Ontario Central Airlines

Ontario Central Airlines
Nunasi-Central Airlines

IATA ICAO Callsign NUN NUNASI
Founded	1947
Operating bases	Kenora Airport
Fleet size	22 (in 1963)
Destinations	Ball Lake Airport, Red Lake Airport
Key people	Don Watson Barney E Lamm (President) Rex A Kiteley (Vice President) Stanley Matthew Deluce

Ontario Central Airlines was a Canadian airline headquartered in Kenora, Ontario. It was founded in 1947. In 1984, the airline was renamed Nunasi-Central Airlines.

History

Ontario Central Airlines was founded in 1947,^[1] starting with two Fairchild 82 aircraft.^[2] Originally founded as a charter airline, in 1957 Ontario Central introduced its first scheduled services, having purchased Beechcraft 18 CF-KIA. The first two routes were from Kenora to Winnipeg, Manitoba and return, and from Kenora to Fort Frances, Atikokan and Fort William and return. These services were discontinued in the summer of 1958.^[3] In 1963, its President was B E Lamm and the Vice President was R A Kiteley.^[1] In 1976, the airline was bought by entrepreneur Stanley Matthew Deluce.^[4]

In December 1984,^[5] Ontario Central Airlines was renamed Nunasi-Central Airlines.^[6] Nunasi-Central Airlines was allocated the ICAO Code NUN and used the callsign NUNASI.^[7]

Services

The airline operated amphibious flights from Kenora, Ball Lake, and Red Lake in Ontario. The airline also engaged in aerial advertising and pest control services.^[8]

Fleet

Ontario Central Airlines operated the following aircraft: -

Beechcraft 18

• CF-KIA. This was the first Beech 18 bought by Ontario Central Airlines. It was used to start operating scheduled services.^[3]
• C-FSFH Built in 1943 as C-45B Expeditor for the USAAF as 43-35481. To RAF as HB112 but diverted to RCAF without serving in the RAF. Sold out of service and registered CF-SFH, then re-registered C-FSFH. Served with Ontario Central Airlines under this registration. Sold in May 1983 to Selkirk Air, Selkirk, Manitoba.
• CF-XUO c/n CA-208. Delivered to the RCAF at RCAF Trenton on 14 August 1952.^[9] Allocated serial RCAF2329.^[10] Stored servicable on 12 September and transferred to inactive reserve on 21 November 1956. Allocated to 402 Squadron, Stevenson Field, Manitoba. On 31 October 1966 placed into storage with No. 1005 Technical Storage Unit, RCAF Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Sold on 7 July 1965 to Ontario Central Airlines and re-registered CF-XUO. Later re-registered C-FXUO whilst in service with Nunasi-Central Airlines. Sold in November 1985 to Green Airways, Red Lake, Ontario then sold in October 1986 to V Kelner Airways, Pickle Lake, Ontario. Sold in March 1987 to Beaver Air, Vancouver, British Columbia and then to Ignace Airways, Ignace, Ontario in April 1988. Sold in May 1990 to Showalter's Air Service, Ear Falls, Ontario.^[9]
• C-GEHX c/n CA-112. Delivered to the RCAF in February 1952 and allocated serial 1512. Loaned to the Navy between January 1955 and May 1957. With the unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968, the aircraft's serial was changed to 5181. Struck off charge in October 1970 and later sold to Silver Pine Air Services as CF-ZNF. Later re-registered C-GEHX. Owners since 1982 include Minto Airways, North Cariboo Flying Service, Nunasi-Central Airways, Ontario Central Airways, Sky North and Red Lake Airways. In August 2006, the aircraft was sold to Kenora Air Service, Kenora, Ontario.^[11]

Cessna 180

• Ontario Central Airlines operated fiveCessna 180 aircraft in 1963.^[8] They were still operating five of these aircraft in 1970.^[1]

