Flypast V. 44 No. 21

This Month’s Meeting Topic: "Trans - Atlantic Aviation 1936 - 1939 - Airships, Aircraft & Airmail"Speaker: Patrick KeenanPhoto: Pan Am Clipper Departing from Bay of Exploits, Newfoundland Credit: Pan Am Airways

Volume 44Number 2

October 2009

http://www.cahs.ca/chapters/toronto.

Canadian Aviation Historical SocietyToronto Chapter Meeting

October 17, 2009Meeting starts at 1 PM

-Under the Glider-Toronto Aerospace Museum, 65 Carl Hall Road,Toronto

This meeting is jointly sponsored by CAHSToronto Chapter and the Toronto AerospaceMuseum- All CAHS / TAM members, guestsand the public (museum admission payable) arewelcome to attend.

Refreshments will be served“Landing Fee” of $2.00 will be charged to

cover meeting expensesNext Month's Meeting November 21, 2009

Last Month’s Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Chapter News – September 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Folded Wings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Buffalo Aero Club Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11New parking lot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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Last Month’s MeetingSeptember Dinner MeetingTopic: J.A.D. McCurdy, the Silver Dart in 1909and celebrations 100 years laterSpecial Speakers: Gerald Haddon, BjarniTryggvasonReporter: Gord McNulty

Our first annual CAHS Toronto DinnerMeeting proved to be a great success, thoroughlyenjoyed by 54 members and guests. The eventwas held at the splendid Armour HeightsOfficers’ Mess at the historic Canadian ForcesCollege. Everyone was delighted with the menu,featuring a fine roast beef au jus buffet with wineat the tables. A special welcome was extendedby CAHS Toronto Chapter President HowardMalone to four visitors from the Aero Club ofBuffalo --- Fran and Gerry Bainbridge, andArlene and Russ Lo Presti --- who helped toinspire our decision to try a dinner meeting.

It was fitting that the meeting was held at ahistoric site. Armour Heights was among themajor airfields built in Canada by the RoyalFlying Corps during the First World War, onland made available by the flamboyant ColonelF.B. Robins, honorary colonel of the TorontoScottish Regiment. A “School of Special Flying”opened early in 1918 and the forerunner of theRCAF Central Flying School had a brief summerof glory. A number of men who later becameprominent in Canadian aviation took instructors’courses at Armour Heights, including a formerChief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal WilfredCurtis. Col. Robins, a power in real estate circlesin Toronto, built a country estate which he calledStrathrobyn in 1914. A fine stone house of 18bedrooms, set in beautifully landscaped grounds,it would eventually become the Officers’ Mess ofthe Canadian Forces College. Additions werebuilt in 1974. The size of the dining room wasdoubled to accommodate the current total of 166staff and students at Armour Heights.

***Howard, who introduced Gerald Haddon,

noted that the Toronto Chapter has made a themein 2009 of supporting for the 100th anniversaryof powered flight in Canada. On 23 February,1909, J.A.D. McCurdy made history with thefirst flight of the Silver Dart on the frozensurface of Bras d’Or Lake at Baddeck, NovaScotia. A full-scale replica was built by AerialExperiment Association 2005 Inc. volunteers. Itfirst flew on 6 February, 2009, at Hamilton withBjarni Trygvasson, at the controls. Bjarni thenflew the replica successfully for the nationalCentennial of Flight celebrations at Baddeck on22 February.

Gerald Haddon, grandson of J.A.D. McCurdy,was born in Victoria, B.C., on August 6, 1942, toa senior Naval Officer of the RCN with postingsabroad that included Washington, D.C., andLondon, England. He spent his childhoodstationed at Canada’s Pacific and Atlantic navalbases. Gerald was educated at numerous schoolsin England, the United States and Canada,finishing at Shawnigan Lake School onVancouver Island in B.C. A graduate of SimonFraser University in B.C. and University College(London) England, Gerald has travelledextensively throughout North America, Europeand the Middle East. He worked in broadcastingfor CTV in Toronto for 39 years, and wasinvolved in the directing side of all major CTVproductions such as Canada AM, CTV News,W5, winter and summer Olympics, and manyoutside drama, sports, comedy and culturalshows. Gerald met his future wife, Amanda,from England, while sailing in the British VirginIslands. He has two daughters --- Edwina, 24,who is studying law at the College of Law inLondon, England, and Emma, 21, who isstudying political science and international policyat Queen’s University in Kingston. His hobbiesinclude sailing, tennis, reading, travelling andbuilding vintage planes as a member of the AEA

