Robert B.C. Noorduyn
Encyclopedia
Robert B.C. Noorduyn was an aircraft designer and manufacturer.
In 1917, Noorduyn was recruited to become the chief draughtsman for the British Aerial Transport
company. (Chief designer of the company was another Dutchman: along with Frits Koolhoven) British Aerial Transport or BAT however was short-lived. A victim of the changing tides following the end of World War I, it folded in 1919. By that time however, Anthony Fokker
had returned from Germany and established a new factory in the Netherlands. Noorduyn returned just as well and found work with Fokker. Since Fokker wanted to expand into the USA, the company sent Noorduyn in 1921 to Teterboro
to supervise a new manufacturing plant.
, a popular utility transport that was particularly suitable for northern conditions. Many examples were sold to Canadian air carriers. The Fokker Universal and its follow-up Super Universal helped open the frontiers, fostering settlement and development of the north. In addition, Noorduyn worked on the re-design of the single-engine Fokker F.VIII
into a twin-engined version.
Noorduyn moved at the beginning of 1929 to Bellanca in Wilmington, Delaware, where he designed the Bellanca Skyrocket. He was also heavily involved in the design of an improved version of the Bellanca Pacemaker, another favourite of bush flyers in Canada.
In 1932, while at the Pitcairn-Cierva Autogiro Company of America, Noorduyn was responsible for the design of the first enclosed, four-seater Pitcairn Autogiro PA-19.
designs at Fokker, Bellanca and Pitcairn-Cierva, Noorduyn decided to create his own design in 1934, the Noorduyn Norseman
. Along with colleague Walter Clayton, Noorduyn created his original company, Noorduyn
Aircraft Limited, in early 1933 at Montreal, while a successor company bearing the name Noorduyn Aviation, was later established in 1935.
Noorduyn's vision of a bush plane revolved around a few basic criteria: it should be an aircraft with which a Canadian operator utilizing existing talents, equipment, and facilities could make money; it should be a high-wing monoplane to facilitate loading and unloading of passengers and cargo at seaplane docks and airports; and it should be an all-around superior aircraft to those currently in use in Canada. The final design layout looked much like a Fokker with all-welded steel tubing fuselage structure and wood stringers were applied to it for attachment of a fabric skin. The wing was all wood construction and fabric covered except for the flaps and ailerons, which were made of welded steel tubing. The resulting utility bush plane. known as the Norseman, flew for the first time in 1936 and due to its acceptance as both a military and civil cargo aircraft, has become known as one of the premier bush planes of its time.
In postwar production, the Canada Car and Foundry in Fort William, Ontario
acquired rights to the Norseman design, producing a version known as the MK V, a civilian version of the wartime Mk IV. In order to exploit the market further, the "Can Car" factory designed and built the Mk VII. This version had a bigger engine, a new all-metal wing and greater cargo capacity but was fated never to go into production. Noorduyn always hoped he would be able to resurrect a new version of his beloved Norseman, but it was not to be.
on February 22, 1959 but the company he had created, provided support for operating Norseman aircraft and even built three new Mk Vs before selling its assets in 1982 to Norco Associates. Norco provided service only, as the manufacture of a new Norseman aircraft, being very labor intensive, made it very expensive.
Norseman aircraft are known to have been registered and/or operated in 68 countries throughout the world and also have been based and flown in the Arctic and on the Antarctic continent. The last Norseman built was sold and delivered to a commercial customer on January 19, 1959. A total of 903 Norseman were built and, even today, approximately 18 Norseman are still plying their trade in Canada and elsewhere, as the visible embodiment of the design genius of Robert B.C. Noorduyn.
Early life
After Noorduyn had received a technical training in the Netherlands and Germany, in 1913, he moved to England. There he trained to fly in a Caudron G II and worked as a technical draughtsmen for the Sopwith company.In 1917, Noorduyn was recruited to become the chief draughtsman for the British Aerial Transport
British Aerial Transport
British Aerial Transport Company Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1917 to its closure in 1919. The company was based at Willesden, London.-History:...
company. (Chief designer of the company was another Dutchman: along with Frits Koolhoven) British Aerial Transport or BAT however was short-lived. A victim of the changing tides following the end of World War I, it folded in 1919. By that time however, Anthony Fokker
Anthony Fokker
Anton Herman Gerard "Anthony" Fokker was a Dutch aviation pioneer and an aircraft manufacturer. He is most famous for the fighter aircraft he produced in Germany during the First World War such as the Eindecker monoplanes, the Fokker Triplane the and the Fokker D.VII, but after the collapse of...
had returned from Germany and established a new factory in the Netherlands. Noorduyn returned just as well and found work with Fokker. Since Fokker wanted to expand into the USA, the company sent Noorduyn in 1921 to Teterboro
Teterboro, New Jersey
Teterboro is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 67, making it the fourth smallest municipality, by population, in New Jersey....
to supervise a new manufacturing plant.
