Yellowknife (Dec 19/03) - With the world celebrating the 100th anniversary of powered flight, Northern aviation pioneers found good reason to gather and reminisce about their own accomplishments.

About 100 people gathered at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Wednesday night, to hear stories about the North's own unique place in aviation history.

The event was sponsored by the Department of Transportation and Northern Air Transport Association.

Guests of honour included Willy Laserich, who was a pilot in the North for 50 years, Bishop John Sperry, Bob Engle, founder of NWT Air and Glenn Warner, who flew in the North for 45 years.

The highlight of the night was when the men sat together and traded stories from the past, reminding people of the importance of flying and the evolution of the aviation industry in the North. Willy Laserich, owner of Adlair Air, said that while pilots are important to this industry, there are a number of key players that often go unrecognized.

"The most important people behind it are the engineers," said Laserich. "They deserve a lot of credit."

Bishop Sperry spoke about some of the differences from flying today as opposed to 40 years ago.

"The interesting thing is, compared with today, the pilot made sure that every passenger had a sleeping bag with them," he said.

The new minister of transportation, Michael McLeod, was also on hand to commemorate the event, and said the NWT can look forward to a prosperous future in the aviation industry.

"About 10 per cent of the NWT labour force is in the aviation industry," he said. "It is fitting that we in the NWT observe the birth of an industry that has played such an important role in the development of our vast territory."

The evening closed with the territorial government, Northern Air Transport Association and the Northern Aviation Heritage Foundation signing a memorandum of intent to establish an aviation wing in the museum.

Foundation chair, Bob Engle, said he is thrilled that the partnership was formed.

"In my feeling, the time has come to record and preserve this history," he said.

Engle said he had a chance to travel to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina last month.

It was there that the Wright brothers made history 100 years ago after launching the age of aviation with the construction of first-ever workable, powered aircraft. He said that both Orville and Wilbur Wright are heroes.

"It wasn't just the day. They developed the aerodynamic concept of today's wing," he said.