More than 230 guests gathered at the KF Centre for Excellence on June 9 for Odyssey 86 – 90 Years of the DC-3, a special evening celebrating one of the most influential aircraft ever built and the remarkable Canadian story behind the 1986 around-the-world Odyssey flight.
The event marked two significant milestones: the 90th anniversary of the Douglas DC-3 and the 40th anniversary of the Odyssey 86 journey, which saw a Canadian crew fly a restored DC-3 around the world to help promote Expo 86 and showcase Canadian aviation on a global stage.
Guests heard remarks from Barry Lapointe, Founder and Chairman of KF Aerospace, and original Odyssey crew members before the premiere of Odyssey 86 – 90 Years of the DC-3, a documentary produced in partnership with award-winning filmmaker Ryan Tebbutt of Edge Digital Media.
The film shares the remarkable story of the Odyssey journey and the crew members who flew more than 280 hours through 28 countries and 55 cities in the summer of 1986. Original crew members Doreen Olson, Bob Blanchard, and Bill Gillies attended the premiere and joined guests in celebrating the journey’s legacy. The documentary also pays tribute to Odyssey crew members Captain Ken Olson, Dr. Jim O’Toole, and Doug Andrews, whose contributions helped make the historic flight possible.
The Douglas DC-3 first flew in 1935 and transformed global aviation by making commercial air travel more reliable, accessible, and economically viable. Its versatility also made it an essential aircraft during the Second World War and helped shape modern cargo and passenger transportation.
For the Okanagan, the story carries special significance.
Following the Odyssey 86 journey, Barry Lapointe sold the aircraft before reacquiring it in 2021 and bringing it home to Kelowna. Today, the aircraft lives at the KF Centre for Excellence for public enjoyment.
As part of the celebration, the Centre unveiled new exhibit enhancements featuring the history of the DC-3, the Odyssey journey, and the people who helped preserve its legacy.
Visitors can now experience Odyssey 86 – 90 Years of the DC-3 as part of the DC-3 exhibit at the KF Centre for Excellence. The documentary is not available online and can only be viewed as part of the visitor experience at the Centre.
“Being together again after 40 years brought back so many memories,” said Doreen Olson, Odyssey 86 crew member. “The Odyssey journey was the adventure of a lifetime. It was especially meaningful to see footage of my late husband, Captain Ken Olson, and to celebrate the journey with so many people who continue to appreciate its story.”
For those who missed the premiere, the story of Odyssey 86 is just beginning.
Visitors can now experience Odyssey 86 – 90 Years of the DC-3 as part of the DC-3 exhibit at the KF Centre for Excellence. The documentary is not available online and can only be viewed as part of the visitor experience at the Centre.
Combined with the Centre’s DC-3 exhibit and plans to return the aircraft to the skies this summer, the documentary offers a unique opportunity to connect with both the history and future of this remarkable aircraft.
To watch the documentary, explore the exhibit, and learn more, visitors are encouraged to experience the DC-3 story for themselves at the KF Centre for Excellence in Kelowna, BC.
