The Ravenna, Ontario born Thurston Blakely (December 12, 1911) grew up in Bruce Mines with an aunt and uncle after being orphaned in childhood. He went to work in 1935 for Austin Airways, a charter service and flyings school at Ramsey Lake, becoming a licensed pilot in March 1938. Commonly known as "Rusty", Blakey flew for almost 50 years, with over 30,000 hours in single-engine aircraft, without mechanical aid. Over a third of those hours were logged in Austin Airway's Noorduyn Norseman, CF-BSC. He continued piloting until October 10, 1986, the day before he died.
An aerial photographer whose work included medical evacuation flights and deliveries—not only miners and their equipment, but also supplies and mail to the James BayInuit—Blakey is particularly notable for his role in aerial firefighting. In 1948, he became the first pilot to drop dry ice, which would become a major technique in wildfire suppression.
In his honour, a monument was erected at Science North, Ramsey Lake, by the Rusty Blakey Heritage Aviation Group. It is the site of an annual Rusty Blakey Air Show.
Referencesedit
Oswald, Mary, They Led the Way, Wetaskiwin: Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame, 1999. ISBN0-9684843-0-1
External linksedit
Hall of Fame site
This biographical article related to aviation is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
rusty, blakey, thurston, rusty, blakey, december, 1911, october, 1986, pioneering, canadian, aviator, bush, pilot, bornthurston, blakey, 1911, december, 1911ravenna, ontario, canadadiedoctober, 1986, 1986, aged, sudbury, ontario, canadaoccupation, aviator, bus. Thurston Rusty Blakey December 12 1911 October 11 1986 was a pioneering Canadian aviator and bush pilot Rusty BlakeyBornThurston Blakey 1911 12 12 December 12 1911Ravenna Ontario CanadaDiedOctober 10 1986 1986 10 10 aged 74 Sudbury Ontario CanadaOccupation s Aviator bush pilotSpousePearl Contents 1 Biography 2 Honours and legacy 3 References 4 External linksBiography editThe Ravenna Ontario born Thurston Blakely December 12 1911 grew up in Bruce Mines with an aunt and uncle after being orphaned in childhood He went to work in 1935 for Austin Airways a charter service and flyings school at Ramsey Lake becoming a licensed pilot in March 1938 Commonly known as Rusty Blakey flew for almost 50 years with over 30 000 hours in single engine aircraft without mechanical aid Over a third of those hours were logged in Austin Airway s Noorduyn Norseman CF BSC He continued piloting until October 10 1986 the day before he died An aerial photographer whose work included medical evacuation flights and deliveries not only miners and their equipment but also supplies and mail to the James Bay Inuit Blakey is particularly notable for his role in aerial firefighting In 1948 he became the first pilot to drop dry ice which would become a major technique in wildfire suppression Honours and legacy editBlakey was honored multiple times before and after his death In 1985 he became a Member of the Order of Canada In 1986 he was bestowed an Honorary Life Membership in the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association C O P A In 1992 he was inducted into Canada s Aviation Hall of Fame In his honour a monument was erected at Science North Ramsey Lake by the Rusty Blakey Heritage Aviation Group It is the site of an annual Rusty Blakey Air Show References editOswald Mary They Led the Way Wetaskiwin Canada s Aviation Hall of Fame 1999 ISBN 0 9684843 0 1External links editHall of Fame site nbsp This biographical article related to aviation is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rusty Blakey amp oldid 1008939187, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
