Magellan: A Proud Partner in Flight - Celebrating Support for the RCAF Over the Century
On April 1, 2024 the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) marked 100 years of service as a distinct military element. The RCAF is the air and space force of Canada and traces its history to the Canadian Air Force, which was formed in 1920. In 1924 the Canadian Air Force was granted royal sanction by King George V to form the Royal Canadian Air Force. For nearly a century, Magellan’s Canadian divisions have stood and grown alongside the RCAF, as steadfast allies, weaving a legacy of support and partnership. From innovative technology to development partnerships, our collaborative efforts have played a role in propelling the RCAF's mission forward, rooted in history and shared values.
Magellan Aerospace, Winnipeg, originally MacDonald Brothers Aircraft Company, founded in 1930 had its earliest interactions with the RCAF in the mid-1930s when the RCAF had the responsibility to oversee all aircraft worthiness and inspection, including for civil aviation. Float manufacture and overhaul work, which were Magellan’s key businesses at the time, led to a close liaison with the RCAF. A considerable amount of overhaul work for the RCAF was performed including for Fairchild 71’s, Tiger Moths and Avro Avians.
With the start of WWII in 1939 it was a natural evolution for the company to expand further into the production of aircraft parts, this first being Anson wings, which would be assembled onto Anson fuselages and other parts shipped from England. By the end of the war years MacDonald Brothers had grown to be the sole contractor for the entire Anson V trainer aircraft, which continued until 1945 when the program ended. By now the connection to the RCAF was a close one and over the years the company went on to support numerous aircraft programs including: Expeditor (1948), Auster (1949-52), Mustang (1949-55), Mitchell (1954-59); CF-100 (1955-61), Cessna (1958-1970), Hiller Helicopter (1970), CF-101 Voodoo (1962-84), Bell Helicopters (1973-94), Buffalo (1976-77), CF-5 (1987-95). In addition to a long legacy of supporting RCAF aircraft Magellan’s Winnipeg facility has partnered with the RCAF on other important programs including the development and provision of the CRV7 rocket weapon system for fixed and rotary wing fleets, the Wire Strike Protection System® (WSPS®) for helicopters, and illumination flares. Manufacturing and R&O programs for aeroengine and aerostructure components and assemblies have also been ongoing throughout the decades.
As one of Canada’s largest space companies, Magellan has also supported RCAF space programs with our legacy Black Brant family of sounding rockets since the 1950s. More recently, Magellan-built spacecraft for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission is providing invaluable earth observation data for maritime surveillance, disaster management, and ecosystem monitoring. Magellan is leading as Mission Prime for the Redwing mission and our spacecraft will help the forces to track space objects for situational awareness purposes.
The roots of Magellan Aerospace, Mississauga trace back to the early 1940s when the Canadian Government set up a Crown Corporation, Victory Aircraft during World War II. In this same timeframe another Crown Corporation was formed – Turbo Research to carry out research and development of jet engines in Canada. Victory Aircraft was taken over by Hawker-Siddeley on a rental-purchase plan, which became A.V. Roe (Avro) Canada on 1 December 1945 with its primary manufacturing plant located in Malton, Ontario. Shortly thereafter, in early 1946, Turbo Research was sold to Avro Canada. Turbo-Research produced the TR.4, the first Canadian-designed jet engine which was later renamed the Chinook.
The evolution of this original engine design led to a series of Orenda turbine engines, which eventually powered the CF-100 Canuck and culminated in the Orenda 14, which powered the Canadian variant CF-86 Sabre. So successful were these Orenda series engines, that Turbo-Research was renamed Orenda Engines by Hawker-Siddeley. Orenda Engines, today, is Magellan Aerospace, Mississauga. In the early 1950’s Avro Canada set it sight on building the CF-105 Arrow and turned to Orenda to produce the engines. It was during this time that Orenda developed the PS. 13 Iroquois engine design. Unfortunately, development was cancelled, along with the Arrow program, in 1959.