Consolidated PBY-5A Canso

• CF-OWE c/n CV-397. Built in 1944 for the RCAF and allocated serial RCAF11074. Struck off charge on 7 November 1961 and sold to Ontario Central Airlines in 1965 and registered CF-OWE. Withdrawn from use in 1970. Sold in 1977 to Ilford-Riverton Airways, Winnipeg, Manitoba and re-registered C-FOWE. Sold in 1983 to Northland Outdoors and then sold in June 1984 to R J Franks, Los Angeles, California and re-registered N691RF. Sold in 1986 to Jonathan Seagull Holdings, Vancouver, British Columbia and re-registered C-FOWE. On 30 May 1986, the aircraft was damaged in a landing accident at Plymouth Harbour, United Kingdom but was repaired and returned to service. In March 1989 it was registered once again to R J Franks, and re-registered N69RF. Sold in 1990 to Flying Catalina Corp, Los Angeles and operated until 1992. Sold in 2000 to Wilson Edwards, Big Spring, Texas. As of 2001, the aircraft was airworthy.^[12]

de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver

• C-GKPJ c/n 997. Built in November 1956 for the United States Army as 56-4603. Sold out of service in June 1976 and registered N3314F, the N222CD in September that year and reverting to N3314F in January 1977 for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indianapolis, Indiana. Registration cancelled in January 1981 and sold that September to Ontarion Central Airlines and registered C-GKPJ. Sold in March 1985 to J Cheyney, White Salmon, Washington and registered N997DH.^[13]

de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter

• CF-MEL Delivered in June 1957 to D D Thompson Aviation, Montreal Leased to Northern Wings. Sold in October 1961 to Lamb Airways. Damaged in a take-off accident on 1 December 1971 at Whale Cove, Northwest Territories but repaired and returned to service. Registration changed to C-FMEL. Sold to Ontario Central Airlines in 1981. Damaged in an accident on 15 January 1985 at Red Lake Airport, Ontario. Repaired and sold to Green Airways, Red Lake in February 1986. Sold in September 1994 to Cargair, St-Michel-des-Saints, Quebec then to Wildcountry Airways in August 1995. On 16 June 1996, there was an in-flight fire. An emergency landing was made following which the aircraft was burnt out.^[14]
• C-GYKO c/n 287. Built for the United States Army as 58-1682. Entire service career based at United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. Withdrawn from service in June 1973 and allocated to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Centre, Davis–Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona. Allocated in April 1974 to the University of Tennessee Space Institute and re-registered N22UT. On 17 March 1975, the aircraft was substantially damaged in an accident at Franklin County Airport. Wreck purchased by Ontario Central Airlines and rebuilt to flying condition. Registered C-GYKO in January 1977 and entered service that June. Sold to Central Air Transport, Sioux Lookout, Manitoba in 1980. In 1987, it was sold to Gold Belt Air Transport, Sioux Lookout and then to Ashuanipi Aviation, Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador in December 1988. Sold in August 1990 to Alexandair Inc, Sept-Îles, Quebec but damaged in a forced landing at Lac Sale, Quebec on 5 October 1990. Sold to Ashuanipi Aviation, and registered to them in February 1993. Sold to Mandair, Kenora, Ontario in September 1994 and then to River Air, Pistol Lake, Minaki, Ontario in June 1996. Converted in 2002 to a Turbo Beaver. The original Pratt & Whitney R-1340 piston engine being replaced by a Garrett TPE331 turboprop engine.^[11]

