Review – Guelph Air Park
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Cindi Conlon describes the Guelph Air Park book as a labour of love. Photo by Gord McNulty.
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Ariss saw the value of flight as a means of communication in his growing construction and paving business. He wanted closer access to his aircraft and built his home on what is now Skyway Drive, just “47½ steps” from his airplane. His enthusiasm for the new airport was infectious. By 1957, the Guelph Mercury was reporting “the local airfield is busy just about evening now.”
Today, the Air Park continues to flourish as a hub of general and vintage aviation activity. Described by Cindi as “a jewel in the crown of the Royal City,” the Air Park was made possible by the generosity of Len Ariss. In fact, there are now 100 or more small hangars on the site.
Guelph’s first airstrip was actually located at the intersection of Highways 6 and 7, the site of a Walmart today. The owner, Rae Reid, had been an RCAF wing commander and was the personal pilot of Billy Bishop.
Today, the Air Park continues to flourish as a hub of general and vintage aviation activity. Described by Cindi as “a jewel in the crown of the Royal City,” the Air Park was made possible by the generosity of Len Ariss. In fact, there are now 100 or more small hangars on the site.
Guelph’s first airstrip was actually located at the intersection of Highways 6 and 7, the site of a Walmart today. The owner, Rae Reid, had been an RCAF wing commander and was the personal pilot of Billy Bishop.
The back cover photo has a fitting tribute from Len Ariss' daughter, Jane. 'Dad, may you continue to fly with the angels.'
Reid established a flying service in 1946. He displayed an RCAF Hurricane as a gate guardian until 1956. The fighter was vandalized and damaged. Parts of the fighter eventually ended up with the Tiger Boys and were sold to an enthusiast in Hamilton for a potential Hurricane rebuild with parts from two others.
Ariss learned to fly at Reid’s airfield, making his first solo flight on Christmas Day, 1950. Years later, Reid became the groundskeeper and maintenance man for Len’s new undertaking.
Ariss owned 19 aircraft in all, starting with an Ercoupe, and was an adventuresome pilot. In 1955, he initiated his new Bellanca in a flight to Miami. He flew on to Havana without navigational aids and earned a Cuban Tourism Certificate. Two years later, Ariss and a companion, Albert Marshall, flew to Los Angeles on a vacation flight.
Ariss, keen to prove the safety of flying, maintained: “There is nowhere in the world you can’t go in a small plane.” In 1969, he aimed even higher, completing a 23,710-mile around-the-world flight. Ariss, with fellow crew members Capt. Robert Symons and his son, Rob Symons, logged 113 hours of flying and flew over more than 21 countries. The global ambassadors flew in Piper Turbo Navajo CF-TTT, known as “Triple Tango” to the crew.
Ariss learned to fly at Reid’s airfield, making his first solo flight on Christmas Day, 1950. Years later, Reid became the groundskeeper and maintenance man for Len’s new undertaking.
Ariss owned 19 aircraft in all, starting with an Ercoupe, and was an adventuresome pilot. In 1955, he initiated his new Bellanca in a flight to Miami. He flew on to Havana without navigational aids and earned a Cuban Tourism Certificate. Two years later, Ariss and a companion, Albert Marshall, flew to Los Angeles on a vacation flight.
Ariss, keen to prove the safety of flying, maintained: “There is nowhere in the world you can’t go in a small plane.” In 1969, he aimed even higher, completing a 23,710-mile around-the-world flight. Ariss, with fellow crew members Capt. Robert Symons and his son, Rob Symons, logged 113 hours of flying and flew over more than 21 countries. The global ambassadors flew in Piper Turbo Navajo CF-TTT, known as “Triple Tango” to the crew.
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Len Ariss, speaking at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Air Park in 2003, told the crowd an estimated $1.5 million was spent on the airport by then. He had always planned the airport as a place where people could bring a lunch and watch aircraft in action.
The Air Park has been a remarkable community asset. Over the years, it has facilitated Medivac patient transfer, RCAF JTF2 training, police and environmental surveillance, educational field trips, university pilot studies, aviation training, aircraft maintenance and much more. Len Ariss died in 2008 at the age of 86. His daughter, Jane, shared the family scrapbooks and memorabilia that made the book possible. The Air Park is synonymous with the legendary Tiger Boys Aircraft Works, established in 1970 by founder Tom Dietrich as a collection of parts and remains from historic old aircraft. Tom and his Tiger Boys partners, including Bob Revell, soon began to restore the vintage airplanes to factory and airworthy condition. As Bob emphasized, “This is not a morgue – this is a flying museum!” |
Photos show six CHAA Harvards arriving at the 1992 Tiger Boys fly-in and preparing a replica Fokker triplane for the 1996 open house.
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Photos in the book include vintage Cubs of the Tiger Boys, photographed over Guelph by Eric Dumigan.
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The Tiger Boys lineup includes six beautifully restored Tiger Moths, including a Thruxton Jackaroo. Originally an RAF Tiger Moth converted to a four-seat aircraft at Thruxton Aerodrome in England, the Jackaroo was brought to Canada and saved from the scrap heap by the Tiger Boys. It is thought to be the only Jackaroo still flying in the world today.
