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Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 5:39 am
by skyrocket
strikestwo wrote:Severn's office in Sioux Lookout the summer of 1972. Later that summer the painters showed up and painted it blue. One of the apprentice engineers lived in the small suite in the upstairs.

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 7:52 pm
by beech 18
July 07, 2016

Superior Airways / Severn Enterprise operation from the late 1960's to 1974.

Attached photo is from Neil Aird's website.
Photographer information is on the photo border.

DeHavilland Beaver CF-ORC is a Beaver that I never saw operated. I have tried to
find information about this aircraft but no one seems to remember it.

The photo was taken Nov 04, 1967 in Toronto. The aircraft has Superior Airways Ltd.
Ft. William. Ont. painted on the fuselage.

There are a few things about the aircraft that are different from the rest of Mr. Wieben's
Beavers. There is no bottom cowl air intake scoop in the photo. It has the air intake
scoop on the right upper cowling. All the rest of the Beavers in the fleet had the air
intake at the bottom of the lower cowl.

The paint scheme is a bit different from the normal red, white, and black colours.
It's missing the narrow black lines that are above and below the larger black stripe.
Because these additional black lines are missing, this aircraft "might not" have been
painted in the Superior Airways hangar. Aircraft that were painted in the Superior
Airways hangar always had all the required paint scheme details when finished.

Because the photo was taken in November in Toronto it would have to have been taken
after float season.


Image

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2016 4:44 pm
by strikestwo
CF-ZQR taxiing for departure as Slate Falls Norseman lands in the bay.

In 1972 the shop got a fresh coat of paint. New docks had been build earlier in the season just before break-up.

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2016 6:06 pm
by beech 18
August 07, 2016

Superior Airways / Severn Enterprise operation from the late 1960's to 1974.

Cessna 180 CF-LBR was flying out of Round Lake for the summer and had flown
into Sioux Lookout the day before this photo was taken.
The Cessna is pulled up on the shoreline next to the ramp used for float repairs.
While in Sioux a 100 hour inspection was carried out and a number of repairs were
completed on the aircraft.

If you look closely at the white paint you can see a row of colourful decals of bees,
butterflies and flowers running down the fuselage and on the vertical stab.
The rumour was that the nurses in Round Lake went down to the dock late one night
and stuck the decals on the aircraft. They were never removed and remained on
the Cessna until its flying days with Mr. Wieben were over.

LBR was a Sioux Lookout based aircraft and was equipped with Pee Kay 3500 floats.

There is only one aircraft tied at the dock. On the far right of the photo the left wing
and tail of Cessna 172 CF-VBW can just be seen.

The rest of the fleet is out flying for the day.

This photo was taken at the water base in late August 1971.


Image

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 6:23 pm
by beech 18
September 07, 2016

Superior Airways / Severn Enterprise operation from the late 1960's to 1974.

Beech 18 CF-ZQR in September 1973 at the water base in Sioux Lookout.
The maintenance department is just finishing a 100 hour inspection. An engine
run up is about to be carried out. ZQR spent the summer servicing the northern
settlements and local tourist operators in the area.

ZQR was a Sioux based Beech until September 1974.

The dock that ZQR is tied to is the maintenance dock. This was one of the new
docks built on the ice in the spring of 1972. The reason for the new docks was in
early November 1971 water damage caused by a wind storm that went though
Sioux Lookout destroyed the ones that had been in use.

The maintenance dock was well thought out before it was built. It was a floating
dock that had two cut outs so aircraft floats would go under the dock right up to
the forward float struts. Maintenance could be carried out on the engines while
working right on the dock.

Aircraft from the Cessna 180 right up to the Beech 18 and Otter were serviced from
this dock. It could also be raised and lowed in the water by either adding or
removing water from the floatation drums. In the end this feature wasn't used and
the dock was set at a level that would accommodate the Beech so anything else fit
with no problem at all.

This dock also had the 100/130 av gas pump outlet.


Image

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2016 8:28 am
by beech 18
Information about the photo strikestwo posted.

strikestwo posted a photo a few postings above on July 20 of
Severn Enterprise Beech 18 CF-ZQR taxing away from the dock
in Sioux Lookout.

The Norseman in the photo is CF-GSR. This Norseman was operated
by the original Slate Falls Airways for a couple of seasons on both
floats and skis.

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2016 7:43 pm
by beech 18
October 07, 2016

Superior Airways / Severn Enterprise operation from the late 1960's to 1974.

In Sioux Lookout October was moose hunting season. By 7am the first day
of hunting season, the parking lot of the water base would be full of customers.
They were all anxious to get on board one of the aircraft and be flown into
their lake to begin the hunt.

Aircraft were taking off and landing in and out of the bay all day. As soon as
one taxied into the dock it was loaded and on its way once again. It was
important to move as many of the hunters and their gear as quickly as could
be due to the shorter days.

Quite a few of the local tourist camps also required aircraft to move their own
hunting parties. The company flights and tourist camp flights meshed together
and the operation thoughout the day and following week went pretty smoothly.