Douglas DC-3

• CF-ABA c/n 20562. Built as Douglas C-47A-90-DL 43-16096 for the USAAF. Transferred to the RNoAF in May 1945 and then sold to Norwegian Air Lines in October 1947 and registered LN-IAN. Sold in March 1949 to Les Avions Bleus and registered F-OADR. Sold in 1951 to Cornell Dublier Electric Corp, New Jersey and re-registered N9989F. Sold in January 1968 to Huber Homes Inc and re-registered N355HH. Sold in January 1970 to H M Dunn, Lexington, Kentucky and then to Midwest Airlines in June 1970. Sold in June 1972 to Aviation Sales International and re-registered CF-ABA. Sold in July 1972 to Albig Aviation, L'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec and then to Sigfusson Transport, Winnipeg, Manitoba in April 1973. Sold that same month to Superior Airways and then to Ontario Central Airways, Reindeer Air Service and Wright Enterprises, Edmonton, Alberta by 1974. Sold to Ilford Riverton Airways in 1978, by which time registration had been changed to C-FABA. Sold in January 1979 to Wright Enterprises and then sold in September 1979 to Yukon Air Service, Fairbanks, Alaska and re-registered N3FT. The next owner was Air North then sold in 1990 to Rocky Mountain Helicoptes, Provo, Utah. Sold in October 1993 to Living Water Teaching Inc and based in Guatemala. Written off on 1 November 1998 when it crashed into a mountain on approach to Quetzaltenango Airport.^[15] Eleven of the 18 people on board were killed.^[16]
• CF-BKV c/n 4441. Built as Douglas R4D-1 BuNo 01985 for the United States Navy. Struck off charge on 30 September 1946 and placed on United States Civil Register as NC4806N, then to RCAF in June 1951 as RCAF10912. Re-serialled RCAF12967 in June 1970. Sold in November 1973 to Atlantic Central Airlines and registered CF-BKV. Bought by Ontario Central Airlines that month. Leased to Patricia Air Services but written off on 12 May 1977 at Pickle Lake Airport, Ontario.^[17]

• CF-YQG c/n 4654. Built as a Douglas R4D-1 BuNo 05054 for the United States Navy. Struck off charge on 30 April 1946 and registered NC62001.^[17] To Crane Co in 1951 and then to Beldex Corp and registered N99U. Sold in June 1963 to John F Oyster Manufacturing Co, Pittsburgh.^[18] Bought by Ontario Central Airlines in July 1969 and re-registered CF-YQG. Re-registered C-FYQG in 1980, passing to Nunasi-Central Airlines in March 1987 and served until October 1996.^[17] In 2007, the aircraft was owned by Buffalo Airways and in store at Red Deer Airport.^[18]

• C-GCKE Originally built as a Douglas C-47B-20-DK for the USAAF as 43-49942. To the RAF as KN270, later to the RCAF, retaining RAF serial. Bought by Ontario Central Airlines and re-registered C-GCKE, in service until December 1984. In service until December 1985 then leased back to Ontario Central Airlines until March 1986. Leased to Perimeter Airlines Inland until May 1986. Leased to Ata Construction Lted, Norman Wells, Northwest Territories until 1989, then to Calm Air. Later sold to Randy Daoust, St. Albert, Alberta but registration cancelled in 1995. As of December 2008, registered as N47HL Bluebonnet Belle and operated by the Commemorative Air Force, Midland, Texas, United States.^[5]
• C-GSTA c/n 10201. Built in 1943 as a Douglas C-47-60-DL for the USAAF as 43-24339. Transferred to the RCAF in September 1943. Sold to the RAFO in 1969 and allocated serial 502. Sold to a Norwegian owner in 1972 and registered LN-TVA. Bought by Ontario Central Airlines and registered C-GSTA. Sold in 1991 to SADELCA, Colombia and re-registered HK-2663X. Sold in 1992 to SAEP and served until 1994 when placed in storage. Served at one time with AeroVanguardia. In April 2004, the aircraft was in service with ARAL.^[19]

Fairchild 82

• CF-AXL Ontario Central Airlines operated this aircraft along with CF-AXM. Both were purchased from Canadian Pacific Air Lines in 1947. AXM crashed during take off at Kenora Ontario. AXL was sold in 1954 and is currently preserved at the Canada Aviation Museum, Ottawa, Ontario.

