History

Québec’s aerospace sector dates back to the beginning of the 1900s. Many of Quebecers were pioneers in aeronautics. Here is a glimpse at some of the aircraft they built.

Lawrence Lesh's glider (1907) - First glider to fly in Canada. Designed and flown in Montreal by a 14 years old teenager, prodigy of Octave Chanute. Lawrence Lesh’s glider was pulled by galloping horse, a car and even a motor boat over the St-Lawrence River.

Percival Reid’s Prototype (1911) - First airplane designed in Quebec and flown in Cartierville. The design was inspired by Blériot’s monoplanes. With the help of Ernest Anctil, Percival Reid constructed three other prototypes.

Canadian Vickers Vedette (1924) - Shelled seaplane designed in Montreal by Wilfrid T. Reid (not related to previously mentioned individual) and produced at the Canadian Vickers’ aeronautic division (which at the time, was the only aeronautic producer in Canada and the ancestor of Canadair). The Vedette marked the beginning of the Canadian aeronautical industry and was the most produced aircraft between the two wars (61 examples).

Noorduyn Norseman (1935) - Designed and produced in Montreal. There were over 900 mythical bush planes built fitted with skies, floats and landing gear, which became the first world best seller of Montreal’s aeronautical industry. Some of them still fly today!

Source: Thiffault, Pierre, Au temps des premières ailes : petite histoire aérienne du Québec, éditions Tifographe, Laval, 2004.

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