Superior Airways

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beech 18
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by beech 18 »

September 07, 2018

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

Photo taken at the water base in Sioux Lookout in early September 1971.
Cessna 180 CF-KQP is pulled up on the ramp for a float repair. In the summer
of 1971 I believe KQP was based in Pickle Lake. Over the years the Cessna was
based in Armstrong, Nakina, and Pickle Lake. It probably flew out of Pays Plat
as well. Other that the odd flight it only came into Sioux Lookout for maintenance.

In the photo KQP is fitted with a set of CAP Floats. This was the only summer I
saw KQP on CAP's. Over the years it operated on Edo 2870 round top floats and
Edo 2880 flat top floats. The last time I saw this aircraft was in the summer of
1974 and it was fitted with the 2880 flat tops at that time.

KQP was operated year round by the company. Floats in the summer and Federal
straight skis in the winter.

KQP was built in 1958.

There are a number of other aircraft in the photo. On the left side of the photo
the wing tip that is visible belongs to Cessna 185 CF-YNS that was operated by
Selco Exploration. It was supported and maintained by Severn Enterprise year round.
To the right of KQP is Cessna 180 CF-JQM. The two Beech 18's are CF-ZQR and CF-WYR.
In the summer of 1971 CF-WYR was based in Pickle Lake and was in Sioux for a few days.


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beech 18
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by beech 18 »

October 07, 2018

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

Long before my time with Severn Enterprise / Superior Airways Mr Wieben operated
a number of Republic Seabee aircraft. They were operated by the company in the
late 1940's and into the 1950's. The number of Seabees that were operated is not
known to myself, but the few that I have been able to track down that were operated
or past though the company are the following registrations:

CF-DKR serial #917. This aircraft was involved in an accident May 5, 1948 just east
of Port Arthur after having an engine failure. There were no injuries but the aircraft
was destroyed.

CF-DKU serial #922. This aircraft was involved in an accident at Saganaga Lake, Ontario
March 8, 1951. I can't find any details on the accident.

CF-FCD serial #352. This aircraft was involved in an accident near Ross Port, Ontario
June 1, 1952 after having a propeller pitch control problem. The Seabee was recovered
from the bush and taken to Ft. William. The Seabee was donated by the Wieben family
to the Western Canada Aviation Museum in Winnipeg. There is a good story of this
aircraft on the Seabee info sight and how it later got to Winnipeg. It is presently stored at
St. Andrews Airport.

CF-FUA serial #827. The only information that I could find on this aircraft was a minor
incident it had after the left wing hit a tree on the Kam River while taxing. This occurred
Sept 18, 1953. The seabee info sight lists an accident Nov 10, 1956 but has no details of
who was operating it at the time.

In the book titled "Aviation in Thunder Bay" on page 50 there is a mention of Mr. Wieben
holding the regional dealership for the Republic Seabee.

Some of the above information may be incorrect and is surely not complete, but it is all
that could be found on the Seabee fleet.

The attached photo of Seabee CF-FCD was taken at St. Andrews Airport a few years ago.
Superior Airways is visible on the door. This was at the museum stowage yard.


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beech 18
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by beech 18 »

Nov 07, 2018

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

A bit more information about Sea Bee CF-FCD that Mr. Wieben operated in
the 1950's.

This is a report for the accidend involving FCD near Rossport, Ontario on
June 01, 1952.

There is some additional information hand written in the report.
The writting has faded a bit over the years.


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beech 18
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by beech 18 »

December 07, 2018

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

This photo of Cessna 180 CF-LSN was taken at the water base in Sioux Lookout
in early November 1970. The aircraft is parked between the Severn Enterprise
office and the marine shop. Difficult to see in the photo, but the aircraft floats
are sitting on wooden skids.

LSN had spent the summer flying out of Big Trout Lake and had returned to
Sioux Lookout for changeover to skis. After freeze up it will return to Big Trout Lake
for the winter.

Behind LSN is Beech 18 CF-YQB parked for the winter and Cessna 180 CF-VSD parked
on wheels. The wheels on VSD will be removed and a set of Federal straight skis will
be installed. VSD would go to Round Lake for the winter.

Under the right wing of LSN is the runway scarper that was towed behind the companies
"swamp buggy" after the runway was packed with rollers. The scraper took out most of
the bumps in the runway leaving a fairly smooth surface.

Under the left wing of YQB is a stack of metal beams and panels. Those were once
rumoured to be a new office building for the base, but it was never built. Not sure if
that's true or not, but that was always the story about the metal pieces.

In the background ice has started forming in the bay. Once the lake was frozen all the
airlines in the bay operated off the ice on skis. Severn Enterprise, Slate Falls Airways
and Hooker Air Service.


