Wilfred Ashley McIsaac

AKA: WILFRED ASHLEY MCISAAC ( CANADIAN ROCKETEER)

Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Certification Level: 0

Club Memberships: Tripoli

Favorite Rockets: Atlas

Biography:

Wilfred Ashley McIsaac was born on May 27th, 1973, in Sydney, Nova Scotia; located on the Island of Cape Breton off the east coast of Canada. He now resides in Kingston, Ontario which is situated three hours east of Toronto, Canada’s largest city.
McIsaac launched his first rocket on Christmas Day 1996 at the age of 23 using the EstesVenus Probe model rocket. The launch vehicle reached 180 feet in altitude before landing safely after a 15 second flight. The rocketeer launched his first high powered rocket on June 29th, 1997, named the Arreaux (Aerotech). The flight reached over 2000 feet and was recovered safely downrange along with it’s delicate cargo, an uncooked grocery store egg. Two more successful Arreaux launches took place in 1997. Incidentally, McIsaac would not launch another high powered rocket until 13 years later, in 2010.

A2-R13 High Powered Rocket Honours Avro Arrow And Canadian Armed Forces

Wilfred Ashley McIsaac returned to the launch pad in November 2010 with his modified Arreaux high powered rocket now named the A2-R13. He organized a unique ceremony in Picton, Ontario on Remembrance Day (2010) which honoured the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces, both past and present, as well as paying tribute to the employees of the famous Avro Arrow program from the 1950’s.
Following a short speech at a retired CFB military base and airfield, McIsaac launched his A2-R13 rocket carrying twelve poppies wrapped in a miniature Canadian flag and a uncooked grocery store egg. The contents were protected inside the rocket's payload bay located near the center of the launch vehicle. A small crowd watched as the rocket reached over 3000 feet in altitude before returning safely to the ground under a parachute. This may be the only November 11th commemoration in Canada’s history that included a rocket launch for this special occasion.

McIsaac Launches Canadian Rocket Mail With Gerhard Zucker 1936 Postage Stamps

On October 31st, 2011; Wilfred Ashley McIsaac launched an ARCAS scale rocket from a former World War II relief airfield in eastern Ontario near The Thousand Islands. Onboard the rocket were seven letters containing Gerhard Zucker 1936 ‘First Canadian Rocket-Flight’ postage. Prior to this flight no rocket in Canadian history had ever delivered mail using official Canadian rocket mail postage stamps which was later recovered safely. This according to the latest addition of the Air Mails Of Canada And Newfoundland catalogue. The covers were later cancelled at the nearest Post Office in the small town of Gananoque.

Three more rocketmail flights were performed by McIsaac and his rockets in 2012 including the launch of an Astrobee D scale rocket on May 11th, an Astrobee D III rocket on June 29th, and finally the Astrobee D IV launch on November 6th to close out the program. In all 31 covers including the entire collection of Gerhard Zucker ‘First Canadian Rocket-Flight’ postage stamps were flown. The Astrobee D III and the Astrobee D IV were based on the original Aerotech Astrobee D rocket and were designed by McIsaac himself.
The covers were sent to a stamp dealer on the west coast of the United States named Gemada Stamps where they were sold on Ebay. When the rocket mail program concluded, $200.00 was donated, on behalf of the launches, to the Arthritis Research Foundation in Toronto, Canada.

Petition To Help Save The Canadian Air & Space Museum Was Onboard ARCAS Rocket

An online video petition to help save the Canadian Air & Space Museum in Downsview Park, Toronto was also onboard the October 31st, 2011 ARCAS high powered rocket launch. The petition included a short cover letter along with comments and user names from those who participated. The appeal along with fifty electronic signatures (user names) and comments was then sent to the museum along with a $50.00 donation from McIsaac. This did not however prevent the museum from closing its doors. The uniqueness of the online video petition has received nearly 1000 views on Youtube while captivating peoples interest from around the world. This may be the only petition or protest in Canada’s history to be launched in a rocket.

Favorite Quote:

"Some people are born great, others have greatness thrust upon them."

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