The Northwestern Ontario Aviation Heritage Centre was conceived as a means of collecting and preserving much of the aviation history of the area extending from the Manitoba border, north to Hudson Bay, east to Fort Albany and south to Wawa and west to the Manitoba border. An area of 526,372 square kilometres (203,089 square miles) or almost 50 percent of the area of Ontario. Although NOAHC is located in Thunder Bay, we are a regional centre.
SAVE THE DATES!
In the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force this year,
the Northwestern Ontario Aviation Heritage Centre ( NOAHC) will be holding
two very interesting and exciting events this summer.
Here's a snapshot of what's happening with more details to be updated closer to the events.
Scroll down for further details.
So Save The Dates!!
Our first event will be on the weekend of July 5,6, and 7, 2024. NOAHC will host a PBY-5A CANSO
that served as a patrol on the Atlantic Coast looking for German submarines.
After the war, it served as a water bomber fighting forest fires and transporting freight
to remote locations mostly in Western Canada and the Arctic.
This recently restored aircraft will be flying to Trenton, ON., and then stopping in Thunder Bay
the following weekend where it will be on static display at the Wasaya ramp.
This event will be open to the public.
Our second event, called The Wings of Time, will be on the weekend of August 10 and 11,
with a rain date scheduled for the following weekend, August 17, 18.
We will be hosting approximately 6 North American Harvards,
most of which were built here at the Canadian Car and Foundry,
Fort William in the 1950's. They served as Trainers for the RCAF post WW11.
They will be on display at the Air Bravo ramp
and will also be offering rides for anyone who wants to experience that special flying history.
Please Note! Anyone choosing to go for a ride in the Harvards must be able to get in and out
of the aircraft with no assistance as per the Canadian Harvard Airforce Association safety regulations.
Harvard rides must be booked in advance and there are a limited number of available spots.
Rides must be booked and paid for in advance of the event.
Ride details will be forthcoming closer to the date.
As a non-profit organization, NOAHC is very excited to be hosting these historic aircraft in our city.
However, it is a costly venture and if you can help out with a monetary donation to go towards fuel costs,
in particular, or wish to be a corporate sponsor, please click
"Donate Now" or go to our website www.noahc.org,
scroll down the left side, click
"Donate Now" to make your donation through Canada Helps.
Please indicate whether your donation is going to the Canso event or the Harvard in the message section.
This is important for our records. Tax receipts will be available on request.
Of course there is also the option to pay cash, cheque, or credit card at the Centre itself
at 905 E. Victoria Ave Thunder Bay ON P7C 1B3. Or mail it in.
"In kind" donations (non-cash gifts which include goods, services, or time) are also welcome.
Please contact the NOAHC office by email at noahc@tbaytel.net or phone 807 623 3522 for more information.
AVIATION RELATED SWAG SALE FOR 2024!
We have in stock, a supply of aviation themed merchandise,
such as T-shirts, sweatshirts,cups, caps, puzzles, and books,
which would make great Christmas gifts for the aviation enthusiast/aficionado in your life!
Items of local interest such as the Hawker Hurricane, Spitfire,
and various bush planes such as the Beaver and Otter are available!
Wednesdays & Sundays from 1 - 4PM
Come in and check us out!
MADE IN FORT WILLIAM
As Remembrance Day approaches, The Walleye magazine in Thunder Bay featured the Hawker Hurricane
production at the Canada Car Foundry in Fort William during WW11.
The article was written by Kat Lyzun, daughter of the late aviation historian, Jim Lyzun (Aviation in Thunder Bay),
with help from Dr. David Kemp and George Holborn from the Northwestern Ontario Aviation Heritage Centre.
Check out this interesting article in The Walleye and visit NOAHC 's display,
featuring this amazing period in our local history.
Come in, check out our displays featuring the rich aviation history of our area.
Try flying our state of the art flight simulator, or purchase
aviation themed merchandise for the enthusiast in your family.
We look forward to seeing everyone again!
NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO AVIATION HERITAGE CENTRE
IS PLEASED TO OFFER FOR SALE:
Dominique Prinet, is a former bush pilot who flew throughout Canada's western high arctic in the late 1960s and 1970s.
These are his reflections of high adventure, long hours and extremes of all sorts.
A question and answer session will follow his presentation.
Mr. Prinet has written a book.
FLYING TO EXTREMES:Memories of a Northern Bush Pilotwhich chronicles his years in frontier aviation. "He writes well with modesty, a sense of humour and deep respect for his subject: the majesty and harsh reality of Canada's far frozen tundra. To aviation enthusiasts of any stripe who pick up this book, you are in for a rare treat." (Brian Cotter, Toronto)
Copies of Dominique Prinet's book are available from the NOAHC.
