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Last Updated: Aug 21st, 2020 - 13:06:35 |
The Fleet 'Canuck' was an attempt by Fleet Aircraft in Fort Erie, Ontario, to get into the anticipated postwar private aviation boom.
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| Robert Bryden IPMS Toronto. Via Spitfire Studio |
Following on the wartime production of the Fairchild Cornell for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, and the limited production of the indigenous Fleet Fort wireless trainer, Fleet looked outside the company for a product. Fleet bought the rights to the high wing, two seat light cabin aircraft that had ben designed and prototyped by Bob Noury in Stoney Creek Ontario, near Hamilton.
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| Bill Coffman |
Powered by a Continental C85 flat four, the new aircraft was given the model 80 designation and was named after the WW1 Curtiss JN4 Cdn, which had received the Canuck name in Canada. It proved to be a reasonably popular aircraft on wheels and floats, but was in a market against Cessnas, Pipers, and Aeroncas with much the same specifications, and production never met the original estimates. Production was discontinued and the components were sold to Leavens Bros. in Toronto who built 26 additional aircraft.
A few Canucks are still flying and the one in the photos has been lovingly restored to as-new condition
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| Bill Coffman |
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| Fleet 80 Canuck on Floats |
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| Fleet 80 Canuck Float Details.jpg (No they aren't held on by straps!) |
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