With over 100 years of combined AME and AMT experience in vintage aircraft restoration and maintenance and two EAA Gold Wrenches, the team at VinTech Aero will keep your aircraft in top shape or turn your barn find into an award-winning masterpiece that will turn heads wherever you go.
Mike Potter — Founder and catalyst
In the late 1990s, Ottawa high-tech entrepreneur Mike Potter, a lifelong aviation enthusiast and pilot of high performance aircraft, embarked on an ambitious plan to acquire a world–class collection of classic aircraft in flying condition. The collection soon developed a distinctly Canadian character, with the finest examples extant of types that played an important role in Canadian military and civilian aviation history.
To build such a stable of aircraft, Mike created VinTech Aero Inc in 2008 to care for these exotic machines and national treasures. He built this AMO to be the equal of any restoration and maintenance organization in the world and worthy of the the importance of these aircraft and the stories they tell.
Mike doesn’t just collect and build these aircraft, he’s flown most of them too — having been certified on the Spitfire IX and XVI, the Corsair (FG-1D and F4U), P-51 Mustang, Staggering, Taperwing, Harvard, Stearman, Tiger Moth, Fox Moth, Chipmunk, Cornell and Finch as well as high performance aerobatic and business aircraft.
Paul Tremblay, AME (M1 Rated),
Director of Maintenance
Paul’s interest in aviation was sparked by his Grandmother Gladys Hicks who worked at an RAF maintenance unit during the Second World War. Her memories and stories of the London Blitz and bomber stream aircraft crossing the channel fuelled Paul's imagination and interest in wartime aviation. Paul's first professional encounter with aircraft was during summer work as a tree planter in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. when slung long lines beneath helicopters. This real life experience with working aircraft led him to aircraft maintenance studies at École Nationale Aérotechnie in St-Hubert. Following graduation Paul volunteered at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum Museum and worked for HP aviation where he gained deep experience on amphibious and float-equipped aircraft and the operation of a small aviation business.
Since 2006, Tremblay has worked at VinTech Aero, gaining his AME and Private Pilot Licenses along the way and rising to become Director of Maintenance, He has deep experience with many types of warbird and vintage aircraft including Spitfire IX and XVI, Hurricane IV and XII, Mustang, Corsair, Kittyhawk, Beaver, Staggerwing, Taperwing, Lysander, Swordfish and more.
Laurent Palmer,
AMT with A&P License
Laurent was raised in France and deeply influenced by the real-life stories his family shared about the Second World War — especially the heroic feats of his uncle, a fighter pilot in the Free French Forces. It was only natural that he developed a passion for and a career in aviation. He gained superb foundational experience during several years military service in the Aéronavale, the naval air arm of the French Navy,
Following military service, Laurent emigrated to North America and has since acquired more than 30 years of hands-on expertise as an aircraft technician. His skill set includes sheet metal work, electrical systems, and avionics. He holds an American A&P license (Airframe & Powerplant) which enabled him to serve as project lead in the U.S. for the restoration of a Second World War German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 F-8 fighter. Laurent has experience working on a wide range of other vintage fighters including Hawker Hunter MK58 and MK68, P-51 Mustang, Harvard IV, Spitfire Mk IX, Hawker Hurricane, and Hawker Fury II.
Korrey Foisy,
Master Painter
Korrey has been has held passion for painting and styling machines since his childhood — bicycles, motorbikes, snow sleds. He revels in mixing, masking, airbrushing, pin-striping, and clear coating. He loves nothing more than turning a tired, faded and corroded machine into a shiny, candy-coloured, pin-striped streamlined baby.
He turned this hobby into an occupation when he was still a teenager, painting cars, and pick up trucks for friends. By the 2000s, Korrey had created a company called KolorFast that specialized in everything from aircraft and automotive finishing to parking lot and road line-painting. He is certified in advanced aviation composite repair.
Korrey has painetd some of the Potter Collection’s most beautiful aircraft — the Spitfire Mk IX, Hurricane Mk XII and others. His exceptional work in-house at VinTech has put the finishing touches on two EAA Silver Lindy award winners.
