It wasn't always converted Air Inuit cargo jets bearing the Liberal logo (or at least soon to be) when it came to moving Liberal leaders around during federal election campaigns.

Those who were with Paul Martin's two efforts in '04 and '05/'06 recall with misty-eyed fondness the chartered jet Liberals pulled back then.

To give you a sense of it, every seat was a big comfy leather business-class affair and the onboard brochure featured pictures of what appeared to be a professional athlete (the charter company regularly flew the Toronto Raptors) shown engrossed in a — yes — mid-flight chess game with a flight attendant (and, if memory serves, another image of a beaming Miss Universe contestant wearing a company uniform and sitting in the co-pilot chair.)

It was also always ready on time.

— Paul Hunter