1928:

The de Havilland Aircraft of Canada, Limited was formed on March 5, 1928 as a sales and assembly arm for the British parent company's products. First sales include large orders for the DH 60 Moth from the Ontario and Canadian governments and the newly formed flying club movement.

  1929:

In September, de Havilland Canada moves to a new home on a level 70 acre field on the south side of Sheppard Avenue in Downsview.

  1928-1937:

de Havilland assembles 400 British built de Havilland aircraft for Canadian customers. The DH 60 Moth is the most popular aircraft of the inter-war years.

  1938:

de Havilland Canada became a full-fledged aircraft manufacturer to produce DHC-82 Tiger Moth trainers for the RCAF.

  1938-45:

1,412 Tiger Moths, 136 Menasco Moths, 1,133 Mosquitos and 375 Anson II's produced for the war effort.

  1946:

First flight of the DHC-1 Chipmunk trainer. Two hundred seventeen were manufactured at Downsview, while 1,000 were manufactured under licence in England and 60 in Portugal.

  1947:

First Flight of the DHC-2 Beaver. In all, 1,692 of the type were manufactured, including the Turbo Beaver. In 1987, the Beaver was selected one of the top 10 Canadian engineering achievements of the past century, for its engineering, social and economic impact around the world.

  1950:

First Beaver sale to the US military, which became the company's largest single customer of the 1950s.

  1951:

First flight of the DHC-3 Otter. The Otter doubled the payload and increased the range for operators in the Canadian North and remote regions of the world. In all, 466 were produced.

  1954:

de Havilland moves to a new factory site constructed north of Wilson Avenue on the southwest side of Downsview Airport. Its original factory is acquired for an air force base.

  1956:

The company is contracted to license-build 99 Grumman CS2F-3 Tracker submarine hunter/killer aircraft for the Royal Canadian Navy.

  1958:

First flight of the DHC-4 Caribou STOL utility transport. Military and civil orders totalled 307.

  1960:

The company's guided missile division is renamed the Special Products division and develops the STEM antenna and builds Canada's first satellite, Alouette 1. When later merged with Avro's Canadian Applied Research, it is renamed SPAR.

  1961:

de Havilland Canada was purchased by Hawker Siddeley, as part of the acquisition of the parent company in England.

  1964:

First flight of the DHC-5 Buffalo. First of the twin-turbine-powered de Havilland Canada aircraft, the outstanding Buffalo set six speed-to-height records in a single flight. Military forces around the world ordered 126 of the type.

  1965:

First flight of the DHC-6 Twin Otter. Designed as a utility bush airplane for the Canadian North, the Twin Otter found its true niche with the developing commuter airlines. The largest-selling 19-passenger commuter airplane in the world logged 844 orders and was instrumental in developing the regional airline industry as we know it today.

  1974:

de Havilland Canada purchased from Hawker Siddeley by the Canadian government.

  1975:

First flight of the Dash 7 STOL regional airliner. The Dash 7's unique capabilities, low noise levels and sophisticated passenger comfort have pioneered unique applications at major airports, mountainous, steep-angle approaches and, most recently, the development of the London City Airport's STOL operations. In total, 113 Dash 7s were produced.

  1983:

First flight of the 3- to 39-passenger Dash 8, leading the way in development of new-generation regional airliners.

  1986:

de Havilland Canada purchased from the federal government by Boeing. Shortly following the purchase, Boeing announced the go-ahead for the Dash 8 Series 300, and the 7,000th aircraft manufactured by de Havilland Canada was delivered later that year.

  1987:

de Havilland Canada purchased from the federal government by Boeing. Shortly following the purchase, Boeing announced the go-ahead for the Dash 8 Series 300, and the 7,000th aircraft manufactured by de Havilland Canada was delivered later that year.

  1992:

de Havilland Canada purchased by Bombardier (majority share) and the Ontario government from the Boeing company.

  1995:

First delivery of the 37-seat Dash 8 Series 200

  1996:

Bombardier introduces the Noise and Vibration Suppression (NVS) system to the Dash 8 family. The aircraft is re-branded the "Q Series Dash 8." Q stands for Quiet.

  1996:

First flight of the ultra long range Bombardier Global Express business jet.

  1998:

First flight of the 70- to 78-seat Bombardier Q400 regional turboprop airline.

  2002:

First flight of the Learjet 40, which flies on wings manufactured in Toronto.

  2003:

First flight of the Global 5000 business jet.