Attached is an ad that was in a magazine in March 1969. It's one large ad with
three of Mr. Wieben's companies Superior Airways, Severn Enterprise and
Wieben's North Shore Resort and Motel advertising six day packages for the
upcoming summer fishing season and the fall moose hunt.


Image

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2016 9:47 pm
by beech 18
November 07, 2016

Superior Airways / Severn Enterprise operation from the late 1960's to 1974.

A photo taken on a Sunday afternoon in early September 1971 at the water
base in Sioux Lookout. Three of the company Beech 18's are tied at the dock
for the evening.

There are six aircraft in the picture.

Starting at the left side of the photo is Cessna 180 CF-VGA. Engine maintenance
is being carried out next to the float repair ramp. The lower cowling on the
Cessna has been removed.

Beech 18 CF-WYR with the dayglo orange tail and wing tips was based in Pickle Lake
for the summer. WYR and PRZ were the only two Beech 18's in the fleet with the
dayglo orange wing tips and tail. WYR was in Sioux for the weekend.

Beaver CF-GQU is tied on the outside of the dock. GQU had been repainted during
the summer at the water base.

Beech 18 CF-YQB with the red tail and wing tips is right in front of GQU. The
Road . can be made out on the nose of the aircraft. YQB is the only Beech
in the photo with a small door. The other two Beech's have cargo doors.
YQB is still painted in the R.C.A.F. paint scheme.

Behind YQB is Beech 18 CF-ZQR painted in the Superior Airways / Severn Enterprise
paint scheme with the gold strip on the fuselage. This was ZQR's first float season
since joining the company.

The sixth aircraft in the photo can be seen behind the blue Datsun 1200. This was
not one of Mr. Wieben's aircraft. The aircraft was a privately owned Champ. CF-ETB.
This was an aircraft that flew out of the Ft. Frances area I believe. It was pulled up on
the shore on the west side of the base because of a failed engine that occurred while
in the Sioux Lookout area . The engine was replaced by the Severn Enterprise
maintenance department.


Image

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 7:52 pm
by beech 18
December 07, 2016

Superior Airways / Severn Enterprise operation from the late 1960's to 1974.

Attached is a photo of Cessna 185 CF-YNS in Sioux Lookout in November 1970.
This Cessna was not an aircraft in Mr. Wiebens fleet. It was flown by a mining
company that was located in Sioux Lookout for many years. It operated out of
the Severn Enterprise base and was maintained by the Severn Enterprise maintenance
department all year round. The gentleman that flew YNS also managed the day to day
operation of the mining company.

CF-YNS operated in the summer months on CAP floats and in the winter months was
fitted with a set of Federal wheel skis. It always parked in the same spot at end of the
Severn Enterprise maintenance dock in the summer and next to the maintenance dock
on the ice in the winter.

In early November YNS had been changed over from floats to wheels at the water base.
For a reason not known to myself the aircraft was needed elsewhere, but the water on
the bay had not frozen over yet.

The aircraft was run up and taxied to the Wellington Street and Third Avenue intersection.
There it turned around, powered up and took off down Third Avenue towards the Severn
Enterprise base on the shore of the bay. The aircraft landed at the Sioux airport shortly
after the photo was taken.

To those familiar with Sioux Lookout, the building with the large door located behind the
right wing of YNS was later turned into the first coin operated car wash in town. That
would give them an idea where this photo was taken and the town street that YNS took
off on.


Image

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 8:33 pm
by Antique Pilot
beech 18 wrote:December 07, 2016

Superior Airways / Severn Enterprise operation from the late 1960's to 1974.

Attached is a photo of Cessna 185 CF-YNS in Sioux Lookout in November 1970.
This Cessna was not an aircraft in Mr. Wiebens fleet. It was flown by a mining
company that was located in Sioux Lookout for many years. It operated out of
the Severn Enterprise base and was maintained by the Severn Enterprise maintenance
department all year round. The gentleman that flew YNS also managed the day to day
operation of the mining company.

CF-YNS operated in the summer months on CAP floats and in the winter months was
fitted with a set of Federal wheel skis. It always parked in the same spot at end of the
Severn Enterprise maintenance dock in the summer and next to the maintenance dock
on the ice in the winter.

In early November YNS had been changed over from floats to wheels at the water base.
For a reason not known to myself the aircraft was needed elsewhere, but the water on
the bay had not frozen over yet.

The aircraft was run up and taxied to the Wellington Street and Third Avenue intersection.
There it turned around, powered up and took off down Third Avenue towards the Severn
Enterprise base on the shore of the bay. The aircraft landed at the Sioux airport shortly
after the photo was taken.

To those familiar with Sioux Lookout, the building with the large door located behind the
right wing of YNS was later turned into the first coin operated car wash in town. That
would give them an idea where this photo was taken and the town street that YNS took
off on.

Where is Don H?