Grumman Goose

• Ontario Central Airlines operated two Grumman Goose aircraft in 1963.^[8] They were still operating one of these aircraft in 1970.^[1]
• CF-HUY c/n B-55. Built in April 1944 as JRF-5 for the United States Navy, BuNo 37802. Later operated by 412 Squadron, RCAF at RCAF Rockliffe in 1952-53. Sold in 1955 to Powell River Corp, and registered CF-HUY. Sold in 1966 to Sioux Narrows Airways, Ontario. Sold in 1973 to Parsons Airways Northern then to Ontario Central Airways in 1977, passing to Nunasi Central Airways. Sold in 1984 to an American owner and re-registered N7F. Sold in 1987 to Freshwater Adventures, Dillingham, Alaska and still in service as of 2000.^[20]

Noorduyn Norseman

• CF-BHU c/n N29-8. Built in 1945 for Canadian Pacific Airlines and registered CF-BHU. Sold in November 1949 to Territories Air Service, Edmonton, Alberta then to Associated Airways, Edmonton in August 1951. Bought by Pacific Western Airlines in 1955 and sold to Ontario Central Airlines in December 1958. Crashed on 19 June 1974 at Sachigo Lake, Ontario due to mismanagement of the fuel system.^[21]
• CF-BTH c/n 139. Built in 1943 for the USAAF as 43-5138. To Transport Command, RAF in April 1943 and allocated serial FR406, but operated in Canada. Sold in May 1946 to Thunder Bay Airlines, Fort William, Ontario and registered CF-BTH. Sold in July 1947 to Ontario Central Airlines but destroyed in an accident on 22 October 1951 at Red Lake when the aircraft hit rocks whilst landing in the dark.^[21]
• CF-CPS c/n 429. Built in 1943 for the USAAF as 43-35365. Diverted to Canadian Pacific Airlines and registered CF-CPS. Sold to Ontario Central Airlines in January 1948. Crashed on 23 December 1950 at Kirkness Lake, Ontario killing the pilot and his passenger.^[21]
• CF-DRC c/n 241. Built in 1943 for the USAAF as 43-5250, involved in three accidents whilst serving with USAAF. Disposed of as war surplus in August 1945. Sold to Aircraft Mechanics Inc, Colorado Springs, Colorado and registered NC61231. Served with Transocean Airlines, Oakland, California. Sold in April 1953 to Ontario Central Airlines and re-registered CF-DRC. To Teal Air, Winnipeg, Manitoba in August 1953 and returned to Ontario Central in January 1961. To Fort Frances Airlines, Fort Frances, Manitoba in May 1962. Sold in the United States in January 1965 and re-registered N1211B. Still registered in April 1989.^[21]
• CF-DRD c/n 831. Built in 1945 for the USAAF as 45-41747. Disposed of as war surplus in August 1946. Sold to Dayton Aero, Dayton, Ohio and registered NC75938. Bought in April 1958 by Ontario Central Airlines and re-registered CF-DRD. Registered to Teal Air, Winnipeg, Manitoba in November 1958 and returned to Ontario Central in September 1968. Registered to Swanair, Dryden, Ontario in August 1973 and then to Wings Aviation, Red Lake, Ontario in February 1974. Withdrawn from use in 1981 and reported sold in 1983. Bought by the town of Red Lake, Ontario in 1992, restored and displayed on a plinth at the waterfront.^[21]
• CF-DRE c/n 131. Built in 1943 for the USAAF as 43-5130. Disposed of as war surplus and registered NC45380. Sold in April 1953 to Ontario Central Airlines and re-registered CF-DRE. Sold in 1962 to Hooker Air Service, Pickle Lake, Ontario. On December 19, 1964, the aircraft was damaged in an accident at Pickle Lake Airport that was attributed to icing on the wings. Sold in 1968 to Bruce Hallock, Yellowknife, then to Parsons Airways Northern, Flin Flon, Manitoba in August 1969. Sold in June 1970 to Thompson's Camp Ltd, La Ronge, Saskatchewan then to Moose Noose Airways, Ilford, Manitoba in June 1972. Certificate of Airworthiness expired in June 1974 and the aircraft was reported to have been sold in 1982. The fuselage was purchased from Red Lake Seaplane Service by the British Columbia Air Museum, Victoria, British Columbia and the aircraft was restored using parts from c/n 538 CF-DJG^[21]
