In March 1981 an

order was placed for

six A310s but the

recession meant the

order was cancelled.

Max Ward later said

of Airbus, “I doubt

if there is another

aircraft manufacturer

in the world that

would have treated

us so well.”

M

axwell William ‘Max’ Ward was born

in Edmonton on November 22, 1921

and his desire to fly Hurricanes led

him to join the Royal Canadian Air

Force (RCAF) in 1940. He graduated with top marks and was

convinced he would get a posting abroad however, to his dismay,

he was chosen to train as a flying instructor instead –some say he

insulted the Chief Instructor to get that posting! After flying in

Canada he was discharged from the RCAF at the age of 24.

Polaris

Max Ward now set his eyes on flying for a living and with a lot

of prospecting taking place up in the Northwest Territories, he

felt sure he could find a job as a bush pilot.

After a brief start flying with Jack Moare ( Jack’s name later

appeared on Wardair A310 C-FNWD) in Edmonton, Max

decided to leave for Yellowknife, where there was a great demand

for pilots with their own aircraft. Here he started Polaris Air

Charter, but had no aircraft...

Max had saved $1,500 (Canadian) in War Bonds and went

to see Phil Garrett at de Havilland Canada (DHC) in Toronto.

Phil was not there, but Max left having put down a deposit on

a Fox Moth with wheels, skis and floats – CF-DJC (this same

registration was later used on Wardair’s first 747, aptly named

the Phil Garrett). With help from a family friend, Max was

Wa r d a i r

able to boost his deposit on the cost of the $10,500 Fox Moth

to $2,500. He arrived back at Yellowknife with no operating

licence, but a great plan.

The one-man outfit was the true ‘Spirit of Flying’, transporting

prospectors from dawn to dusk. Max would cover the engine in

canvas to keep it warm overnight in the winter, ensuring that the

Gipsy Major had no problems starting in the remote areas where

he operated.

In 1947 Romeo Vachon of the Air Transport Bureau (ATB)

Max Ward started

his airline with de

Havilland Fox Moth

CF-DJC which he

specified should have

wheels, skis and

f loats to cope with the

harsh conditions. It

is seen here on the

Snare River in 1947,

around the time

the Air Transport

Bureau noticed that

the aircraft carried

Polaris Air Charter

titling, which was

not permitted by a

one-man operation.

A C C/

C C

C

 

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