Family celebrates 100 years of aviation history at Fergus airport

by Kelly Waterhouse

FERGUS

Hans Christian Juergensen took his first flight over Hamburg, Germany, in a Wright Flyer B on June 27, 1912. It not only changed his life, it inspired a legacy of flying that has continued across the ocean, and through four generations of his family.

A century later, on the anniversary of his father’s flight, Chris Juergensen is opening the hanger of the Juergensen Family Airport and inviting the public to join in a celebration of his family’s flying history.

“It is a celebration of my father’s life,” explained Juergensen. “The Wright Brothers were just making their first flight when he joined a group of interested flying people in the Altonaer verein fur Luftfahrt.”

Juergensen added that while his father became the organization’s president in 1932, he never earned his pilot license. Instead he remained an engineer, fascinated by their design.

That interest would inspire a significant change in aviation, and start the Juergensen family’s passion for gliding, which allows the operator to soar in a non-motorized aircraft, launched by being towed behind a small motorized airplane.

“After the first World War, you could not fly in Germany with a plane. So the enthusiast [my father] said, ‘Then we will build a glider,’ and the gliding movement was born.”

Juergensen’s first memory of gliding was at the age of 4, when his father christened his first gliding machine.

“That, above all the following bungee cable takeoffs down a hill, of 20 seconds duration, impressed me so that I was always dreaming about it,” Juergensen recalls fondly.

He followed in his father’s footsteps, but went further. At age 16, he joined the Air Cadets and started flying gliders. When the Second World War began, the high school student volunteered for the Air Force [Luftwaffe], training in transport gliders.

“After training for them, there was a chance to come to fly power planes ... So I came to the old intensive German flight training where ... you have to be trained from the old planes and then all the history up to finally the strong and fast Junkers 88. By that time we had lost already the mastery of the sky to the American and British Air Force over Germany, and most gasoline refineries were destroyed. So I did not come to fly missions or I would not be here, as on every German plane came more than 15 who shot at us.”

The war not only ended his flying career, for a time, it changed his future. Germany was no longer a land of prosperity for the young Juergensen, who wanted a future in farming.

“Out was the dreams of renting a farm, not to mention buying. So I decided to try my luck in a free, democratic country - and the best was Canada.”

Landing here in 1954, Juergensen would eventually settle with a dairy farm in Alma. Never forgetting his father’s influence, he joined a glider club near Belwood, and later became one of the founders of the Toronto Soaring Club, and Air Sailing Club, that reached 30 members.

He also became a flight instructor and maintains a commercial pilot licence.

Describing his passion for aviation, Juergensen said, “I love the freedom and the wide view. You are all alone. You are so close to God you wouldn’t believe it ... and all of your problems are all beneath you. You forget all your worries.”

His wife Helen shares his love of flying. “He is a different man when he comes out of that plane,” she said.

Naturally, Juergensen introduced his two sons, Carl and Hans, to the experience of glider flying

“I made the mistake of teaching them both to fly, and they learned quickly that it was a lot easier to fly than it was to pitch manure,” Juergensen joked.

Hans, now an airline pilot for Air Transat, recalled his start as a third generation aviator.

“From an early age, my father had a passion for glider flying. On Sundays, we went gliding,” Hans said.

“When my Dad was flying, his face changed, and even though I knew he loved farming, you really saw his love of gliding.”

Hans understood his father’s joy. “Riding the energy that was available from the sky is the instrument of the glider. It’s all you, there is nothing else, and you have to figure it out. It is an art,” Hans said.  “I knew I wanted to do that.”

In 1984, the Juergensen Family Airport began with a 2,300 foot long grass landing strip on their farm property on the Beatty Line.

The property is a regular landing site for the Kitchener Flying Club and is a frequent stop over for pilots flying into the area for business. It is on the Air Canada flight map too.

Helen and Chris operate the Fergus Fly-In Bed and Breakfast, where travellers from across Canada and northern United States can fly in and stay, to explore the region.

Hans became one of the youngest glider pilots in Ontario, then followed with a pilot licence, became an instructor, and went on to fly helicopters.  

His brother Carl preferred power flying, and also pursued an extensive flying career and is now working as a pilot with Air Canada.

Hans’ children have joined in the family tradition, achieving their own gliding licences. “I think this is really cool because it is a tradition that seems to be growing,” he said. “It is the strongest bond between me and my Dad, and me and my own kids, and our connection to the sky.”

To celebrate their heritage, the public is welcome to join the Juergensen family as they celebrate 100 years of flying history, with an barbecue and tour of the on-site air hangers on June 27.

The event beings at 5pm, with food served at 6pm.

The commemoration address will take place at 7pm.

Admission is $15 per person; children under 12 are free. RSVP by June 20 to Chris or Helen Juergensen at 519-843-1487, or Hans Juergensen at 519-826-7842 or via email at juergensenhans@gmail.com.

June 22, 2012