Hadfields and city airport have long shared history

Interpretive signs will be unveiled Sunday to illustrate the Hadfield family’s long history with Sarnia Airport. Members of the family, including Col. Chris Hadfield, are expected to attend the Oct.

Interpretive signs will be unveiled Sunday to illustrate the Hadfield family’s long history with Sarnia Airport.

Members of the family, including Col. Chris Hadfield, are expected to attend the Oct. 5 event at Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport’s passenger terminal, beginning 3 p.m.

The father of the famed astronaut, Roger Hadfield, was the first person to land an airplane at the city airport, and became a flying instructor there in 1958.

Roger and his wife Eleanor bought a cottage on Stag Island a few years later that they still return to each summer.

All three of Roger Hadfield’s sons parlayed their early experiences at Sarnia airport into aviation careers, as did other members of the family.

The airport was named for Chris Hadfield in 1997, following the first of his three missions in space.