Bombardier Celebrates
75th Anniversary of de Havilland Canada
Bombardier Aerospace Thursday celebrated the 75th anniversary of
de Havilland Canada at its Toronto facility, where many of Canada's
most-successful aircraft were designed, built and delivered to
customers throughout Canada, and to more than 100 countries
worldwide.
"It is a great pleasure to be here to celebrate the 75th
birthday of de Havilland Canada -- one of the great names in
aviation and a part of the Bombardier family. Our products both in
aerospace and rail transportation, today are recognized
internationally as sophisticated and prestigious bearers of
Canadian know-how and state-of-the-art technologies," said Paul
Tellier, president and chief executive officer, Bombardier Inc.
during the celebration ceremony held at the Bombardier Aerospace
Toronto facility.
Since Bombardier Aerospace acquired de Havilland in March 1992,
the vast majority of aircraft produced have been sold outside
Canada, and the aircraft manufacturer has become one of the largest
industrial employers in the Greater Toronto Area and an integral
part of Canada's $21.5 billion aerospace industry.
The day-long celebration included a display of a dozen vintage
and modern-day de Havilland/Bombardier aircraft built in Toronto,
and was attended by almost 3,000 employees, retirees and invited
guests. Among the well known aircraft on display for the
anniversary event were a 1928 DH 60 Gipsy Moth, Tiger Moth,
Chipmunk trainer, Beaver bushplane, Turbo Beaver, Turbo Caribou,
Twin Otter, Dash 7 airliner, Bombardier 415 waterbomber, high-speed
74-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprop airliner, and the ultra
long-range Bombardier Global Express business jet.
"The history of
Bombardier's site in Toronto spans three-quarters of the first
century of flight," said Pierre Beaudoin, president and chief
operating officer, Bombardier Aerospace. "It was born in the age of
open cockpit biplanes, and evolved into the world's leading
manufacturer of turboprop regional airliners and super-large and
ultra long-range business jets."
"Along this journey, innovative aircraft, designed and produced
at the Toronto site, played a vital role developing transportation
in remote areas, pioneering advanced technologies, and laying the
foundation for today's thriving regional airline industry," added
Mr. Beaudoin.