Designs
In Teterboro, Noorduyn was responsible for the Fokker UniversalFokker Universal
The Fokker Universal or "Standard" was the first aircraft built in the United States that was based on the designs of Dutch-born Anthony Fokker, who had designed aircraft for the Germans during World War I. About half of the 44 Universals that were built between 1926 and 1931 in the United States...
, a popular utility transport that was particularly suitable for northern conditions. Many examples were sold to Canadian air carriers. The Fokker Universal and its follow-up Super Universal helped open the frontiers, fostering settlement and development of the north. In addition, Noorduyn worked on the re-design of the single-engine Fokker F.VIII
Fokker F.VIII
-See also:-References:*de Leeuv, Fokker Commercial Aircraft, . Fokker. The Hague, Haagste Drukkerij*A.J.Jackson, British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972 -See also:-References:*de Leeuv, Fokker Commercial Aircraft, (1994). Fokker. The Hague, Haagste Drukkerij*A.J.Jackson, British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972...
into a twin-engined version.
Noorduyn moved at the beginning of 1929 to Bellanca in Wilmington, Delaware, where he designed the Bellanca Skyrocket. He was also heavily involved in the design of an improved version of the Bellanca Pacemaker, another favourite of bush flyers in Canada.
In 1932, while at the Pitcairn-Cierva Autogiro Company of America, Noorduyn was responsible for the design of the first enclosed, four-seater Pitcairn Autogiro PA-19.
Noorduyn Norseman
With the background of working on many groundbreakingGroundbreaking
Groundbreaking, also known as cutting, sod-cutting, turning the first sod or a sod-turning ceremony, is a traditional ceremony in many cultures that celebrates the first day of construction for a building or other project. Such ceremonies are often attended by dignitaries such as politicians and...
designs at Fokker, Bellanca and Pitcairn-Cierva, Noorduyn decided to create his own design in 1934, the Noorduyn Norseman
Noorduyn Norseman
The Noorduyn Norseman is a Canadian single-engine bush plane designed to operate from unimproved surfaces. Norseman aircraft are known to have been registered and/or operated in 68 countries throughout the world and also have been based and flown in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.-Design and...
. Along with colleague Walter Clayton, Noorduyn created his original company, Noorduyn
Noorduyn
The Noorduyn Aircraft Ltd., founded by Robert B. C. Noorduyn, was established in Canada in early 1934 by taking over the Curtiss-Reid factory outside of Montreal, Quebec. Work soon started on the Noorduyn Norseman I...
Aircraft Limited, in early 1933 at Montreal, while a successor company bearing the name Noorduyn Aviation, was later established in 1935.
In postwar production, the Canada Car and Foundry in Fort William, Ontario
Fort William, Ontario
Fort William was a city in Northern Ontario, located on the Kaministiquia River, at its entrance to Lake Superior. It amalgamated with Port Arthur and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Ever since then it has been the largest city in Northwestern...
acquired rights to the Norseman design, producing a version known as the MK V, a civilian version of the wartime Mk IV. In order to exploit the market further, the "Can Car" factory designed and built the Mk VII. This version had a bigger engine, a new all-metal wing and greater cargo capacity but was fated never to go into production. Noorduyn always hoped he would be able to resurrect a new version of his beloved Norseman, but it was not to be.
Final years
In 1953, Noorduyn headed a group of investors who bought back the jigs and equipment from Canadian Car & Foundry and started a new company called Noorduyn Norseman Aircraft Ltd. Bob Noorduyn became ill and died in his home in South Burlington, VermontVermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
on February 22, 1959 but the company he had created, provided support for operating Norseman aircraft and even built three new Mk Vs before selling its assets in 1982 to Norco Associates. Norco provided service only, as the manufacture of a new Norseman aircraft, being very labor intensive, made it very expensive.
Norseman aircraft are known to have been registered and/or operated in 68 countries throughout the world and also have been based and flown in the Arctic and on the Antarctic continent. The last Norseman built was sold and delivered to a commercial customer on January 19, 1959. A total of 903 Norseman were built and, even today, approximately 18 Norseman are still plying their trade in Canada and elsewhere, as the visible embodiment of the design genius of Robert B.C. Noorduyn.