SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The aviation industry in the North and the aircraft credited with opening up the territory was celebrated in high style Wednesday at the airport.

David Curtis, president and CEO of Viking Air, left, joins Twin Otter tour sponsors Sherry Brydson and Rob McDonald along with Mayor Mark Heyck during 50th anniversary celebrations for the Twin Otter at the airport on Wednesday. The mayor was presented with a plaque recognizing the anniversary of the versatile aircraft which is credited with opening up the North. - John McFadden/NNSL photo

A few dozen people turned out for an event to mark the 50th anniversary of the Twin Otter aircraft.

"Whether on wheels, floats, skis of tundra tires, the Twin Otter has been a lifeline of transportation, community connection and commerce for isolated regions," said David Curtis, president and CEO of Viking Air, which is sponsoring the tour. "Everywhere I go, and this is especially true in Yellowknife, somebody has a story about a Twin Otter. We've even met folks who were born in the airplane because they were being medevaced out. It's part of the Canadian fabric and particularly true in the North."

Without the Twin Otter, you wouldn't see all the development in the North, he said.

"It was conceived as de Havilland Aircraft's next bush plane. But what happened was that small commuter airlines discovered that they could use this 19-seat airplane as a feeder to our larger networks. Rather than flying the big airplane into these small communities they'll set up this hub ... that's what broke it open for the Twin Otter," Curtis said. "But at the end of the day it was designed for the North. Its heart is as a bush plane - its short takeoff and landing capabilities. It's still the best 19-seat aircraft there ever was. They were designed to work up here."

Mayor Mark Heyck was one of the dignitaries on hand for the celebration event.

"It's wonderful to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Twin Otter which has been an integral aircraft in opening up not only the Yellowknife region but many other parts of the North," the mayor said. "It's fantastic that Viking Air, a Canadian manufacturer, is still continuing the tradition that de Havilland started 50 years ago of building these planes and the parts for them here in Canada."

Heyck added the celebration aligns well with the float plane fly-in happening this weekend, adding it gives visitors an opportunity to see planes and celebrate the Twin Otter."

We've been a little spoiled in Yellowknife with our aviation facilities but some of the smaller communities have benefited greatly from the Twin Otter, Heyck said.

"Communities with very short runways and topographical challenges and unpaved runways, gravel runways and things of that nature, you need a special breed of aircraft. The Twin Otter, whether it's been passenger traffic, or cargo or medical emergencies has really served the North well over the decades," he said.

The ceremony was the latest stop on a two-and-a-half week, 13-community tour of the North for the Twin Otter. Similar ceremonies are being held across the territory as well as in Nunavut and Yukon.

The anniversary of the Twin Otter is being celebrated in conjunction with the anniversary of the Canadian flag. In 1965 the maple leaf first flew over Parliament and the Twin Otter took its first flight. The plane was and continues to be an essential part of the North due to its unique ability to perform reliably providing infrastructure support in the toughest and most challenging environments. The ceremony was held to recognize the aircraft's unique Canadian heritage.

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