Please try to come out and support Superior Shores.
NOAHC has really benefited from their sponsorship!
CENTRE HOURS OF OPERATION
Normal Operational Hours:
Wednesday & Sunday 1-4pm
The Northwestern Ontario Aviation Heritage Centre is located at 905 E. Victoria Avenue
Visits by appointment can be made by contacting the Centre by phone at 807 623 3522
or email at noahc@tbaytel.net
Come and check out our many displays featuring the history of aviation in Northwestern Ontario.
Take a flight over the area on our state of the art flight simulator!
We also have specially themed merchandise for the aviation enthusiast and accept
all forms of payment including credit and debit cards
.
CHECK OUT THE MAY 2018 EDITION OF THE WALLEYE
THUNDER BAY'S ARTS & CULTURE ALTERNATIVE MAGAZINE
Dedicated To Our Bush Plane Heritage
A NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO CHRISTMAS
Christmas presents delivered to Lansdowne House, Webequie, and Fort Hope in the late fifties.
The gifts were collected by the Westfort Kiwanis of Fort William, sorted and wrapped by volunteers in the
Superior Airways hanger and flown by Orville Wieben in their Otter, accompanied by Don Wieben and Dave Sutton.
Orville himself dressed as Santa and occasionally enlisted his daughter as an elf!
This was an annual event for a number of years.
Since the airstrips had not yet been developed, all flights were conducted on skis, landing on the lake ice.
Photo courtesy of the Northwestern Ontario Aviation Heritage Centre.
NEW! WEARABLES, MERCHANDISE, AND PUBLICATIONS
NOAHC Now has new stock of NOAHC branded wearables and merchandise.
We now have quite a variety of sizes. These would make great gifts.
We also have a variety of books for sale for the aviation enthusiast.
including the new, just published Volume II of Rich Hulina's Bush Flying Captured.
NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO AVIATION HERITAGE CENTRE: GREAT NEWS!
We are now open to the General Public at our new location 905 Victoria Avenue East
Wednesdays from 1 - 4:30PM
Sundays from 1 - 4:30PM
Photos of our new facility and displays can be found here in our newly added Photo Gallery!
The centre is wheelchair accessible and everyone is encouraged to come and see our new home
and interesting displays which showcase the rich aviation history of our area.
Private tours can also be arranged during the week for groups
and individuals by calling Denise at 939-1302
The coffee is always on!
We will be continuing our mandate to preserve and share this region's rich aviation history
with more displays and events.
For further information contact Denise Lyzun at 807-939-1302 or email Denise
SAVE THE CANSO
See the efforts of Don Wieben and Crew - A connection to Northwestern Ontario Aviation.
We've added a new Photo Gallery section to our website showcasing some of the events
that the Centre has been involved in or sponsored.
Stay tuned there is way more to come!
You can click the "Photo Gallery" link above to go directly to the Photo Gallery index page
or use the menu link in this page's left sidebar.
COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE'S B-17 "SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY"
FLIGHT OVER THUNDER BAY
A 22 minute You Tube video. Credit and many thanks to Jonathan Wilson.
An article and great read submitted on NOAHC's behalf to Tourism Thunder Bay
by Thunder Bay's own Kathryn Lyzun
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Have you renewed your membership with the Northwestern Ontario Aviation Heritage Centre for 2022? You can mail it in, or bring it to the Centre any Sunday or Wednesday afternoon. A membership form is on the website or you can pick up one at the Centre. When completing the form, please let us know if there is some area in which youd like to get involved or help. We are always in need of volunteers and would welcome your help.
We hope that you have enjoyed being a member of NOAHC and have been able to attend all the events that we have had in the past and hope to have in the future. We are always looking for input and new ideas from our members so please pass them along to any board member or email us at noahc@tbaytel.net.
As members, you are able to receive the awesome newsletter that Dave Kemp does for us ...a quality product which you receive four times a year. That alone is worth your membership!! Dave is always looking for other ideas and stories that he might use in the newsletter so feel free to share yours with him.
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CENTRE HOURS OF OPERATION
Wednesdays 1 - 4:00PM
Sundays 1 - 4:00PM
Small tours can be arranged by appointment, or if you have friends or relatives visiting and would like a private tour. Please contact us @ 807 623 3522, or email noahc@tbaytel.net for details.
Everyone is welcome and the Centre is handicap accessible.
DID YOU KNOW
That we have many books on aviation in our library, and also several aviation-related DVDs and VHS tapes,
which you are welcome to take out on loan.
Also there are others you can read at the Centre
and a box-full of aviation magazines - to take home (dont have to return!!).