Flypast V. 44 No. 23

2005 team. He is also a member of 434 (Niagara wanted to fly two or three more times. However,Peninsula) Wing, Air Force Association of as prudent as always, and recognizing theCanada. importance of what had just taken place, Dr. Bell

Gerald described his grandfather, The said, “What we have seen just now may wellHonourable John Alexander Douglas McCurdy, prove to be one of the really important pages inas he knew him for the first 19 years of his life. history. Douglas, you can fly her againHe quoted W.E.B. DuBois, the American civil tomorrow if you like, but that’s all for today.” rights activist, author and editor, who said, “The Bell came to Nova Scotia in 1885 to escapemost important thing in life to remember is this: the oppressive summer heat and humidity ofbe ready at any moment to give up what you are Washington, D.C. He settled upon one of thefor what you might become.” That is how J.A.D. scenic jewels of Canada --- the picturesqueMcCurdy lived his life. In 1907, when J.A.D. hamlet of Baddeck, situated on the shores of Brasgraduated from the University of Toronto, his d’Or Lake, in the heart of Cape Breton Island.classmates wrote in their yearbook that The magnificent scenery, reminding him of his“McCurdy is a quiet man of power. His friends native Scotland, immediately seduced him andregard him as capable of performing any task.” the temperature was cool. One day, walkingGerald’s earliest recollections come from along Baddeck’s main street, Bell glancednumerous summer holidays spent with his through the window of the Cape Breton Islandgrandfather as a young boy, visiting Government Reporter and noticed a man trying to fix hisHouse in Halifax when J.A.D. was Lieutenant telephone. Bell entered the office, offered toGovernor of Nova Scotia. His grandparents’ help, took the phone, expertly dismantled it, andBaddeck home was nestled on a two-acre plot of pulled out a dead fly. Reassembling theland overlooking scenic Bras d’Or Lake. telephone with lightning dexterity, he returned it

One afternoon J.A.D. described the first flight to the startled gentleman --- who turned out to beof the Silver Dart. The day was cloudless; the J.A.D. McCurdy’s father. When asked how hetemperature was minus 15, with no wind. It fixed the telephone so deftly, Bell quietly replied:seemed as if the whole countryside had turned to ‘Well, I invented it.” The two men soon becamesee what was going to happen. Many old-timers fast friends, with Arthur McCurdy ultimatelyhad come fully prepared to witness a crash. becoming Bell’s personal assistant. Having lostFinally, the Silver Dart was positioned on the ice two sons in infancy, Bell wanted to adoptby several people on skates. After checking that Gerald’s grandfather --- so strong was the bondall was in order, McCurdy gave the signal to let that developed between the two. A Scottishgo. The Silver Dart had gone about 100 feet Aunt, named Aunt Georgina --- who had beenalong the ice when all of sudden it rose looking after Arthur McCurdy’s four younggracefully into the air, to an elevation of about 30 children, after the death of their mother, Lucy ---feet. It travelled at 40 mph, for three-quarters of learned of Bell’s intentions. Putting her foota mile. McCurdy most remembered the highly down, she said, “J.A.D. McCurdy was born askeptical villagers, who had predicted disaster, McCurdy, and by God, he will die a McCurdy.”and the excitement on the face of his colleague That was the end of that. However, Bell didDr. Alexander Graham Bell. Everyone was become a godfather to Gerald’s grandfather.thrilled by what they had witnessed, and urged Throughout his childhood, J.A.D. McCurdyMcCurdy to go up again. He said it was as if he could be found at Beinn Bhreagh, Bell’s summerhad consumed two shots of whisky, and he residence, helping Bell with his glider and kite