Pat Tenger, AME (M1/M2 Rated),
Hurricane XII Project Lead
Starting out in the automotive industry working for Toyota, Hyundai and Nissan as a licensed mechanic, Pat took to mechanics easily. In 2006, he was one of the top 7 mechanics in the Toyota National Skills Competition at just 22 years old. Looking for more challenge, he returned to school at Canadore College for Aircraft Maintenance. Upon graduation Pat went to work for VIH Helicopters, working on such types as Kamov, Bell and Sikorsky. He then worked for Canadian Helicopters. Helicopters quickly fulfilled his sense of adventure and challenge — from away-team maintenance across Canada to major inspections and overhaul work.
Pat joined VinTech in 2016 and made a smooth transition from turbine helicopters to reciprocating warbirds. His experience on the restoration of the Spitfire Mk IX, known as TheRoseland Spitfire, set the stage for rapid technical knowledge growth and he was given the Project Lead position for the restoration of the Gold Wrench and Silver Lindy award-winning McKnight Hurricane Mk XII. Though Pat's focus is the British warbird aircraft of the Potter Collection, he still has led maintenance operations on all the aircraft at one point since joining the team.
Reynald Coté,
AME (M1 Rated)
Reynald's passion for all aspects of aviation started at an early age as a Royal Canadian Air Cadet in Timmins, Ontario, where he earned his glider and private pilot licenses. He is a lifetime inveterate tinkerer and honed his mechanical skills on snowmobiles, cars, motorcycles and small engines (from chain saws to lawnmowers and outboards) before joining the Canadian Forces as a Marine Engineering Technician in the Royal Canadian Navy. In the pursuit of this certification, he felt a greater connection to the old Sikorsky Sea King helicopters which operated aboard Canadian ships at the time and soon transferred become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.
Reynald has worked for many different types of aircraft operators — including the air force, flight schools, airlines, helicopter operators, and now warbird collectors. Restoring, maintaining and rebuilding vintage aircraft and vintage piston aircraft is a dream come true for him and he hopes to continue until the day he retires.
Dave O'Malley,
Historic research and markings,
Dave graduated from Carleton University with a Batchelor’s degree in Architecture but never practiced. Instead, he became a graphic designer and started a design agency called Aerographics. 50 years later, he’s still designing, specializing in aviation clients— branding, aircraft paint schemes, air show marketing and lobbyist work.
For nearly 20 years, Dave has been researching and writing aviation history and continues to work to commemorate Canadian veterans of the wars of the 20th Century. Dave has researched and created the markings, stencils, vinyls and nose art for most of the aircraft of the Michael Potter Collection and Vintage Wings of Canada Collection — Hurricane XII, Spitfire IX, FG-1D Corsair, Fairchild Cornell, Fleet Finch, Harvard 4, Chipmunk, and Lysander. He also created the paint scheme designs for both of Mike Potter’s de Havilland Beavers.
Mike Irvin, AME (M1 Rated) Fabric,
Fury Project Lead
Mike has over 40 years of experience in the field of aviation amassing a varied and extensive skill set. Beginning his career up north as an apprentice Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, Mike acquired mechanical experience on various aircraft including the DHC-2 Beaver, DHC-3 Otter, DHC-6 Twin Otter, numerous Cessnas, and Beechcraft Queen Air in addition to performing float and skin repairs.
After earning his AME license Mike worked at the Aviation Museum in Ottawa for 30 years where he gained experience maintaining and running various aircraft including the Otter, Grumman Tracker, Dash 7, Harvard, Chipmunk, Nieuport 17, Sopwith Pup, and Avro 504K. Mike's experience includes restoring aircraft and aircraft engines, fabricating parts and equipment, cotton/linen and ceconite fabric work and painting. Sheet metal: lathe/milling machine, machining experience and welding. After retiring in 2016. Mike brought his experience and knowledge to VinTech Aero working on the Hurricane and Hawker Fury as well as making parts and tools.
