MAIN MENU CONTRIBUTORS MENU RECENT ADDITIONS 1000AIRCRAFTPHOTOS.COM LARRY MATANSKI AVIATION MEMORIAL PHOTO TRIBUTE

The photos were contributed by Neesja Christoffersen-Pedersen as a memorial to her father, Larry Matanski. Anyone wishing to contribute to this Larry Matanski Aviation Memorial Tribute page, please contact Johan Visschedijk

Photos

Larry (Lawrence) Matanski 1987

Larry Matanski was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in 1929. In the nineteen fifties and sixties Larry was involved in the cinema business. He filmed, directed, edited and produced short documentaries and movies. He worked with well-known and less well-known actors, including Garry Cooper. Larry had several positions in the aviation world, like designing floats for Tritan. He also owned and flew several planes for pleasure, including a Piaggio Gull. However, he would become well-known by designing and building aircraft. The first aircraft was the Dominion Skytrader 800 (N800ST), a twin-engined transport and utility aircraft with high STOL (short takeoff and landing) capabilities. The prototype flew successfully in 1975, but despite a long financial battle and 48 orders the aircraft failed to reach series production. The second aircraft was a high-performance turboprop powered amphibian. Flown October 1983, the Avalon 680 also failed to reach series production. Although he had many more ideas and designed several other types, none were to be flown. Larry died 1996 during recovery of heart surgery.