News
Modern Day Lindberghesque Arctic Adventurers to Stop in Ottawa

Sept. 5, 2008 – On Sunday, September 7, 2008, the Canada Aviation Museum, in co-operation with Vintage Wings of Canada, and the Rockcliffe Flying Club are looking forward to welcoming special aviation visitors with the Great Arctic Air Adventure (GAAA).  This visit will take place almost 77 years to the day that Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lindbergh took off, aboard their Lockheed Sirius monoplane especially equipped with floats, from the same historic Rockcliffe Aerodrome on their famous North to the Orient voyage.

The GAAA Team led by Mark Schoening and Doug DeVries have been circumnavigating the Arctic Circle in de Havilland Canada Beaver aircraft with ‘straight floats’, the same as the Lindbergh’s used, since early August and are currently on the homeward leg of their journey.  During their time in Ottawa they will be hosted by Vintage Wings of Canada and tour the internationally reknown collection of the Canada Aviation Museum, which includes the very first prototype de Havilland Canada Beaver CF-FHB.

The de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver was designed and built in response to the demands of Canada bush operators.  With its all-metal construction, high-lift-wing, and flap configuration, the Beaver was a robust aircraft with excellent short-take-off-and -landing capability even with heavy loads.  The Beaver was such a success that more were built than any other aircraft designed and manufactured in Canada.  

More information about The Great Arctic Air Adventure can be found on their website at www.greatarcticairadventure.com.  Having made special arrangements to stop in Ottawa, the aircraft are scheduled to be in the region on September 6 and 7, 2008.  A detailed itinerary will be made available to media as soon as possible.  

Pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Lindbergh’s visit in Ottawa can be made available to the media.