• CF-DRF c/n 429. Built in 1943 for the USAAF as 43-35355. Disposed of as war surplus in April 1946 and registered NC75049. Bought in March 1953 by Ontario Central Airlines and re-registered CF-DRF. Entered service in September 1955. Crashed on 20 December 1957 at Ball Lake, Ontario in a snowstorm. The pilot was seriously injured and the three passengers were killed.^[21]
• CF-DRG c/n 147. Built in 1943 for the USAAF as 43-5156. Sold as war surplus to J McCrow, McMinniville, Oregon and registered NC50051. Sold in 1953 to Ontario Central Airlines and re-registered CF-DRG, entering service in September 1954. Sold to Bohman Airways, Rainy River, Ontario but destroyed on 19 October 1958 in a crash at North Spirit Lake, Ontario that killed the pilot.^[21]
• CF-EPZ c/n 673. Built in 1944 for the USAAF as 44-70408. Sold as war surplus in October 1945 to Byrd Air Transport, Dallas, Texas and registered NC59788. Sold in February 1953 to Ontario Central Airlines and re-registered CF-EPZ. Entered service in March 1953. Blown over in a thunderstorm on 13 March 1953 at McDowell Lake, Ontario but later repaired and returned to service. Sold in January 1959 to Parsons Airways Northern, Flin Flon, Manitoba and then to Fred Chiupka, Lynn Lake, Manitoba in February 1959. Acquired by Chiupka Airways in January 1961. To Parsons Airways in May 1963 and then returned to Chuipka Airways in June 1967. To Dolbeau Air Service, Montreal, Quebec in September 1971. Crashed on 20 September 1973 on a flight from Misstassini Post to Cache Lake, Quebec and was destroyed by fire.^[21]
• CF-EZK c/n 229. Built in 1943 for the USAAF as 43-5238. Disposed of as war surplus in October 1945. Sold to V C Rasmussen, Chicago, Illinois and registered NC88777. Sold to Ontario Central Airways in December 1952 and re-registered CF-EZK. Entered service in February 1953. Sold in March 1953 to Riverton Airways, Winnipeg Manitoba and then to Eco Exploration, Winnipeg in November 1959. Purchased in November 1968 by Ontario Central Airlines as a spares source, having suffered substantial fire damage.^[21]
• CF-GOB c/n 421. Built in 1943 for the USAAF as 43-35347. Disposed of as war surplus in August 1945 and registered NC58435, possibly later re-registered NC55800. Sold to Canada in 1950 and registered to Uranium Corporation of Canada in 1951. Operated by Queen Charlotte Airlines. Acquired by Pacific Western Airlines in 1959. Sold to Ontario Central Airlines in 1960 then to Messrs Rickey and Woods in 1961. Crashed 6 nautical miles (11 km) east of Lynn Lake, Ontario in 1961. Airframe reported with Northern Skyservice in the 1990s and was sold privately in 1992.^[21]
• CF-GTN c/n 325. Built in 1943 for the USAAF as 43-5334. Disposed of as war surplus in August 1945 and registered NC48993. Sold in August 1950 to The Pas Airways, The Pas, Manitoba and re-registered CF-GTN. Damaged in an accident when it broke through ice and then sold to Rusty Meyers Flying Service, Fort Frances, Ontario in April 1953. Sold in July 1971 to Stan's Flying Service, Ear Falls, Ontario, then to Parsons Airways in August 1974. Registered to Neil Walsten, Kenora in May 1976 then re-registered to Parsons Airways later that month. Re-registered to Neil Walsten in 1978, the apparently sold to D W Graham. Leased to Ilford-Riverton Airways, Winnipeg in July 1980, then leased to Ontario Central Airlines in December 1980 and Bearksin Lake Air Service, Sioux Lookout, Ontario in July 1982. Sold to Cross Lake Air Service, Wabowden, Ontario in 1982 and then to Walsten Air Service, Kenora in 1983. Crashed on 24 June 1983 at Round Lake, Ontario due to fuel exhaustion. Salvaged in 1984 and registered to Silver Wings Leasing, Sioux Lookout, Ontario in May 1989. Sold to United States in November 2001 and re-registered N2038L.^[21]