AP


Image

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 9:33 pm
by beech 18
Antique Pilot

I don't know where Don went to after he left Sioux Lookout.
He was a nice fellow with a good sense of humour.

Severn Enterprise did a lot of flying for him into his
exploration camps.

The civil register has Cessna 185 YNS listed until the later
1980's but with different owners / operators.

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 9:45 pm
by beech 18
Jan 07, 2017

Superior Airways / Severn Enterprise operation from the late 1960's to 1974.

This photo of Cessna 180 CF-VGA was taken at Sioux Lookout in February 1974.

The aircraft was flying out of Sioux for the winter. The horizontal stab had
been damaged during ski operations and the aircraft was taken to the maintenance
shop for repair. The stab was removed while the tail of the aircraft was in the shop
and repairs were carried out. The aircraft was out of service for a day.

VGA was fitted with Federal straight skis.

Prior to the summer of 1972 the large door in the maintenance shop was a one
piece door that opened and closed on an upper rail. The opening when an
aircraft was nosed in for maintenance not covered by the actual door was covered
with a large hanging tarp.

During the summer of 1972 the large door was cut in half and the upper rail modified
so each door half would close toward the aircraft fuselage from each side. This
reduced the size of the opening that was covered by the hanging tarp and made for
a much warmer working area.


Image

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 7:58 pm
by beech 18
Feb 07, 2017

Superior Airways / Severn Enterprise operation from the late 1960's to 1974.

Attached is a photo of DC-3 CF-XXT that was given to me by a friend who was with
Mr. Wieben after I had left the company. The photo was taken in April 1977.

XXT was the second of the original two DC-3 aircraft in the Superior Airways /
Severn Enterprise fleet. It began service with the company in late 1970 or very
early 1971.

CF-XXT had spend the winter flying out of Wiebenville and Pickle Lake on skis.
During the winter XXT had had an engine fail at Wunnummin Lake. An engine change
was carried out on the ice. When XXT departed after the engine change it left behind
the failed engine that was to be picked up at a later date.

On April 11 or April 12, 1977 XXT flew into Wunnummin Lake to pick up the engine that
had failed during the winter and had been left behind on the ice. It was getting late
in ski season and this would have been one of the last chances to go in and pick it up
before the ice conditions got to bad.

The DC-3 landed on the ice and after the engine was loaded into XXT the aircraft began
its departure. During the takeoff run XXT encountered an area of bad ice. It was
during this time that one ski broke though a layer of slushy ice and the aircraft ground
looped tearing off both main landing gear legs and then both propellers as the aircraft
came down onto the ice on its belly.

The aircraft was substantially damaged and never flew again.


Image

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2017 4:31 pm
by NWONT
I took these pictures at Wunnamin in 1980

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2017 4:33 pm
by NWONT
picture 2

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2017 10:19 pm
by black hole
I cut the nose off to repair one that had gone on its nose.

BH

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 7:50 am
by NWONT
I'm curious. Who were you with? I worked for Ontario Central Airlines and we did a nose stand or two every year.

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 8:54 pm
by beech 18
March 07, 2017

Superior Airways / Severn Enterprise operation from the late 1960's to 1974.

Attached is a photo of Cessna 180 CF-KVU parked on the ice in the bay at
Sioux Lookout in March 1971. The aircraft was based in Pickle Lake and had
flown into Sioux with a load of passengers a day earlier.

KVU was painted in the Superior Airways red, white and black paint scheme.
Superior Airways Ltd. Ft. William, Ontario was on each side of the fuselage.

Over the years KVU operated out of Armstrong, Nakina, and Pickle Lake. During the
summer of I believe 1969 or 1970 it was based in Pickle lake. KVU did come into Sioux
Lookout quite a few times.

The aircraft was fitted with Edo 2880 flat top floats in the summer and Federal straight
skis in the winter.

In the book Noorduyn Norseman Volume 2 page 177, it is written that Rainy Lake Airways
operated CF-KVU in 1960 to at least 1961. I have been trying to find more information
about KVU's time with Rainy Lake Airways and the date it was purchased by Mr. Wieben.

The aircraft is parked near the companies runway scraper. The scraper was towed
behind the swamp buggy after the runway was packed with rollers to cut down the high
spots in the runway. This gave a fairly smooth surface when finished.


Image

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2017 10:03 pm
by Leo G
Hi, I'm wondering about the current situation of the company, hiring, if anyone workes there at the moment etc. Thanks

Re: Superior Airways

Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 4:21 am
by valleyboy
The wonderful world of thread drift. Page one and a few posts were about a company that name which was also the name of a company from Thunder Bay who operated in NWO in the bygone years. The thread was hijacked and 99.9% was about history. Which turned out to be onre of the best threads in this section.

To answer your, Superior is alive and well in Red Lake, no connection except in name from the original. They do have a pilot want-ta-be program but I do not know if they have vacancies. You won't find out unless you get off you bhutt and try. Good Luck, there are many such as you out there right now. Graduation is here.