History of De Havilland Aircraft of Canada at Downsview Airport

A look through the archives of DHC from its humble beginnings at De Lesseps Field in Toronto in 1928 to the later much expanded facilities at Downsview until its departure in June 2022. Details early years as a subsidiary of its parent company, fulfilling military trainer contracts between the wars, to its role as a large manufacturer of military aircraft such as the Mosquito during World War II. Beginning in 1949 with the Chipmunk, DHC began its own designs, ending with the Dash 8-400. It became world renown for its design of rugged short take-off and landing aircraft as exemplified by the Beaver, Caribou, Buffalo and Twin Otter.

[@kurtzwar729]

I used to work in Kenmore, WA USA. Just N of Seattle. A whole bunch of Beavers flew out of there from Lake Washington. Terrific sight every day. So glad the Mosquito showed up during WW2. Fastest piston plane in the war. Hitler hated them, oh yeah. Fantastic plywood plane with 2 RR Merlins. Democracy on a pair of wings. Thanks Canada. Then and now.

[@fuzzfacelogic789]

Very good, thanks

[@Greengrass908]

I repaired all the Elevators at the Downsview Dehaviland Plant during the 90s. Each Bay had different stages of planes being built. Beautiful planes and the plant had a runway for test pilots. One true story, a plane is at the bottom of Lake Simcoe that had failed.

[@nicklowe4392]

Thank you for posting this video. I am stunned by both the history and the increadible planes that they built. I was fortunate enough to fly out of downsview on a Hurcules in the 80s with the Canadian forces 25 Medical company to a base in Quebec for a training excercise. First time ever on a plane and what a beast. The pilots joked that it was the shortest Canadian forces runway and that they would be sitting at the end of the runway with the engines running full tilt and the brakes on and praying we make it off the ground before we ran out of runway. I guess at the time it was a little Regular forces humour for the newbies! Everyone must have been proud of thier achievements working on such iconic aircraft as it shows in the photos. Again thank you for the video as I had no idea of the history of DHA in Downsview.

[@ellisandrews440]

Last month on the 100th anniversary of the RCAF I got to fly the chipmunk for the first time in 56 years. I took my RCAF tie that had my name the date and the Chipmunk aircraft written on it. I wanted to show members at the flying club to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the RCAF. The ritual when one soled their tie was cut off at the mess that evening and ones name, the date the aircraft type was written on it. The last time I had walked out on the tarmack to the chip was almost 56 years to the day. The last time was in 1968 at Camp Borden Ontario Canada taking my final check ride before going onto Tudor jet training. What a nostalgic moment as I never though i would ever fly this wonderful aircraft again or ever though of doing so. For me to look out on the wing and see the RCAF maple leaf roundel once again was beyond words. Thank you to Dave Gillespie of the Oliver flying club who owns this beautiful Chipmunk for making this possible.

[@yl9154]

Good for you! 🙂

[@peterrollinson-lorimer]

This is truly something to be very proud of, a Canadian and world icon of aviation.

[@adamwalker7338]

My father flew a Gypsy Moth learning to fly for the RCAF. He was very proud having earned his wings. Many years later I had a chance to work on interiors for the Dash - 8. What a great history of aircraft inovation.

[@wendygerrish4964]

A kiwi Howatd Monk was able to join the RCAF (underage) lucky for him WWII ended. He flew tiger moths as a top dresser. Nothing to hang onto though during loop d loops and negative g I found as a passenger. The US used Dash 7s on kwajalein for daily commuters to and from Roi.

[@user-nu1dd8tx5n]

My first flight was in a Chipmunk in 1959 at RAF Hamble near Southampton. Since then I have flown in the Beaver and the Dash 8. All were fabulous aircraft, perfect for the job that they were designed to do!

[@djpee25]

13:10 first time i see footage from old Victoria Adacport (now MELS studio near Victoria bridge) in my hometown of Montreal! I have some pictures,but actual video just wow!!! Thank you!!!

[@mikedash3968]

Learnt to fly on the Chipmunk and flew the DH6 for Air Ecosse in Scotland. Also completed the DH7 course at Downsview and later delivered 3 DH7 s to Eurocity Express later named London City Airways at LCY . This included Ship 113! My surname is Dash . My mother always told interested folks he had his name on the side of the aircraft. It is true when in the military but not implicitly true in this case.

