Sudbury in Greater Sudbury, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Austin Airways 1934-1987

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 8, 2024

1. Austin Airways 1934-1987
(marker west side • English)

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

[English] Austin Airways, a pioneering aviation firm, played a leading role in the economic development of the Ontario north in the mid-twentieth century. At first its main business was flying Toronto mining executives to remote northern sites. Based in Sudbury after 1938, the airline hauled freight, flew medical evacuations, fought forest fires, trained pilots, and transported tourists. In the 1940s, Austin diversified into aerial photography, timber surveying, aerial prospecting, and ice reconnaissance flights over Hudson Bay. One of its pilots, the legendary Thurston "Rusty" Blakey, logged about 30,000 hours in the air during his 49 years with the company. Austin Airways was absorbed into Air Ontario in 1987.

[Français] La compagnie d'aviation pionnière Austin Airways joué a rôle de premier plan dans le développement économique du nord de l'Ontario. Au début, elle transporte surtout des industriels de Toronto vers les régions minières isolées du Nord. Opérant à partir de Sudbury après 1938, elle transporte des marchandises et des touristes, fait des évacuations médicales,

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combat les feux de forêt et forme des pilotes. Dans les années 1940, la compagnie se tourne vers la photographie aérienne et les vols d'évaluation des forêts, de prospection et de reconnaissance de la glace dans la baie d'Hudson. Un de ses pilotes, le légendaire Thurston « Rusty » Blakey, accumule près de 30 000 heures de vol pendant ses 49 ans de service. En 1987, la compagnie Austin Airways est absorbée par Air Ontario.

Erected by Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation/Fondation du patrimoine ontarien, Ministère de la Culture, du Tourisme et des Loisirs.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1934.

Location. 46° 28.273′ N, 80° 59.671′ W. Marker is in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. It is in Sudbury. It can be reached from Ramsey Lake Road (County Highway 39) just east of Paris Street (County Highway 80), on the left when traveling east. The marker is located on the Science North Museum grounds, along the walkway overlooking Hermit's Bay. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Ramsey Lake Road, Greater Sudbury ON P3E 5S9, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northeastern Ontario

and specifically in Northern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of

Austin Airways 1934-1987<br>(<i>marker east side • Français</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 8, 2024

2. Austin Airways 1934-1987
(marker east side • Français)

this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Sudbury Basin (approx. 1.2 kilometers away); W. J. Bell (approx. 1.2 kilometers away); Laurentian University of Sudbury / Université Laurentienne de Sudbury (approx. 1.7 kilometers away); The Franco-Ontarian Flag / Le drapeau franco-ontarien (approx. 2 kilometers away); The Irish Regiment of Canada (approx. 2.1 kilometers away); The Founding of Sudbury / La fondation de Sudbury (approx. 2.1 kilometers away); Sainte-Anne-des-Pins (approx. 2.6 kilometers away); The Superstack / La Supercheminée (approx. 2.9 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greater Sudbury.

Also see . . . Austin Airways (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Established as Capreol and Austin Air Services, Austin Airways was one of Canada's oldest airlines, starting operations in 1934. The home base was Timmins and it operated many duties in addition to passenger and freight services. Over the years, scheduled services served over 40 cities, including one destination in the United States. In 1973 it merged with White River Air Services but continued to operate as Austin Airways.
Most of the destinations served by the airline were isolated and remote airports in northern Ontario and Quebec provinces as well as in the Northwest Territories (NWT) (now Nunavut)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 8, 2024

3. Austin Airways 1934-1987 Marker (English)
Looking east; Science North Museum is in the background.
in Canada in addition to several larger airports across Ontario. Minneapolis/St. Paul in the U.S. was the only non-Canadian destination served by the airline during its existence.

(Submitted on November 21, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Austin Airways 1934-1987 Marker (<i>Français</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 8, 2024

4. Austin Airways 1934-1987 Marker (Français)

Looking west; Hermit's Bay is in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 328 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 21, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.