André Laviolette, AME (M1/M2 Rated)
Parts Manager
André was born in Buckingham, Québec, a small town not far from the VinTech hangar. It was in this town that the beloved teacher Brother Hormisdas Gamelin inspired youth with science and aviation and founded the Gatineau Gliding Club to provide local high school students like André with practical and theoretical aeronautical knowledge. André loved to attend country air shows at the club and visit the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa and was inspired to pursue a career in aviation through the Canadian Armed Forces. He enlisted in 1979 as an Airframe Technician and enjoyed a stellar 29-year career, working on several different types of aircraft including fighters, VIP transports, and helicopters.
Following retirement, he settled back in Buckingham and joined Vintage Wings of Canada as a volunteer. His skills were such that he was hired by VinTech in 2008 to work on the restoration of Hawk One, the F-86 Sabre which toured the country in celebration of Canada's centennial of powered flight. He would continue to work on Hawek One for nearly a decade. In 2011, André earned his civilian AME accreditation and has worked on many different aircraft types since. He has retired from maintenance work but still wears many hats at VinTech. He is currently the Quality Assurance Manager and Parts Manager and looks after all shipping and receiving.
Top vintage aircraft operators, restorers, brokers and pilots know the difference the VinTech Aero team can make — in cost, safety, reliability and resale value.
Frédéric Vormezeele, FAST bv — Flying Aces Services and Training — Belgium
“It has always been a pleasure working and dealing with Paul Tremblay and VinTech Aero Inc. Having purchased a Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane there, they did a great job at building fixtures and containerizing both aircraft for shipping to Belgium. While visiting their shop, I was amazed about the quality of their work and restorations. Their support and transparency is still very much appreciated.”
Commander Chris Hadfield, F-86 and Spitfire pilot, test pilot and former Commander of the International Space Station
“As a military combat fighter/test pilot, I bet my life daily on professional, expert maintenance. I still do as a warbird pilot, and the deeply skilled award-winning team at VinTech Aero is unbeatable. Their superbly restored and maintained aircraft give me great pride and confidence to fly, every time.”
Matt Jones, The Silver Spitfire project
“Having traversed the North Atlantic through Iceland, Greenland and NE Canada, in GIRTY, the record setting ‘Round the World’ Silver Spitfire, it was great to touch down at Gatineau to be met so warmly by..people! But not just any people. We immediately got it on with these like minded warbird lovers. They made us feel so welcome sharing not only their spectacular hangar , and incredible city, but also their fantastic knowledge of the Spitfire. No ask was too much. We were entertained by Mike and helped hugely by Paul. Our sincerest thanks to them and all the team for looking after us so well. Should we ever set off on another such challenge we will certainly be knocking on their hangar doors again for their help and friendship!”
Dave Hadfield, Airline and Warbird pilot, Victory Flight Team Lead
As a volunteer pilot for several owners, I've been flying aircraft restored and maintained by VinTech Aero since its creation 20 years ago. The list includes: P-40 Kittyhawk, P-51 Mustang, Spitfire, Hurricane, Lysander, Tiger Moth, Fox Moth, WACO Taperwing, Staggerwing, Harvard, Finch, Cornell, and Extra 330. The engines have kept running and always stood-up to the loads of aerobatics, airshows, and formation-flying.
In 2018 I flew the Spitfire IX on a 5000-mile journey across the continent, and when I got back on the return trip the aeroplane could have kept right on going -- no snags.
I've always bet my own hide on VinTech Aero excellence, and am happy to continue to do so.
Our Team Pledge.
We do more than restore, repair and maintain — we listen.
To the stories in history books, to the notes scribbled by mechanics long ago, to the instructions written in old manuals—we follow their lead with patience, precision, and respect.
Every decision we make—every part we select, every seam we align—is a promise: to stay true to the original, to never cut corners, and to give these aircraft back the dignity they deserve.
Because when these aircraft take off again, they don’t just fly—they testify.
Why wait for spring, do it now.
We’ll get your aircraft ready for your next flying season.