January 2017 – Norseman Festival

Airworthy Norseman List

January 25, 2017/in Uncategorized /by Rodney Kozar

For a detailed breakdown of who and where Noorduyn Norseman are presently flying in the world, copy this link or click on About the Norseman and scroll to the bottom of the page.

http://www.norsemanfestival.on.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/AIRWORTHY-NORSEMAN-in-CANADA-as-of-1-July-2016.pdf

Accordingly, with the airworthy population located in the northern hemisphere and it being the middle of winter, it would be a rare sight to see a Norseman flying now. In warmer months they reappear like the bumble bees they sound like when take-off power is applied with that ungeared prop buzzing!

Watch for this list to be updated just prior to the 2017 festival in July.

Hibernation

January 20, 2017/in Norseman Aircraft /by Rodney Kozar

Each winter three Norseman routinely spend the wintery off season with Riverside Aircraft Maintenance at Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada. Privately owned Mark VI’s CF-IGX and CF-ZMX are protected from the elements inside while Mark V CF-BSB is outside. Here are a few pictures from December 2016.

In Alaska N78691 is back at Lake Hood. Photo credit - Lambert de Guarve.

In Alaska N78691 is back at Lake Hood. Now with rear door ladders. Photo credit – Lambert de Gavere.

Norseman Nirvana?

January 13, 2017/in Uncategorized /by Rodney Kozar

Just southwest of the Ignace airport on Osaquan lake in Ontario sits Northland Aircraft Service owned by Gord and Eleanor Hughes.

With a passion for “rag and tube” bush planes, Gord has restored many of the Norseman that survive in the 21st century. He believes it is still the best choice out there for most utility transport applications in its class. Around the yard and in the shop are skis, fuselage airframes, wing spars, parts and drawings to help operators or museums keep these stalwart workhorses alive. Being a knowledgable expert on the type, Gord also takes questions about all things Norseman from fans worldwide who occasionally stop by to meet him in person.

So what airplane does Gord use when the need arises to take his business farther afield? Well, you guessed it, a Norseman of course! For over three decades, Mark IV CF-DTL (serial 57) has served Northland well and incorporates modifications that he has developed and used on many rebuild projects.

In the fall of 2016, during a quick visit by the author, no less than 10 distinct Norseman were noted and Gord jokes that Ignace, Ontario deserves the claim to being “The Norseman Capital of the World”!

In the hangar: CF-DTL and the fuselage airframe of serial 809. (Not in picture)