• CF-HQD c/n 348. Built in 1943 for the USAAF as 43-5357. Disposed of as war surplus in November 1945. Sold to J G Ross, White Bear Lake, Minnesota and registered NC88760. Sold in July 1954 to Rainy Lake Air Services, Fort Frances, Ontario and re-registered CF-HQD. To W C Plummer, Flin Flon, Manitoba in September 1954. To Chukuni Airways, Kenora in 1958 and then Ontario Central Airlines in 1960. On 21 February 1968 it was damaged in an accident at Lac Seul, Quebec. Later sold to Slate Falls Airways. Withdrawn from use in 1981 and later used as a spares source at Kakabeka Falls, Ontario. Fuselage used in the restoration of CF-OBG.^[21]
• CF-HZR c/n 843. Built in 1945 for the USAAF as 45-41759. Sold as war surplus in October 1945 to an Arkansas buyer. Bought by Ontario Central Airlines from a Texan owner in 1955. Sold to Austin Airways, Toronto in May 1955. Crashed on 31 July 1958 at 53°12′00″N 86°32′30″W / 53.20000°N 86.54167°W and severely damaged. Wreck bought by Superior Airways, Fort William, Ontario and repaired then sold to Parsons Airways. Crashed on 9 April 1964 70 nautical miles (130 km) west north west of Frobisher Bay, Northwest Territories and was destroyed.^[21]
• CF-HZS c/n 844. Built in 1945 for the USAAF as 45-41760. Sold as war surplus in October 1945 to Dal-Air, Dallas, Texas. Bought by Ontario Central Airlines in July 1955 and re-registered CF-HZS. Sold in May 1959 to Fred Chiupka, Lynn Lake, Manitoba and acquired in January 1961 by Chiupka Airways. Damaged in a landing accident on 12 September 1966 at Wilson's Lodge, Reindeer Lake, Saskatchewan when it overturned after hitting a large wave. The wreck was salvaged and sold to Cross Lake Air Service, Wabowden, Manitoba. It was used in the rebuild of CF-LSS (c/n 637).^[21]
• CF-IRH c/n 836. Built in 1945 for the USAAF as 45-41752. Sold as war surplus in November 1946 to a buyer in Arkansas. Registered in Canada as CF-IRH. Sold to Ontario Central Airlines in 1956. Involved in a mid-air collision with Norseman CF-BZM of Parsons Airways at Kenora Airport on 25 July 1958. Repaired and returned to service. Crashed on 26 March 1960 at Red Lake, Ontario and was destroyed.^[21]
• CF-IRI c/n 672. Built in 1944 for the USAAF as 44-70407. Sold as war surplus in October 1945 to Byrd Air Transport, Dallas, Texas. Sold in 1956 to Ontarion Central Airlines and re-registered CF-IRI. Sold to Canadian Voyager Airlines, but written off on 25 May 1966 at Pekogaming Lake, Ontario when the engine failed shortly after take-off.^[21]
• CF-KVB c/n 561. Built in 1944 for the USAAF as 44-70296.^[21] Sold as war surplus in 1946. Bought by C K Foods, Winnipeg on 1958 and re-registered CF-KVB. Sold to Northland Wild Rice, Winnipeg on 1959 and bought by Northland Airlines in 1960. In April 1962, CF-KVB was registered to Saskatchewan Government Airways, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan but re-registered to Northland Airlines in June. Registered to Chiupka Airways, Lynn Lake, Manitoba in August 1962. Damaged by a fire in 1968. Purchased from the insurers in December 1968 by Ontario Central Airlines. In April 1979, it was bought by Wayne Sturman of Florida and donated to the United States Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, United States where it is on display as "44-70534".^[5]
• CF-LSS c/n 637. Built in 1944 for the USAAF as 44-70372. Disposed of as war surplus in March 1946. Sold to the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. and registered NC58691. Sold in 1959 to Canada and bought by Ontario Central Airlines in January 1961, registered CF-LSS. Sold to Cross Lake Air Service, Wabowden, Manitoba in July 1961. Leased from R W Polinuk by Perimiter Aviation in May 1973. To Kyro's Albany River Airways, Thunder Bay, Ontario in May 1974. Withdrawn from use in April 1975. Sold in April 2006 and registered N78691 for a Montanan owner.^[21]
• CF-OBE Built in 1943 for the USAAF as 43-35406. Diverted to Ontario Provincial Air Service and registered CF-OBE. Sold to Central Northern Airways in May 1951 and acquired by Transair in 1956. Sold in September 1956 to Northland Airlines and then sold in September 1978 to Ontario Central Airlines. Sold in February 1986 to Green Airways.^[21] Rebuilt using the metal wings from CF-UUD (c/n 224) and given a metal clad fuselage, thus making it the only all-metal Norseman.^[22] Severely damaged on 3 July 2004 in a landing accident at Birch Lake Lodge, Ontario.^[21]
