Noorduyn UC-64 Norseman
The UC-64A were a ten-place, single-engine utility transport aircraft. The Norseman was
designed for rugged Canadian bush country operations and could be equipped with wheels,
floats (C-64B), or skis. Before WW II, 69 were delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force
as trainers. After service testing seven YC-64s, the U.S. Army Air Forces adopted the
aircraft in 1942 as a light transport. Noorduyn produced 762 Norseman for the USAAF before
the war ended. Of these, 749 were UC-64As, including three that went to the Navy as JA-1s
and six that were equipped with floats for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The last
Norseman was produced in late 1959.
Designed for and used in arctic areas, the Norseman also was employed in Europe and the
Pacific as well as in the U.S. during the war. On Dec. 15, 1944, a UC-64A disappeared on a
flight from England to France with bandleader Major Glenn Miller on board. The aircraft
was never found.
| General characteristics
UC-64A |
| Prime function |
Light transport aircraft |
| Contractor |
Noorduyn Avaition, Ltd., Montreal, Canada |
| Power plant |
One Pratt&Whitney R-1340-AN-1 engine |
| Thrust |
590 HP |
440 kW |
| Speed |
max. |
162 mph |
260 km/h |
| cruising |
148 mph |
238 km/h |
| Ceiling |
17,000 ft |
5,180 m |
| Range |
597 miles |
960 km |
| Freight |
10 seats |
| Crew |
One or two (depending on mission) |
| First flight |
1935 |
| Cost |
$28,000 |
Source: David Hanson´s American
Aircraft of World War II
Jirka Wagner
Copyright © All Rights Reserved