Planes and Choppers Photos

Absorbing the Canadian Vickers Ltd. operations, Canadair was created on 11 November 1944 as a separate entity by the government of Canada as a manufacturer of PBY Canso flying boats for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Postwar, the company engaged in transport aircraft, but became a division of General Dynamics, building Sabre, Silver Star and Argus aircraft. It also produced Tutor jet trainers, F-104G and much of the NF-5 programme with Fokker in the 1960s. Fire bombers, business jets and regional jets followed, until in 1976 the company was bought back by the Canadian government. In 1986 it was sold to Bombardier Inc. of Montreal and in 1988 merged with its parent company to become Bombardier-Canadair, part of Bombardier Aerospace. The name Canadair faded away, and its successor now produces contract work for parts of the F-15, F/A-18 Hornet, 767, P3-C and A330/340.