Canadian Warplanes 2: Keystone Puffer

Keystone Puffer

(RCAF Photo)

Keystone Puffer Floatplane (2) RCAF Registration Nos. G-CYZH, G-CYZIK.

G-CYZH was taken on strength on 27 June 1927. It was operated for Agricultural Department on crop spraying and insecticide spraying experiments. Sprayed wheat fields near Morden, Manitoba. Operated on wheels. Used for forestry patrols from RCAF Station High River, Alberta. It was Struck off Strength after it crashed near McDonald, Manitoba. Category B damage, but written off, 30 July 1929.

G-CYZI was taken on strength on 13 June 1927. Operated for Agricultural Department on crop spraying and insecticide spraying experiments. Operated on floats. Flew demonstration air mail routes between St. Johns, NB and Montreal, Quebec in December 1927. Forced landed in Pleasant Bay, Cape Breton Island 14 September 1928, after engine problems. Claimed as salvage by local fisherman, sold back to RCAF for $25. Sprayed for mosquitos near Winnipeg in 1931. Struck off Strength on 22 Oct 1932. Reported scrapped in 1932.

Keystone Aircraft Corporation was an early American airplane manufacturer. Headquartered in Bristol, Pennsylvania, the company was formed as "Ogdensburg Aeroway Corp" in 1920 by Thomas Huff and Elliot Daland, but its name was quickly changed to "Huff-Daland Aero Corp", then to "Huff-Daland Aero Company". The company made a name for itself in agricultural aircraft, and then in the United States Army Air Corps' early bomber aircraft. In 1926, Huff left the company, and it was soon purchased by Hayden, Stone & Co., who increased capital to $1 million (United States) and renamed it Keystone. In 1929, it was taken over by Curtiss-Wright. Keystone itself became a manufacturing division of Curtiss-Wright and ceased production in 1932. (Wikipedia)

Two experiments, using a Keystone Puffer, were made in dusting crops and forests. A detachment from the Winnipeg Station flew 57.40 hours dusting wheat areas in Manitoba infected by black stem rust. Another detachment from Dartmouth Station flew 38.40 hours dusting forests in the Bras d’Or Lakes area to combat the spruce budworm insect pest. These experiments continued until the close of the 1930 flying season, using a Ford AT-6-AS in later tests. (RCAF)

(Ingenium: Ken Molson Fonds)

Keystone Puffer, RCAF Registration No. G-CYZI. This photo has been catalogued as Winnipeg 1929. G-CYZI looks to be parked in a crop. The lack of a prop and the missing panels suggest it force landed there. ZI was used for crop-dusting and insect spraying trials, at one stage on floats. After one forced water landing fishermen salvaged it and sold it back to the RCAF for $25. Reported scrapped in 1932

Keystone Puffer, RCAF Registration No. G-CYZH.

(Library and ArchivesCanada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388242)

Canadian Vickers VedetteMk. II flying boat, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYYC.  In the background are aCanadian Vickers Varuna Mk. II Reg. No. G-CYZV, Keystone Puffer Reg. No.G-CYZI, de Havilland DH.60X Moth, Reg. No. G-CYYP, Fairchild FC-2, Reg. No.G-CYYT.

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