• CF-OBG c/n N29-1. Built in June 1945 as the first Norseman Mk V for Ontario Provincial Air Services. To Central British Columbia Airways, Kamloops, British Columbia in July 1951 and then to Pacific Western Airlines, Victoria, British Columbia in 1955. Bought by Ontario Central Airlines c. 1960. Sold to Messrs Norell and Chyk, Sioux Lookout, Ontario in 1967 and then to Slate Falls Airways, Sioux Lookout in May 1968. Withdrawn from use in May 1970. Fuselage sold in 1981 to John Knutson. The wings were reported to be in storage at the Western Canada Aviation Museum, Winnipeg, Manitoba in the early 1980s.^[21]
• CF-OBN c/n N29-19. Built in July 1946 for Ontario Provincial Air Service as CF-OBN. Bought by Ontario Central Airlines in June 1951. Sold to Austin Airways, Sudbury, Ontario in January 1968. On 10 August 1968, the aircraft was written off in a take-off accident at Winisk, Ontario due to mismanagement of the flaps.^[21]
• CF-OBO c/n N29-24. Built in August 1946 for Whitehorse Flying Service, Whitehorse, Yukon as CF-OBO. Sold in November 1951 to Queen Charlotte Airlines, Vancouver, British Columbia and then bought by Ontarion Central Airlines in June 1952. On 19 August 1976, the aircraft was destroyed in a landing accident at Island Lake, Manitoba.^[21]
• CF-OBR c/n N29-35. Built in May 1947 for Ontario Provincial Air Service as CF-OBR. To Central British Columbia Airways, Kamloops, British Columbia in December 1952 and then acquired by Pacific Western Airlines, Vancouver, British Columbia in 1955. Bought from Pacific Western by Ontario Central. Sold to Kyro's Airways, Upsala, Ontario in 1969 and then sold later that year to Cross Lake Air Service, Wabowen, Manitoba. Sold in 1974 to Perimeter Aviation, Winnipeg, Manitoba and then sold in 1976 to Interlake Air, Selkirk, Manitoba. Sold in 1988 to P C Reid Outdoors Ltd, Winnipeg and then in 1989 to Wild Country Airways, Red Lake, Ontario. Registered in May 1993 to Wrong Lake Airways, Winnipeg and later registered to Kississing Lodge. In active service as of April 2004.^[21]
• CF-SAN c/n N29-29. Built in October 1946 for the Saskatchewan Department of Natural Resources and registered in 1947 to Saskatchewan Government Airways, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan as CF-SAN. Substantially damaged on 16 June 1969 in a taxying accident at Île-à-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan.^[21] Restored incorporating parts from Norseman CF-EZK. Metal skin applied to the underside of the fuselage at this time.^[23] Acquired by Saskair in 1964. Registered to Dolphin Airways, Lynn Lake, Manitoba in 1966 and then to Ontarion Central Airways in 1968. Registered to Ilford-Riverton Airways, Winnipeg, Manitoba in May 1971 and then to Northland Fisheries, Winnipeg in May 1972. Returned to Ilford-Riverton Airways in June 1973 and then to Northland Fisheries in 1974. To Ignace Airways, Ignace, Ontario in June 1974 and registered to Simpson Air, Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories in August 1978. To Sportsman's Outfly Air Service, Armstrong, Thunder Bay District, Ontario in July 1979 and returned to Simpson Air in 1980. Substantially damaged on 15 December 1981 in a take-off accident at Fort Simpson Airport due to ice contamination on the wings. Rebuild intended but declared to be beyond economic repair and donated to the Calgary Aerospace Museum in 1993. Sold later that year to Joe McBryan, rebuilt and registered to Buffalo Airways, Hay River, Northwest Territories. In service as of April 2004.^[21] The aircraft could be seen in some episodes of the first series of Ice Pilots NWT, a television documentary serial aired in 2009.^[23]

