On this day 95 years ago, the first aero engine developed by Pratt & Whitney (USA) was first run. This being the R-1340, a single row nine cylinder air cooled radial piston engine. Also known as the wasp series on the civilian side this family of engines ranged from 450 to 3,500 HP and eight […]
If one Norseman exemplifies what the type is about and its connection to Canada perhaps that would be a Mark V model known as BSC. Serial N29-17 was registered as CF-BSC in June of 1946 for K. V. Gamble and Co, Toronto. This company went bankrupt before delivery and by August the new bush plane […]
In the USA, Norseman N164UC (Noorduyn Serial 224) was finally sold and flown to southeast Idaho by its new owner. Scroll down a few blog posts to learn more about this unique Norseman and link to Metal Makeover. The airplane is now based at the Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport and for now will maintain the same […]
Even in these times of uncertainty most Norseman that can, continue to fly although not likely as many hours as a typical year. In the latter half of July CF-BSB was flown by Turner Thomson over southeast Manitoba and on into Ontario lake country. During the past few years, even in the Norseman Capital of […]
The rugged Norseman is no stranger to flying south of the equator, even having operated over the continent of Antarctica as early as 1947 during the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition. This was serial 634, USAAF number 44-70369. Many countries used the Norseman in the military or civil, on wheels, floats or skis. Some of these […]
Referencing a July 2016 post titled Metal Makeover, the present owner of N164UC wants to find a good new home for this truly unique Norseman that has been operated privately for the past 27 years. It has an oversized cargo door, metal skinned fuselage and metal wheel skis. Lovingly maintained, it had $50,000 US plus […]
The province of Saskatchewan in Canada and the Noorduyn Norseman played a pioneering role in the use of aircraft for air ambulance service. Though this may be a surprise to some, keep in mind the Saskatchewan government, led by Tommy Douglas, introduced the first provincial hospital insurance program in Canada during 1947. With the inaugural […]
The other ongoing Mark VI Norseman restoration in the Netherlands is at the Aviodrome Museum in hangar T2 at the Lelystad airport. This Norseman, (Noorduyn serial 774) started out with the USAAF as SERIAL NO. 44-70509, TYPE C 64 A as per the data plate. The museum is doing a very authentic job, taking their […]
A trip last month to northern Minnesota and northwest Ontario provided many parts required for a Norseman restoration in Europe. In the photo below, some may recognize the paint scheme of the former Gogal Air Norseman CF-GLI, serial number 365. About a decade ago a mishap resulted in a bent nose structure which has now […]
Red Lakers will recall the familiar sight of former Chimo Air Norseman CF-JIN and CF-KAO. These two aircraft are still present at Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport in southern Ontario, Canada. The photo above shows JIN stripped down and undergoing a major rebuild back to active flight condition. When completed, JIN will regain its title as […]