The Flying Bandit Exhibit

Located at Second Chance Car Museum,  a replica plane to highlight the history of Ken Leishman, "The Flying Bandit" and the great gold heist! 

Kenneth "Ken" Leishman (1931–1979), better known as The Flying Bandit is one of Manitoba's most famous historical figures. Born near Norfolk Treherne in Manitoba, Leishman became a skilled pilot whose heist-like robberies, clever disguises, and dramatic prison escapes made him a legend across Canada during the 1950s and 1960s. He committed his most famous crime in 1966, when he masterminded the theft of 12 gold bars worth nearly $385 000 (about $4 million today) from Winnipeg International Airport, then the largest gold heist in Canadian history. Although his crimes repeatedly landed him in prison, Leishman's polite manner, sharp appearance, and refusal to use unnecessary violence earned him an unusual reputation as a folk hero to Canadians. After serving his sentence, he left his criminal past behind, managing an airline in Red Lake, Ontario, and becoming a respected member of the community. His life ended in 1979 when the aircraft he was piloting on a mercy flight crashed in northern Ontario, cementing his place as one of Canada's most legendary outlaws.