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After
realizing that no existing aircraft was designed for the rugged
conditions of the Canadian north Robert Noorduyn designed a
basic bush aircraft in 1934. The prototype aircraft, Mk1
registration CF-AYO, made its first flight in Montreal in 1935.
The sturdy Norseman was the first Canadian-designed,
Canadian-built aircraft to be sold extensively outside Canada,
serving in a score of countries around the world.
When the World War II began, the Norseman proved itself equally
adaptable to the transport purposes of the world under arms.
During 1942 a modernized version of the Norseman was accepted by
the U.S. Army for utility transport purposes, on wheels, skis
and floats. When the contract was terminated in 1945, 759
Norsemen had been delivered to the U.S. forces. A total of
903 were produced. The Norseman was one of the most
popular and long-lived planes ever built. It is still a
favorite of bush pilots.
The company was sold to Canadian Car, but in 1953, the
Canadian Department of Transport declared that any airplane
design more than 10 years old was obsolete. Aircraft were
becoming increasingly expensive to develop and competition was
fierce. Bob Noorduyn and several of his old associates
purchased back the Noorduyn license and reorganized the
business. It was permitted to complete the five new
fuselages then under construction and provide maintenance and
spare parts for the existing planes. In the
mid-sixties, with a change in market demands, the company
shifted it's efforts to manufacturing aircraft interior
components. |
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Noorduyn Norseman Mk-IV
Premier Series. 1/30th scale. 22" wingspan x 13" long.
No. APK0D-P2. Only $219.95 |
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Noorduyn Norseman Mk-IV
"Austin Airlines"
Premier Series. 1/30th scale.
22" wingspan x 13" long.
No. APK0D-P1. Only $219.95 |
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