Piper PA-18 Super Cub

• A Piper PA-18 Super Cub was operated by Ontario Central Airways in 1963.^[8] The airline was still operating one in 1970.^[1]

Piper PA-23 Apache

• In 1963, Ontario Central Airways was operating a Piper PA-23 Apache.^[8]

Stinson Reliant

• CF-OAY was operated by Ontario Central Airlines. It was in service in October 1954.^[24]

Accidents and incidents

On 23 December 1950, Noorduyn Norseman CF-CPS crashed at Kirkness Lake, Ontario,^[25] killing the pilot and his passenger.^[21]

On 22 October 1951, Norseman CF-BTH was destroyed in a landing accident at Red Lake when it hit rocks at night.^[21]

On 20 December 1957, Norseman CF-DRE crashed on landing at Ball Lake, Ontario, seriously injuring the pilot and killing three passengers. The aircraft was destroyed.^[21]

On 25 July 1958, Norseman CF-IRH was involved in a mid-air collision with Norseman CF-BZM of Parsons Airways on approach to Kenora Airport. CF-BZM was written off, but CF-IRH was repaired and returned to service.^[21] Of a total of 15 people on board the two aircraft, the worst injury was a broken arm.^[26]

On 26 March 1960, Norseman CF-IRH crashed at Red Lake, Ontario and was destroyed.^[21]

On 19 June 1974, Norseman CF-BHU crashed at Sachigo Lake, Ontario due to fuel mismanagement. The pilot was injured and one of the two passengers were killed.^[21]

On 19 August 1965, Norseman CF-OBO was destroyed in a landing accident at Island Lake, Manitoba. The pilot was seriously injured.^[21]

On 15 February 1983, Douglas DC-3 C-FBKX was damaged beyond repair in a crash landing near Shamattawa, Manitoba following an engine failure following which the overloaded aircraft was unable to maintain flight on a single engine. The aircraft was on a non-scheduled passenger flight, all four people on board survived.^[27] As of July 2009, the hulk of the aircraft remains on site at 55°58.18′N 92°31.65′W / 55.96967°N 92.52750°W.^[28]

References

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2. "Ontario Central Airlines". Ed Zaruk. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
3. Whittingham, Bruce (29 April 2010). "OCA Sked Run (1958)". Ed Zaruk. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
4. "Stanley Matthew Deluce". Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
5. "Ray Fread's Photos of Propellor Planes". Ruud Leeuw. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
6. "O Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
7. "January 2005, Section E". Transport Canada. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
8. Flight International, 2 April 1964, p. 523. Retrieved on 25 July 2010.
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11. "Bushplanes at Kenora, Ontario". Ruud Leeuw. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
12. "PBV-1A/RCAF11074". Warbird Registry. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
13. "c/n 997". DHC-2.com. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
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18. "My visit to Buffalo Airways (Red Deer,ALB 2006)". Ruud Leeuw. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
19. "Villavicencio Airport, Colombia". Michael Prophet. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
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22. "The Metal Norseman UUD and OBE". Norseman Capital. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
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