Sault Star Photo
A tiny homebuilt that was the subject of a documentary is safe at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in Sault Ste Marie after an unusual trip from Vermont.
The 18-foot-long aircraft’s fuselage made the 1,300-km journey strapped to the roof of a Toyota Echo and the wings followed on a trailer.
While the MacGregor isn’t really a bushplane, museum curator Todd Fleet said the well-traveled aircraft epitomizes “the spirit of bush flying.”
The aircraft was built in 1960 by aircraft engineer Wilmer MacGregor and was sold to Blake James, who worked for the National Film Board. A documentary was made about James and his trips to the West Coast by director Bill Mason and the film earned an Oscar nomination.
Homebuilts were not common in the 1960s and the little plane became well known. It passed through several owners after James owned it and when it came up for sale on eBay earlier this year James bought it back for $7,500.
He donated the plane to the bush plane museum.