A ¾-scale replica of a Hawker Fury is nearing completion. Other notables in the exceptional collection include a Fairchild/Fleet Cornell and another Cornell, being restored to brand-new condition and possibly complete by next spring; two Fleet Finches; a homebuilt 5/8th scale replica Hawker Hurricane; a Corben Baby Ace, Canada’s oldest flying homebuilt aircraft; a rare Corben Super Ace; a Pietenpol Air Camper, the first Model A-powered Air Camper that Bernard Pietenpol built; a Jodel D-9; a Taylor E-2 Cub, CF-ANT, the first Cub to fly in Canada; a J-2 Cub, CF-BBY acquired by the St. Catharines, ON Flying Cub in 1936; and a Volksplane. The Tiger Boys also have an Aeronca Champion, CF-OTD. As Tom says with a smile, the registration stands for “Crazy Foolish Old Tom Dietrich.” |
Also on the go are a Gipsy Moth, which Tom describes as “90 per cent done and 100% to go. All of those little bits fall into the 100% to go.” A biplane version of a Bowers Fly Baby was recently put together, and the hangar includes a Heath Parasol; a replica Aeronca C-2; a Longster, one of the earliest homebuilt aircraft; and a McKimmon monoplane homebuilt. There are also two individually-owned Auster Mk 6s at Guelph.
Volunteers share the Tiger Boys’ love of airplanes and assist with woodworking, metal fabrication, upholstery and painting. “We have a good team,” Tom says of the Tiger Boys “family” of enthusiasts. “I have people in charge of each airplane.”
Volunteers share the Tiger Boys’ love of airplanes and assist with woodworking, metal fabrication, upholstery and painting. “We have a good team,” Tom says of the Tiger Boys “family” of enthusiasts. “I have people in charge of each airplane.”
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It isn’t surprising that the Tiger Boys have attracted “lights, camera, action!” too. Tiger Boys aircraft appeared in the 2008 movie, “Amelia.” Hilary Swank, wanting to research her role as the famed pilot, showed up at the Air Park dressed in period flying clothes to enjoy an out-of-production flight with pilot Cam Harrod. The Guelph aerodrome was also turned into “The Leaside Aerodrome” for the filming in 2017 of an episode of the Frankie Drake Mysteries on CBC.
The Tiger Boys’ annual weekend fly-in September is among the most anticipated aviation events on the calendar, as fans including many CAHS members enjoy the action and the hangar flying. Many outstanding pilots have flown from Guelph. Such aviators are exemplified by Gerry Younger, eight-time Canadian aerobatic champion, famed for air show displays in a Pitts Special with “CANADA” emblazoned on the upper wing. Al Hauff, who also flew air shows in a Pitts Special, has lived on Skyway Drive since 1976. He held the Canadian Unlimited Aerobatic title in 1976-77 and was a member of the Ray Ban Golds. |
Hilary Swank with pilot Cam Harrod visited Guelph Air Park during filming of Amelia in 2008.
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Fern Villeneuve, inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 2006, loved to fly his 1948 Globe Swift from Guelph until he passed away in 2019. In a male-dominated industry, distinguished pilot, flight instructor Adele Fogele owned and operated the Air Park flight school from 1987 to 2011.
Guelph has been the scene of many “firsts.” To cite a few examples: The Air Park became one of the first privately-owned airports in Ontario to have 24-hour availability for takeoffs and landings when a lighting system was installed in 1956. The first Canadian Owners and Pilots Association Chapter – COPA Flight One -- was created at Guelph in 1964. Len Ariss became the first Canadian to be nominated as Airport Operator of the Year by Flying Farmers International in 1966. Jane managed the Air Park from 1986 until its sale in 2011.
Guelph has been the scene of many “firsts.” To cite a few examples: The Air Park became one of the first privately-owned airports in Ontario to have 24-hour availability for takeoffs and landings when a lighting system was installed in 1956. The first Canadian Owners and Pilots Association Chapter – COPA Flight One -- was created at Guelph in 1964. Len Ariss became the first Canadian to be nominated as Airport Operator of the Year by Flying Farmers International in 1966. Jane managed the Air Park from 1986 until its sale in 2011.
Cindi Conlon enjoyed a flight in a Tiger Moth flown by Steve Gray.
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The Guelph Flying Club, established in 1962, is the oldest tenant at the Air Park. GFC pilots have flown their Cessna 172M Skyhawk to at least 100 airports across Canada and at least 170 airports in about 40 American states.
Stats Canada data shows the volume of air traffic peaked in 1998 at 80,370 movements annually. Guelph has always been a popular destination for the entire aviation community and is poised for a bright future. Cindi enjoyed a flight over the Air Park in a Tiger Moth piloted by Steve Gray. As she recalls with a smile, “the loop performed midway in the flight resulted in a three-hour horizontal rest on the kitchen floor” upon her return. As Cindi says, Guelph Air Park is “an amazing place.” Her book is a fitting tribute to a multi-dimensional story that enriches Canada’s aviation history. |
For more information about the book, contact Cindi at [email protected]