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Castorero
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by Castorero »

Holy Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Beech18, what a read!!

You have done a great service to Aviation in chronicling in rich detail a phase in the history of Canada.
The significance of these efforts become ever more important as time passes and all the protagonists are gone.

There are still more than a handful of older aviators and AME's across the Country that have lived this history and that are present here on AvCanada. I would urge everyone of you to put on paper your personal histories and observations as you lived them.

I can tell you from experience that your grandchildren will be happy you did. There will always be someone that will find your stories and bring them to the light of day to become part of the fabric of our national history.

A number of retired pilots have written and published their experiences, often at the urging of young family members, I might add.
Those books taken together, paint a picture of life and work which is invaluable in filling in the colors of our historical puzzle.

I cant get enough of "personal" historical portraits, and the farther we get from those lives lived, the more they meld into the fabric of our history.

Beech 18, Cat Driver, Ancient Aviator, Siddley Hawker, Liquid Charlie, Beaverbob, North Shore, Snoopy and many others, you all have something to say that is valuable and important. Come on, put some of it on paper too and our Country will be the richer for it...

And thank you Beech18
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beech 18
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by beech 18 »

January 07, 2019

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

A bit of additional information about the photo of Cessna 180 CF-LSN that was
posted above on Dec 07, 2018.

In the photo LSN is fitted with Edo 2880 flat top floats.

LSN normally had Edo 2870 round top floats installed. The 2870 round tops were
installed as usual when the aircraft went onto floats in the spring of 1970 in Sioux Lookout.
It then departed for the summer to fly out of the base in Big Trout Lake.

In July or August LSN damaged one of it floats quite badly. The step compartment and
one forward of that were the ones damaged. The aircraft was flown to Sioux Lookout to
have the float repaired. Once there the chief engineer determined that besides the
bottom skin damage the float also required bulkhead repair.

Because the aircraft was needed back in Big Trout Lake it was decided to remove the damaged
set of floats and install a set of Edo 2880 flat top floats that were not being used at the time to
get the Cessna back in service as quickly as possible.

Floats were not something that were just sitting around not being used. The reason the base
had the spare floats was after ski season Cessna 180 CF-JQM was sent to the hangar in Thunder Bay
for some fuselage repairs. Because of that the floats that would have normally been in use were
available. They were installed on LSN and the Cessna 180 returned to Big Trout lake for the
rest of the float season.
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beech 18
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by beech 18 »

Feb 07, 2019

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

The attached photo was taken at Sioux Lookout in January 1972.
Cessna 180 CF-VGA is taxing off the ice and up the ramp to the maintenance shop
for some winter repairs. Ski operation ran from early December to mid April.

In the photo some of the items used in the winter operation can be seen.
The normal air filter has been removed and a metal plate with a large hole with
a very course screen has been install. The air filter is removed to prevent snow
and ice from clogging it.

The axel on the right leg can be seen. These axels are the heavy duty eight bolt
axels that wrap around the lower leg. These are ski axels only.

The bungees and check cables for the skis are attached as follows.
The forward bungees attach to brackets on the upper fuselage located aft of the
upper engine cowl. The forward check (or backup) cables are connected to brackets
attached to the lower engine mount firewall bolts. The rear check cables and bungees
are connected to brackets located on the lower fuselage area behind the cabin doors.

All the Cessna 180's except for CF-RNF operated on straight skis. As can be seen in
this photo the tail ski on VGA is a straight ski. There were a few of the 180's that had
a tail ski with a wheel sticking though the center of it.

Some operators had the bungee and check cables running to brackets at the top of the
main gear legs. None of the aircraft in Mr. Wieben's fleet used that type of bungee
set up. All bungees and check cables in the fleet connected to the fuselage.

In the background can be seen a Norseman. That Norseman is CF-HQD and belonged to
the original Slate Falls Airways. HQD operated off the ice each winter on wooden skis.

Also in the photo is the roller and Bombardier snow track that Slate Falls used to pack
the snow on the ice in the parking area around their aircraft.


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beech 18
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by beech 18 »

March 07, 2019

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

This photo was taken in the bay at Sioux Lookout during the winter of 1971.
I don't know who owned this aircraft. The aircraft is straight out from the
Severn Enterprise base and is about to depart from the ice runway. Back then
aircraft of this type were very rare in Sioux. They did show up during the summer
months at the Sioux Lookout air strip when American fisherman came into town,
but in the winter very rare and not on the ice runway .

At the time this photo was taken a Norcanair Bristol Freighter was operating off
the ice from the Severn Enterprise base hauling large items for Selco Exploration.
I don't know if this Cessna had anything to do with that operation or if it just
happened to be on the ice at the same time. Severn Enterprise was providing the
ground support to the Norcanair Bristol Freighter and crew while in Sioux Lookout.

