Archive for category: Norseman Aircraft

Work is progressing slow and steady at Northland Aircraft in Ignace, Ontario on the restoration of Norseman CF-JEC. Not having flown for many years and being outside in the weather has deteriorated the fabric and now some woodwork of the wings needs to be replaced. Originally plans were to have the airplane flying to its new home in Quebec this fall but that has been pushed ahead until the next float season. JEC, serial 469 is a Mk VI, military model designation UC-64AS and in 1976 the fuselage fabric was replaced with aluminum. Thus, when it is back in the air, JEC will be one of two metal fuselage Norseman flying (N164UC in the United States is the other).

At this time, there are numerous projects ongoing and within the next couple years more Norseman should be returning to the sky. Not bad for a design from 83 years ago! In Europe alone there might be three Norseman warbirds flying at museums and airshows.

Back on topic, thanks to the new owner of JEC, Olivier Lemieux for sending a couple pictures that give us a good look at the internal wing structure of wood ribs and spar in the Norseman. We wish him well with this restoration and many more years of service as JEC starts another chapter in the larger story of the Norseman saga.

In a somewhat unusual setting and geographic local, a Mk V Norseman can be seen in downtown corporate Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

CF-MAM, serial N29-26 started out with the Manitoba Government Air Service in September 1946. A civil, post WW II model it spent most of its working life with various operators in the Province of Manitoba after nearly ten years of duties with the government. During the mid to later 1970’s it became a common sight with Ignace Airways in northwestern Ontario.

The Certificate of Airworthiness expired 37 years ago and the aircraft was purchased by the Aero Space Museum of Calgary in 1982, then refurbished for display. For many years now, it can be found hanging in the atrium lobby of the Suncor Energy Centre “flying” over the lush vegetation on straight skis!! To me, this seems a mismatch and seeing this type of bush plane in the concrete jungle far from the lakes and boreal country of northern Canada is at odds with the cowboy cultural roots of the area. Then again, the Norseman is Canadiana wherever it is and the business people probably just glance at it as a piece of public art, not totally realizing it as a real aircraft intertwined with the history of the nation and their livelihood.

Here’s the irony, the Norseman and other aircraft types were paramount in developing Canada’s vast north and natural resources that the corporate headquarters in the south represent. To a large degree, our big southern cities, our wealth and standards of living depend on resources and aircraft to this day. Do you agree? e-mail me at c46commando@hotmail.com about anything Norseman related. Thanks!

Chimo Air of Red Lake, Ontario was recently purchased by and merged into another local operator, Superior Airways. The two Norseman, CF-JIN and CF-KAO were not part of the deal and recently left town for a new venture (more news to come as the aircraft are refurbished).

These were the last commercially operated Norseman in Red Lake and their daily summer presence in Howey bay will be missed by local aviation fans and tourists from afar. Privately operated CF-ZMX is expected to be back for the 2018 festival after repairs are finished from last summers crazy hailstorm. ZMX usually takes up residence in the bay for the open water season so at least one Norseman will continue to fly from Red Lake. Also, private Mk IV, C-FFUU occasionally flies into the area on a fishing lodge resupply run.

Happy plane spotting!

With recent posts about CF-DRD’s fundraising for restoration it brought to my attention two other displays of Norseman on pylons in Canada. Fittingly, all three are on floats and in communities that are still gateways for northern aviation. DRD was the first to go up in 1992, but looking beyond Red Lake have you seen CF-HPY or “CF-BHS”?

A project spearheaded by Joe McBryan’s Buffalo Airways and the Alberta Aviation Museum in Edmonton culminated with a celebration on September 25, 2004 when this Mk V, N29-52 took its place alongside Kingsway NW in front of the museum. In turn, the museum is located at the now defunct Blatchford Field airport which has a rich history of pioneering aviation and as the “Gateway to the North”. Inside the building is immaculate Norseman CF-EIH, a Mk IV and the museum is well worth a visit.

CF-HPY carries the Buffalo Airways title and green colour but was never flown by them. Also, the aircraft is mounted in a steep nose high attitude as seen by the slanted horizon in the photo.

Next, in 2008 a component of the Thompson Spirit Way attraction in Thompson, Manitoba was unveiled as a tribute to Lambair and all the pilots of the north.

The white building on the far side of the Burntwood River used to belong to Lambair, an airline with a long history in northern Manitoba and beyond from 1935 to 1981. The bush plane is purposefully positioned to depict a take off from the river and points to Lambair headquarters in The Pas, Manitoba. Photo © Volker Beckmann.

NOTE – Many casual observers and even Norseman fans mistake this display for the actual CF-BHS and this is a testament to the amazing job done by all involved. This replica was made from several Norseman wrecks and fabricated wings. BHS was a Mk V, serial N29-7 registered to Lamb Airways in October 1945.

From the old Canadian Aviation Safety Board comes a report dated October 11, 1989 when the aircraft was operated by C & M Airways. As the pilot taxied the float-equipped aircraft away from the shore, he saw smoke and found the aircraft on fire. He beached the aircraft which was almost totally consumed. All research indicates the remnants of serial N29-7 remain near Prowse Island in Cree Lake, Saskatchewan.

Wearing Lambair colours, the Norseman greets visitors after they cross the bridge when coming from the airport – CYTH.                                            Photo © Volker Beckmann.

For more information on the Aviation Tribute and the Thompson Spirit Way go to; http://thompsonspiritway.ca/take-the-walk/aviation/

The apparent re-emergence of a Norseman presence in the Province of Quebec continues.

CF-JEC, a Mk VI, serial 469 has been purchased by Olivier Lemieux for his company Services GFE Inc. The aircraft will be based at La Motte in the Abitibi area to support mining exploration.  As the Norseman bush plane serial 1 (CF-AYO) was designed, built and first flown on floats at Montreal, Quebec it is symbolic to have one flying again based in the province after some 25 years of absence.  Additionally, this role is a return to roots considering Norseman for hire today are almost exclusively used for fishing and hunting resort tourism, a use almost unheard of in the 1930’s.

Northland Aircraft Service at Ignace, Ontario is getting JEC ready for service again and around next August the floatplane should be splashing down at its new home base!

This impressive photo of JEC taken by Mr. Liam Lang in 1983 was used for a beer bottle label by Bush Pilot Brewing.

http://www.bushpilotbrewing.com/Norseman.html

JEC stored at Ignace, Ontario in October of 2016.  Note the metalized fuselage.