90, 100, and 10

Reflecting on the start of a new year and how the present time period relates to the history of the Norseman, three anniversaries come to mind.

A little over 90 years ago, on November 14, 1935 the prototype Norseman with Canadian civil registration CF-AYO took to the sky for the first time near Montreal, Canada powered by a 420 horsepower Wright R-975 Whirlwind. Interestingly, AYO was on floats just before freeze up on the St Lawrence river. Subsequent flight testing involved ski gear then wheels. Few, if any aircraft can attest to this sequence of landing gear trials and this highlights the Norseman’s primary design purpose as a bushplane for access to remote locations lacking airports.

During 2025, Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines celebrated its 100th anniversary as a company along with the first engine it developed. The R-1340 piston radial with nine air cooled cylinders was first run on December 29, 1925! Named the Wasp, later versions produced up to 600 horsepower and all but the first few Norseman used this engine because it was underpowered with the R-975 Whirlwind. It is amazing that a century old design is still in use although things are changing fast. Most commercially used airplanes that had the R-1340 (for example the DHC-3 Otter) are now converted to turbines, there are less engine shops doing remanufacturing of classic piston radials and a lead free avgas future clouds the picture.

The initial posts of this blog occurred on January 31, 2016 and so 10 years of Norseman musings have already passed! I am not sure where all the time went and with life seemingly busier than ever the posts are less frequent now. As well, most general topics have been covered but here are some points of interest;

A Norseman familiar to the community of Red Lake, Ontario is back in the air! After a 7 year restoration to its original RCAF 2482 identity, CF-JIN is the oldest active Norseman in the world. Delivered in May 1941, records indicate four rebuilds over the past 85 years so it is difficult to judge exactly how many components of the airplane are that age. For background information see; Red Lake Hailstorm, End of an Era, CF-JIN / CF-KAO Status

Another completed restoration is N420QN, Noorduyn serial 139, USAAF serial 43-5148 of Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California. The detailed workmanship, fit and finish of this project is excellent. The airplane wears the markings of USAAF serial 43-5299, a Norseman operated by the 8th Air Force in WW II. Ultimate plans are to have the airplane active airworthy again and this could occur in the next few months!

In Manitoba, Canada the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum continues to work on similar plans to have an actively flying Norseman in their collection. Awaiting an engine inspection and springtime weather, CF-BHU / Noorduyn serial 506 will be ferried from its former owner in Flin Flon, Manitoba to the museum’s home in Brandon. Next, it will be refinished to represent RCAF 2456, a Mk IV that served in the BCATP. Noorduyn serial 29, the actual RCAF 2456 is also owned by the museum and plans are to have it preserved for static display.

The flying days of the Norseman are clearly going into retirement mode. Meaning a transition from commercial flying to museums, warbirds and private aficionados. To my latest knowledge the following Norseman floatplanes are dormant and a couple of them might never fly again; C-GRZI / Noorduyn serial 175, CF-SAN / Noorduyn serial N29-29, CF-DTL / Noorduyn serial 57, C-FFUU / 74, CF-FOX / 340, and CF-BSB / N29-15.

Over in The Netherlands, Norseman owner Arno van der Holst of the Noorduyn Foundation is working on a little book about the history and stories of the Norseman from 1935 – 2025 with some chapters focusing on the Dutch Norseman’s in particular. Initial publication will be in Dutch but hopefully an English version will be out in the next six months. I have been working with Arno on a list and pictures that will included all known recognizable Norseman that exist at this time. The count for the book is up to 84! There are a few obscure wrecks in the wilds of Canada not included but the list is very complete, accurate to the best of our abilities and will be interesting to look at in November 2035 when the Norseman turns 100 !  Link to this fantastic website for more information; Noorduyn Foundation.

Happy New Year everyone !!