Director, Honorary Board member, Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
Distinguished Fellow
Bruce MacRitchie, a Canadian aviation pioneer, has dedicated over six decades to advancing the aerospace industry. Bruce’s early aviation experience began in the 1960s at Central Airways in Toronto, where he earned his wings.
His aviation career continued at Fort Erie’s Fleet Industries and then in California and Florida, where he became a certified helicopter pilot, airline pilot, and aircraft technician. He represented industry giants such as Hughes, Lockheed, and Douglas, and even flew alongside Howard Hughes himself. His adventures took him across North America and Europe, including a notable emergency landing in Haiti, where he went to jail for two weeks before being allowed to get parts for his aircraft, fix the plane, and fly it home.
Bruce went on to operate several aviation businesses and managed the Welland Airport for over 30 years, transforming it into a hub for pilot training and aircraft maintenance. At 91, he continues to fly today.
A long-time director and honorary board member of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Bruce has been instrumental in preserving Canada's aviation history. In 2024, Bruce donated a 1968 Cessna C421 to Mohawk College's Centre for Aviation Technology as a sign of his dedication to aviation education.
