THE FIRST FLIGHT IN THE EMPIRE

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1934, Page 17

THE FIRST FLIGHT IN THE EMPIRE

The twenty fifth anniveisary of the first flight in the British Empire was celebrated on February 23, says tho "Chiistian Science Monitor." A quarter o£ a, century ago John Alexander Douglas McCuidy flew au aoioplano of his own design at Baddeck, ICova Scotia.- 3?r. Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, signed-a cable sent February 23, 1000, to the London "Times," which read:—

"First flight of a flj-ing machine in Canada,, occurred here today when Mr. Douglas MtiCurdy, native ot Baddeck, 2vova Scotia^'Sew a distance of about one-half ;mile "at,an elevation of about 35£t above the ice of Baddeck Bay in an aerodrome, of his own'design, named the Silver Dart."

It t *was a great 'day'in Canadian aviation'history,' Ttie weather was good, and the inhabitants of the littlo town of Baddeck, away off on tho end of Nova Scotia, jutting out into the Atlantic" Ocean,' wcro on hand to see the flight which had been announced for the first good weathei. Interest high, since Halifax was, the licadquaiters of a group of four joung men who had. done consideiable aeronautical experimenting:'Glenn H. Gurtiss. Lieutenant Thomas Sclfudgc, F. W. Baldwin, and J. A. D. McCuidy. Ai tho'Sil\ei- Bait glided along the ice of Baddeck Bay, it giadually Tose undei- its own power. Behind the aeroplane, then called, an aerodrome, came a small army of skatoii bent on following the machine to its landing. Young and old had come to the scene with, skates to .follow in tho procession |

the ad\eutuiej> oi thu d.iuny joung pilot. Great i\as then- joy when llcCuidy jose, ilew neaily halt a mile, and camo down again on the ice as gcntlv as a bird.

ThO flOXt day tho following message to tho Associated Picas v :Xe-\v Yoik told of more success:—

"McCurdy made si nice flight oi iour and'a half miles at the rate o± 40 miles | pei hour, circumnavigating, or rather icircumdioming, Baddeck Bay at an elevation of botween 40 and 50 feet in the air. At one point he ciossed a tongue of land going over a tree in his way. At tho lower end of the bay, finding himself too close to shoio for a safe return^ he came down on tho ice. One of tho,' wings was broken during the landing, and a wheel was injured in skidding." • On March 8 the aeioplane flow eight miles in tho fast time for that day of 11 minutes and 15 seconds. Latei, the Silvei Dait with McCuidy and Baldwin went to Pettiuvawa JAihtaiy Camp to show tho Ca.iadian Government authouties tho development of /aviation, but tho cavaliy field was too rough tor a successful take-off of this early and. fiagile aeioplane. During tho ( TTOlltl Wai MuCulflV tiaincd many pilots, both Canadians and Americans, in and near Toionto. Not till well towards 1925 did commercial aviation make big strides m Canada. Today the pioneer Canadian anman is a manufaetuicr of airciaft in Montreal, while his colleagues of -expeiimental days, Curtiss and Baldwin, are similarly engaged.