edenvale classic aircraft foundation
Hangar F, Edenvale Aerodrome, 5195 Hwy 26 E., Stayner ON, L0M 1S0
705-818-2223
Fleet Canuck
The Fleet Model 80 Canuck had originated with the Noury N-75 which first flew in 1944 at Mount Hope Ontario. Noury had only built three aircraft when the rights were sold to the Fleet Aircraft Company.
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The Canuck was one of the first trainers to use side-by-side seating, making pilot instruction much easier than the usual tandem (one-behind-the-other) seating used up to that time. |
Following some minor design changes and adding a slightly more powerful engine, the aircraft, now renamed the Fleet Model 80 Canuck flew in September 1945. Although the aircraft was well built, rugged and able to be flown with floats or skis to increase its' utility, it did not sell well. There were several reasons for this: many ex-service aircraft were available for a song in the post war period, most people were more interested in re-building their careers and family lives as opposed to buying luxury items, and, although the aircraft was an excellent trainer, there was little need for new pilots to be trained as thousands of former service pilots were looking for work. In 1947 production by fleet was terminated. Over the next ten years a number of aircraft were built up from components, total production finishing at 224.
Currently, there are 78 Canucks registered in Canada according to Transport Canada, and there could be more airframes existing but not registered. One Canuck has been preserved at the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa. The healthy number of surviving airframes is a testament to the sound design of a unique Canadian aircraft. For a more complete history of the Canuck please visit Daniel Lessard's Fleet Canuck History web site. It also has photographs of the authors Canuck as well as several others. In print form, the book Fleet-The Flying Years by Ron Page published by the Boston Mills Press is an excellent reference on the history of the company.
Our Canuck (serial No. 48) was built in 1946 in Fort Erie and delivered to its first owner on July 31 1946 carrying the registration C-FDPV which it carries to this day. The logbooks we have for the aircraft begin in 1965 where the aircraft was operated in northern Quebec by a succession of owners. During 1979 the engine's fuel injection system was replaced with a carburetor. The reason for this move backward in technology is not known but was most likely due to a lack of spares for the original system. In 1986 the aircraft was ferried to Collingwood by one of our members. It was then disassembled for inspection and over 70 snags (items to be repaired, adjusted, or, replaced) found. As a result a full restoration was decided upon and the aircraft entered our workshop to be carefully stripped back to the bare airframe. In 1998 the she emerged a virtually new aircraft, resplendent in her original paint scheme. After being test flown DPV took her place in our fleet and continues to bring enjoyment to the pilots who fly her and the sponsors who ride in her.
If you have any details or photographs of our aircraft previous to our ownership we would love to hear about it or have the opportunity to copy the photographs. You can contact us through the website.