Noorduyn is a Canadian manufacturer of aircraft products and accessories, specializing in high performance composites. It is headquartered in
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-pe ...
, and has offices worldwide serving the commercial, business and military aviation markets.
The company was originally established as Noorduyn Aircraft Limited, an aircraft manufacturer, by Dutch immigrant
Robert B. C. Noorduyn and Walter Clayton. It was established in
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-pe ...
in 1933
and in early 1934, acquired the
Curtiss-Reid factory in
Cartierville, Quebec, near
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-pe ...
. In 1935, it began operating as Noorduyn Aviation.
The rights to Noorduyn were traded on several occasions, and production ceased in 1959.
Products
The first aircraft built was the
Noorduyn Norseman
The Noorduyn Norseman, also known as the C-64 Norseman, is a Canadian single-engine bush plane designed to operate from unimproved surfaces. Distinctive stubby landing gear protrusions from the lower fuselage make it easily recognizable.
Introd ...
I in 1934 with its first flight in 1935.
Five versions (II c. 1936, III c. 1937, IV c. 1937, V and VI) followed until early 1946, when the company was acquired by the Canadian Car & Foundry (CCF) company.
During
World War II, Noorduyn began producing
North American Harvard
The North American Aviation T-6 Texan is an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and other air force ...
trainers for the
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...
, production of which continued under CCF after the takeover.
Noorduyn Norseman Aircraft Limited
In May 1953, CCF sold the rights to the Norseman to ''Noorduyn Norseman Aircraft Ltd.'', a company formed and led by Noorduyn which was sold to Norco Associates in 1982,
however Norco does not build new aircraft but only provides support.
Noorduyn currently specializes in aircraft interior storage systems for commercial aircraft (galley carts, carriers, drawers, oven inserts, bins, bassinets, etc.) and slings and containers for military transport use.
References
External links
Company history
Aviation history of Canada
Defunct aircraft manufacturers of Canada
Defence companies of Canada
Manufacturing companies based in Montreal
Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1933
1933 establishments in Quebec
Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1982
1982 disestablishments in Quebec
Canadian companies disestablished in 1982
Canadian companies established in 1933
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