ended up near the top managed to survive however.

This was one of those planes, which later became the property of the second Aero Mini company, which was purchased at salvage by Vernon Peckham, a banker.

I find it an interesting piece because it is a piece that wasmanufactured by the original compnay, survived the bankruptcy basically intact, and was later resold through the second Aero Mini company. A true legacy.

It's companion DC-9 is also new original stock, and was also obtained via a private transaction by me from another collector who also received it from Brian Peckham. It is also considered a scarce piece today.

Graham Bridges

Did you get the Air Canada DC-8 yet. (if you're still thinking out of that box.)

Flying Ace

No. The Air Canada -8 along with the other 2, has eluded me so far. Haven't been able to find a worthy specimen and when I do, other circumstances come into play that usually keep me from acquiring the plane.

For some of the Aero Minis I have acquired, I am dumbfounded that I haven't picked up a decent DC-8 yet....because although they are a bit of a challenge, they aren't as near as scarce as the others I have located. Go figure!

Graham Bridges

I sometimes see the BOAC and TAP 747's produced for a UK distributor. Usually about £140 ($220) .

Any interest ?

n6101

While at the Newark Airline Expo last week I saw the Air Canada 747.
The model was sold for $300+ and the new owner was not complaining at all!
The model came with a box, which was different from the box I had seen before(blue cardboard with brown made to look like wood with the a/c in between two pieces of foam). This box was black and had a bubble like top where one can see the model while still in the box. I did not examine it very closely but it seemed to be appropriate for the model. The former owner, who also had other Aero Minis for sale, said at the show's end that he did very well since he had brought out some items for the first time. The new owner told me he thought that the Air Canada 747 was one of the rarest Aero Minis.

Graham Bridges

Considering these models came out in 1971 (ish) they are great quality and were really ahead of their time. The Air Canada 747 and DC-8 are really attractive and I agree, amongst the rarest of the range.

Flying Ace

Always interested in the B. Thompkins models.
What would really help me are the two rarest Thompkins 747s: the Quantas and the British Airways.

Flying Ace

This sounds like this was one of the later issue models in the bubble box...after the company relocated manufacturing from Japan to the United States. Aero Mini used three packaging during its time: a simple wedge plain cardboard box, which was shipped to the the airline catalogue stores. All the airlines had to do was slap a label on them and was what Aero Mini started out with....before Aero mini actually started producing models for retail. Then came the retail box...a faux wood frame which encircled the model, and finally the bubble box which you apparently describe here.

When I try to find mint specimens, I have found that the the wedge box usually affords the best protection for the long term storage of the models. The other two, after 30-plus years of storage, the models have slipped or shifted and there can sometimes be some very minor paint or decal damage with these.

Here are my two Air Canada's which I had previously posted, but were deleted when the new format occurred. Both mint.

Air Canada is one of the rarest of the Aero Minis and about $300 this 747 is appropriate.