A photo of the Bristol Freighter in Sioux Lookout was posted Jan 07, 2014 on page 7 of
this thread.

This photo was taken looking across the bay in a southern direction.
The Welcome Motel can be seen though the trees on the left side of the picture.

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beech 18
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by beech 18 »

April 07, 2019

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

DC-3 CF-BKZ was written off in an accident at Wiebenville on Oct 31, 1973.
The aircraft went into the trees during takoff. This DC-3 operated mainly out
of Wiebenville on skis.

Attached is a photo of CF-BKZ taken at Wiebenville in March 1974 approx. four
months after the accident. The DC-3 has been pulled out of the trees and a
number of items have been removed from it to be used on the other aircraft
in the fleet.

CF-BKZ was the first of three DC-3's that I know of that were involved in accidents
at Wiebenville and were written off. The other DC-3 aircraft that were written off
were CF-TTZ in March 1974 and C-GRMH in Feb. 1977.

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Chevyman
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by Chevyman »

Hello Beech 18
I find your stories both valuable and intriguing!
The Saskatchewan Aviation Museum in Saskatoon just resurrected CF-JDO from 56 feet of water in Peter Pond Lake, Saskatchewan. CF-JDO was the
"sister plane" to CF-IRM. Is any information available pertaining to the actual wreckage of CF-IRM that you are aware of?
I have just signed up so am unable to send a personal message.
You can visit the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum and Learning Centre website to view the pics of CF-JDO.
www.saskaviation.ca
Thanks!
Chevyman
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beech 18
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by beech 18 »

Chevyman

Interesting story about the accident and recovery of CF-JDO.

As for CF-IRM I don't know what became of the wreckage after the accident.
Normally Mr. Wieben recovered aircraft involved in an accident, but I can't
confirm he did that with IRM. It would be very unusual for it not to have
been salvaged by the company.
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by Chevyman »

Thanks for the help.
I have been unable to locate any subsequent registration information on IRM since the accident.
Chevyman
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beech 18
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by beech 18 »

May 07, 2019

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

This photo is from the Mike Ody collection via George Trussell and is posted here
with permission.

Beech 18 CF-ZMR in Toronto on Feb 05, 1973. I know very little about ZMR other
that it did fly on wheels for the company out of Thunder Bay for a short time.
When this photo was taken in Feb 1973 I don't know if ZMR was still being operated
by Mr. Wieben or if another company was flying it by then.

In the photo the Beech is painted in the Superior Airways / Severn Enterprise paint
scheme. The two vertical stabs are normally painted red and why they aren't in this
photo is unknown.

In the Beech 18 directory, CF-ZMR appears to have left the company in 1972 and flew
for a number of other companies in Canada before crossing the border into the
United States.

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ruddersup?
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by ruddersup? »

I believe that is Carl Millard's hangar in the back ground. We all know the story there, right?
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C.W.E.
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by C.W.E. »

I believe that is Carl Millard's hangar in the back ground. We all know the story there, right?
No. can you tell us?
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by C.W.E. »

Lets see if we get a strike and a chance to play it. :mrgreen:
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ruddersup?
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by ruddersup? »

He he, no takers.
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beech 18
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by beech 18 »

AvCanada member - the cool one

I may be having a problem sending a PM back to you.
The PM you send me was received and I replied to it.
Thank you for the information. That was excellent.

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Re: Superior Airways

Post by the cool one »

Got it.

I had similar problem sending you a PM.

the cool one
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beech 18
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Re: Superior Airways

Post by beech 18 »

June 07, 2019

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

This photo is from the John Bennett collection and is posted here with permission.

This photo of Beech 18 N9159B was taken at El Mirage Field Adelanto, California on
Nov 21, 2009. This Beech was once operated by Superior Airways as CF-ZMR.

A small bit of the Superior Airways / Severn Enterprise gold and white paint scheme
can still be seen on the nose of the aircraft. It would appear that the flying days
for this aircraft are over.

In the photo a small cockpit side door can be seen. I don't know when that would
have been installed. There were no small side doors in any of the Beech 18's that
Mr. Wieben operated.

In a posting September 13, 2012 on page 5 of this thread I had written that CF-ZMR
may have been involved in an accident in the Ft. Hope area. That was incorrect.
ZMR was sold and after leaving the Superior Airways / Severn Enterprise fleet flew
for a number of years in both Canada and the United States for several different
companies.

The Beech 18 that was involved in an accident returning from Ft. Hope was CF-ZQH.


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Last edited by beech 18 on Thu Feb 20, 2020 6:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
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