[@kurtbilinski1723]

I was fortunate enough to get to fly into a remote lake in British Columbia in a DHC Beaver. What a wonderful, fantastic aircraft, so solidly built it was, along with its wonderful radial engine. It felt like a battleship compared to a Cessna. Thanks, Dad, for the experience!

[@itcu185]

I am glad they are building Canadair cl-215 successors

[@PaulHodgson-gm6lg]

I'm an AME who has worked on Tiger moth right through to F35, my favourite plane CL215 T. Just because of what they do.

[@kidmohair8151]

when you hire the right people the whole will be greater than the sum of its parts. DHC is proof of that. outstanding people. outstanding aircraft.

[@mothmagic1]

Thank You de Havilland Canada for giving the world the Chipmunk and Beaver

[@mattfollett866]

my great uncle was Jim Follett, chief test pilot during the Mosquito days... I have many memories of my father recounting the action there, including his own first solo... I wish my dad could see and understand this video.

[@ieuanabarthur3985]

My father worked for DHC from the start of the 60s to the early 90s. I also remember my cousin and I riding our bikes up to Downsview to watch the first Dash 7 test flight.

[@edwardthomas7022]

My father, J.L. (George) Thomas was there from late ‘50s through ‘86 when he retired. In charge of ground testing.

[@dave8218]

Worked on Caribou's in Vietnam back in 1967. They were quite easy to keep them flying considering the circumstances.

[@janetcohen9190]

Very interesting! Thank you. 🎉🎉🎉

[@philliprobinson7724]

Hi. A commentary would have given these wonderful old photos more depth. Cheers, P.R.

[@johnkaminski-bh1im]

Beautiful , well done documentary ,I wish you would have included the names of the persons in the photos

[@kenmunro8317]

...This is a Gem... Merci!

[@itcu185]

8:49 Wardair I remember flying then as a Geologist :)

[@ThomasDeLello]

It looks like the Mosquito at 4:22 is flying on one engine. It could go that. Those are BIG engines...!

[@jp-um2fr]

England. When my father got home from WW2, the first thing he did was take his boots off, the second was 'me'. Unlike so many, I have learned just how much Britain owes to the Commonwealth. Odd, really, only big country never joined. Thank God. Despite all the modern feelings of leaving 'the club', I really hope we stick together. United we stand, divided we fall. One last thing. I loved my Queen, who in their right mind would have a life where you can't go down and buy fish and chips or lift your skirt and have a paddle in the sea. I just hope King Charles III remembers King Charles II had his head 'cut orf' for being a plonker. Furthermore, I won't mention Mountbatten and Dieppe, Gawd we really do make um. Thank You, Canada.

[@raymondfrankwick6965]

First hop, Rome, NY deployment PRESTWICK

[@user-ik3mk5vi8m]

Is De Havilland still around

[@dereksollows9783]

The wikipedia is a good read. You should have a look. All questions are answered there

[@CanadaHistory]

Of all the subsidiaries, only Canada remains. Even then, it was revived only in 2019 after various incarnations such as Boeing Canada and Bombardier. The parent was bought by Hawker-Siddley, and is now part of BAE.

[@PaulHodgson-gm6lg]

Most of DeHavilland designs are owned by DeHavilland aircraft of Canada. Which used to be Longview aviation, which spun off of Viking aerospace.

[@jamesm.5455]

Great video, thank you, and thanks to the people involved in making the DHC7. I had flown thousands of hours incident and accident free. Very strong and capable. What a fun airplane!

[@nzsaltflatsracer8054]

9:07 What's going on here?

[@CanadaHistory]

Looks like an Otter has been instrumented for a runway test in lieu of a wind tunnel...

[@peterjaniceforan3080]

🇨🇦🫡

[@user-hm2gb6pm6b]

MIG MIG MIG F 16 F16 F16 Beaver Dassault De Beaver Beaver Beaver

[@katiemclean9089]

A proud Canadian Company Please keep it that way Keep China out of any part of ownership C A McLean

[@jtr789310]

old picture and history to different things you learn nothing about history of De Havilland here