Noorduyn Norseman

Flight Journal, Dec 2000 by Oltersdorf, Jim

Workhorse for all occasions A name like Noorduyn Norseman might make one wonder what inventor Robert Noorduyn had in mind when he named his airplane. Perhaps he envisioned the famed Viking pioneers opening new frontiers. At some point during its career, however, the name Thunder Chicken became the airplane's unofficial title. Regardless of what it has been called and after 60 years of hard work, this workhorse of the north country has become a well respected and much sought-after flying machine.

Brief history

The Noorduyn Aircraft Norseman is a Canadian-manufactured, 10-passenger bush plane that was produced between the years 1935 and 1959. It was designed for the Arctic regions and played a large role in the frontier settlement of the Canadian wilderness. It was one of the first aircraft to be solely designed, built and then marketed around the world by Canadians.

During WW II, the Norseman-Army designation UC-64-was used in a variety of roles and was hailed as a great military "carry-all" for supplies or for small loads of troops. It was also the first plane on the beach after the Normandy invasion. Unfortunately, the low point in its career probably occurred on Dec. 15, 1944, when the famed big band leader, Maj. Glen Miller, was lost over the English Channel while being transported in a Norseman. Neither his body nor the airplane was ever found. It is believed that a returning flight of RAF bombers accidentally hit the low-flying Norseman with some of their bombs as they were salvoing them over the water.

After the War, the Norseman became the mainstay of the Canadian bush flying community when it was found to be especially well suited for float- and ski-plane operations. It is a rugged plane that can get you there but not too quickly.

The machine

Equipped with the famed 600hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340. the aircraft is capable of carrying payloads of more than 2,500 pounds. Its gross takeoff weight is 7,400 pounds, and it burns an average of 35 gallons per hour when flying in cruise configuration. It carries 10 gallons of oil and 165 gallons of fuel and can remain aloft for four and a half hours--assuming no headwinds and plodding along at 120mph. It has a maximum range of about 565 miles.

With a wingspan of 51 feet, 8 inches and a length of 32 feet, the airplane is anything but dainty. On its wheels, it stands just over 10 feet high. It is certified in both the United States and Canada as a normal category utility airplane, and most Norseman that get their feet wet do so on EDO 7170 floats.

The search

Photographing some of aviation's more unusual birds in their native habitats inevitably involves a lot of travel and even more luck. As luck would have it, one Norseman makes its home in a secluded, lake-- riddled area of the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska.

Ask the locals about it, and they probably will not be able to pronounce the name of the airplane, but they can definitely tell you who flies it and where it is moored. What makes this particular airplane so special? Besides being a prime example of its breed, it is the only Part 135 Norseman flying in the entire state of Alaska! With the thousands of aircraft flying in that huge wilderness area, this Norseman stands above the rest as a one-of-a-kind.

The owners and their Norseman

Like proud parents, Dennis and Candy Perry, stand on the dock of their Bear Lake Air and Guide Service Company (www.Seward-Alaska.com/bearlakeair) and attend to last-minute details of the next flight out into the Alaskan wilderness with their yellow Norseman.

Years ago, Perry, a psychologist, decided to close his practice in California and relocate his family to the wilds of Alaska. In 1979, they were living in the Mojave Desert area by Victorville, California, when flying got into his blood. In his early days, he flew the usual variety of Cessnas, Pipers and Beechcrafts. Perry says, "Next to the Norseman, the Piper Lance is one of my favorite airplanes to fly."

Then their Canadian mechanic mentioned that a Norseman would be a very appropriate aircraft for their business, and that one was for sale in the Red Lake, Ontario, Canada, area. Not known for wasting time, the Perrys bought the plane-sight unseen-based on that recommendation.

Their Norseman is a Mark VI version and is one of 764 built during the War for the United States Army Air Corps.

"The first time I saw the airplane all I could think was how huge it looked," Perry remarks with a wry smile. "You crawl up into it," he adds. Looking inside, you can see a cavernous area designed to carry not only 10 passengers but also the array of camping, fishing and hunting equipment most people drag along as part of their bush baggage.

"I immediately saw that our new plane could easily carry three times what my Cessna 185 could," Perry responds when asked about load-carrying capabilities. "Last year we hauled a disassembled cabin that included 25 sheets of 3/8-inch plywood in just one load with the Norseman," he states.

To say the least, the Perrys have not been disappointed by the performance and financially rewarding aspects of their airplane.