Mo’s fly-in grounded

Maurice Prud’Homme: enthralled with the freedom of flight, a region left mourning

Carl Hager

Maurice Prud’homme, long-time President of the Flying Club known as Copa Flight 169, died on January 5, 2026 having suffered a stroke and a cerebral hemorrhage. A Celebration of Life was held for Prud’Homme on January 25 at the Cooperative Funeraire de l’Outaouais in Gatineau. Over 200 people attended, many acquaintances and members of the flying club. Many noted his generosity. Prud’homme, a resident of the Municipality of Pontiac, was easy going and was an easy friend.

Prud’homme was enthralled by the freedom of flight his whole life. He was fond of telling stories about flying, never missing an opportunity to discuss the fun and thrills of flying with friends and fellow pilots. Even as an eight-year-old boy, he wanted to fly. He earned money by doing odd jobs to pay a pilot to take him up in a small plane for a few minutes’ ride. He was hooked. His love affair with flight had begun. Prud’homme said he knew then that he was hooked by flight and all things doing with aviation.

After an illustrious career as head chef in Canada’s Parliament, his first passion, during which time he had to prepare a state dinner for the Queen, a dinner that cost one thousand dollars each, Prud’homme took his flying seriously. He retired as chef at the age of 50. He had gotten his pilot’s license at the age of 38 and he loved to fly his Pelican GS. Prud’homme has flown over 5,000 hours and did his own airplane maintenance.

In 1990 he organized a winter fly-in on the Ottawa River adjacent to his home. Prud’homme cleared a run-way on the ice and fellow pilots from near and far came to the party. More than 1,750 airplanes and helicopters have participated in what became known as Mo’s Fly-in. In 2023 he started a fall fly-in on the airfield on River Road and fly-in 2025 was the 36^th consecutive year Mo’s Fly-in occurred.  Members of the Club, all volunteers, had begun to pitch in to help Prud’homme with the organizing work that his events required, the team includes Richard Raymond, Louis Dufresne, Jean Robertson and Alain Goulet.

Michael Dixon, acting President of the Club, told the Journal that the club will hold a commemorative event for Maurice Prud’homme at the airfield on River Road on October 18. 2026. All are invited.