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Nils Christensen
Photo: Truthfunbug2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons5

Nils Christensen

Norwegian-Canadian aviator and aircraft engineer

Nils Christensen (15 August 1921 – 6 August 2017) was a Norwegian-Canadian aviator and aircraft engineer who founded the Canadian aerospace manufacturing firm, Viking Air Ltd. He was also a WWII veteran, serving with the Norwegian Merchant Navy and the Royal Norwegian Air Force.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Nils Christensen (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born 1921, died Aug 6, 2017.1

About

He received numerous awards and honours in Canada and Norway for his aviation and military accomplishments.

Christensen immigrated to Canada in 1951, and in 1970 founded Viking Air Ltd. in Sidney, British Columbia, Canada. Initially doing aircraft maintenance and repair, Viking Air developed into a world-class aerospace manufacturing company that continues to build aircraft. He was instrumental in obtaining the sole parts manufacturing rights from de Havilland Canada for the Beaver, Otter, and Turbo Beaver aircraft. This, along with manufacturing components for Boeing, Bell Helicopter, Textron, Lockheed Martin and Bombardier Aerospace, elevated Viking Air to the position of a leader in the Canadian aerospace manufacturing sector.

From Wikipedia’s article on Nils Christensen, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2

Companies

Early life and education

Nils Christensen was born on 15 August 1921 near Oslo in Høvik, Bærum, Norway, the fifth of six children of Emil and Jonette (Jansen) Christensen. His father, Emil, emigrated to North Dakota, USA as a young man, working various jobs and homesteading on his own land. He returned to Norway after about 10 years, when he married Jonette and they raised their family. Emil worked as an insurance collector.

In 1926, when Nils was five years old, he recalled standing outside his house with his family and staring at the sky while an enormous airship glided silently overhead. This was such an amazing sight that he said the memory stayed with him all his life. He later found out what they witnessed was the Norge (airship) on an exploration trip to the North Pole.

Nils attended primary school starting in 1928 at Høvik School (Bærum) from grade one to seven. He then began training as a mechanic apprentice at the age of 15 while attending trade school. When he was 18, he joined the Norwegian Merchant Navy in October, 1939, signing a six-month contract with Wilhelmsen Shipping Co. aboard the newly launched M/S Torrens.

From Wikipedia’s article on Nils Christensen (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

After the war, Christensen agreed to stay on with the Royal Norwegian Air Force for another year. In 1946, he attended Engine Instructors' School in England, then he instructed on engines and aircraft for the Royal Norwegian Air Force. In October 1947, he left the Air Force, and soon after obtained his Norwegian Aircraft Mechanic's license.

He began civilian work as a flight engineer and a station engineer for Braathens South-American & Far East (SAFE) Airtransport, a Norwegian air transport company, flying and maintaining Douglas DC-3 and DC-4 aircraft. He was transferred to Amsterdam, Holland by Braathens. In 1951, Braathens SAFE moved their maintenance base back to Norway, prompting Christensen and his wife to seek other options.

Emigration to Canada

In 1951, Christensen and his family moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where he used the aircraft service and maintenance skills he had gained during the war and in Holland. He first worked for de Havilland Canada aircraft manufacturer doing Lancaster conversions for air-sea rescue. A year later, he was hired by Keith Messenger of Sault Airways, a bush plane operation in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, as Chief of Maintenance, servicing float and ski aircraft including Norseman and Cessna. At times, if an airplane crashed, Christensen and the other mechanics would fly out with parts and tools, and repair the plane on site so it could be flown home. During his time at Sault Airways, he earned his Canadian Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) license.

In 1956, the Christensens moved to Sidney, British Columbia, Canada. There, he became Chief of Maintenance at the Victoria Flying Club, where he serviced club aircraft, as well as the Harvards and Beach 18's of the Naval Air Reserve squadron.

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Martin Mars Flying Tankers

In Summer 1959, Christensen joined Forest Industries Flying Tankers (FIFT), as a flight engineer and superintendent of maintenance on the giant Martin JRM Mars water bombers.

The Martin Mars aircraft was initially developed for the US Navy in WWII as a cargo transport seaplane, and was the largest Allied flying boat to enter production. Only seven were built, and three were lost by 1950. The remaining four of the world's only fleet of mighty Martin Mars aircraft were purchased from the US Navy by FIFT in December 1959. Christensen obtained his Flight Engineer License in January 1960, and then began working with Fairey Aviation converting the Mars to firefighting water bombers, which were then operated out of Sproat Lake, Vancouver Island, BC. When the first two water bombers were completed, Christensen flew each mission as Flight Engineer.

On 23 June 1961, Christensen was asked to sit out of the firefighting mission to allow the new Flight Engineer to go. Tragically, the plane crashed killing all four crew members. Then in 1962, the other completed plane was destroyed by high winds from Typhoon Freda while anchored at the Victoria Airport. The conversion of the remaining two Mars aircraft was completed in 1963, and they continued firefighting for about the next 50 years, operated by FIFT and then in 2007 by Coulson Flying Tankers. As of 2016, the planes were retired, primarily due to the use of newer and more versatile aircraft, and were put up for sale.

In 1965, Christensen left FIFT and joined Fairey Aviation, servicing a variety of aircraft. Two years later, in 1967, he became foreman of McKinnon Enterprises, an aircraft parts and modification facility in Sidney. During his time there, Christensen was responsible for rebuilding and converting three amphibian Grumman Goose aircraft to turbine power, and upgrading four Grumman Widgeons.

From Wikipedia’s article on Nils Christensen (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Sources

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