The Saunders Aircraft Company was a Canadian aircraft manufacturer, originally based in Montreal before moving to Gimli, Manitoba.
Founded | 1968 |
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Founder | David Saunders |
Headquarters | Gimli, Manitoba, Canada |
Products | Aircraft |
Number of employees | 10 |
Saunders Aircraft Company was founded in 1968 by David Saunders in Montreal, Quebec, as a privately financed enterprise. The company ran short of funds and production space at the same time as the Canadian government closed its airbase in Gimli, Manitoba. The provincial government of Manitoba, in an effort to encourage industry in the province, promised Saunders funding if they would move to Gimli, which the company agreed to. By 1970, the government had given the company $37 million. The company produced thirteen of its Saunders ST-27 aircraft, which were converted de Havilland Herons. The company then began work on the ST-28, intended to be a commuter/taxi aircraft, also based on the Heron. The first ST-28 flew in December 1975. Shortly thereafter, the government of Manitoba withdrew funding. At its peak, the company employed 500; by 1976, the company was reduced to around 10 employees as a result of the loss of funding.[1]
Certified/factory-built aircraft manufactured in Canada | |
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Airbus Canada | |
Avian Industries | |
Avro Canada |
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Bell Textron | |
Boeing Aircraft of Canada | |
Bombardier | |
Bristol/McDonald Brothers | |
Canadair | |
Canadian Aerodrome Company |
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Canadian Aeroplanes/ Toronto Curtiss Aeroplanes | |
Canadian Associated Aircraft | |
Canadian Car and Foundry | |
Canadian Vickers | |
Cub Aircraft | |
de Havilland Canada | |
Diamond Aircraft | |
Fairchild | |
Federal Aircraft | |
Fleet | |
Found | |
Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm | |
National Research Council | |
National Steel Car | |
Noorduyn | |
Ontario Provincial Air Service | |
Ottawa Car and Aircraft | |
Reid/Curtiss-Reid | |
Saunders | |
Victory Aircraft | |
Viking Air |