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experiments. the Silver Dart. While demonstrating theMcCurdy was barely 20 when he completed potential of airplanes to the Canadian army at

his engineering degree at the University of Petawawa in 1909, he took Baldwin up on 2Toronto and returned to Baddeck. He invited his August, as Canada’s first air passenger. Withbest friend, Casey Baldwin, a fellow engineer, to Baldwin, he formed Canada’s first aircraftjoin him for a two-week holiday. Baldwin’s production company in April, 1909 --- thevacation would turn into a lifelong visit, such Canadian Aerodrome Co., which built thewas the allure of Cape Breton and the Baddeck No. 1, the first powered aircraft built inopportunity of working with one of the world’s Canada. McCurdy is credited with sending thegreatest inventors, Dr. Bell. Gerald recalled his first wireless message, in August, 1910, whilegrandfather telling him how the aeronautical airborne, and with sending and receiving the firstpowerhouse, the Aerial Experiment Association wireless transmission while aloft in 1911. In(AEA), was created. On a windy, miserable 1910, he became the first Canadian to be issuednight in September, 1907, Dr. Bell, Baldwin and a pilot’s licence. He was the first to demonstrateJ.A.D. were all in a big living room at Beinn the possibility of bombing from the air.Bhreagh, discussing their kite flights that day. McCurdy made the first inter-city flight inMrs. Bell came in with hot coffee, watched the Canada in 1911 --- a race between Hamilton andconversation for a few moments, and said, “Now Toronto, which he won, despite giving hisAlec, you have some pretty some engineers here. competitor a 10-minute start. Why don’t we form an organization?” Thus, the McCurdy contributed enormously to theAEA was born, on 31 October, 1907. Not only development of the aileron, the tricycle landingwas the original suggestion that of Mrs. Bell, but gear, wing dope, and pontoons. The latter helpedshe also insisted on financing the AEA. The five to transform Canada’s vast hinterland of lakesmembers of the group --- Dr. Bell, Casey into thousands of landing places, opening up theBaldwin, J.A.D. McCurdy, Thomas Selfridge, country’s immense wilderness. He flew the firstand Glenn Curtiss --- called themselves flying ocean boat, and made the first oceanicassociates. flight from Florida to Cuba on 30 January, 1911.

The AEA had one purpose: to get a man into He opened Canada’s first aviation school inthe air. Two of its most notable and lasting 1915, and was chiefly responsible for theachievements, in Gerald’s view, were the founding of the Royal Canadian Air Force alongcreation of the tricycle landing gear and the with W.G. Barker and W.A. Bishop. During theaileron. In a 1949 CBC interview at Government Second World War, as deputy director of aircraftHouse, J.A.D. McCurdy noted the aileron was a production, he helped formulate the Britishsystem that was used universally. He considered Commonwealth Air Training Plan. One of theit to be Canada’s outstanding contribution to single largest aviation training programs inaircraft development. Incredibly, as Gerald history, the BCATP graduated 131,553 pilots,noted, a century later the aileron is still used on navigators, bomb aimers, gunners, wirelessaircraft worldwide. In an attempt to demonstrate operators and flight engineers of thethe manoeuvrability of an aircraft using ailerons, Commonwealth air forces during the SecondMcCurdy made the first figure eight in an World War. airplane in the world on 29 August, 1908. The AEA, accomplishing what it set out to do,

McCurdy was a true visionary of his time. He disbanded on 31 March, 1909. McCurdy, foreverwas the first to utilize a water-cooled engine, on thinking ahead, wanted to convince the federal

Flypast V. 44 No. 25

government of the potential of the airplane for first aviator to fly out of sight of land on a clearcommercial use and for any future conflicts. day. Two hours out, with Havana a mile and aBaldwin and McCurdy went to Petawawa to half ahead, and just short of the farthestdemonstrate the flying capabilities of the Silver destroyer, engine trouble forced him to glideDart and the Baddeck No. 1 to the military. from an altitude of 800 feet to a gentle waterMcCurdy made five flights in August 1909. All landing. Always cautious, McCurdy had fittedof the flights were without incident except for the his biplane with two pontoons --- another first ---last one, when he came in to land. Because of in case he was forced to land on the ocean. Anthe hilly terrain, the wheels of the Silver Dart engine examination revealed that a burnt bearingcaught on a bump. The aircraft went over on its on the crankshaft caused a loss of oil.nose and was demolished, causing McCurdy to Nevertheless, the Cubans were so impressedsustain the only injury ever in his aviation career by McCurdy’s courage and flying skills --- also--- a broken nose. Unfortunately, the officials demonstrated in a second aircraft he sent to Cubaruled that flying had no place in modern defence. --- that President Gomez held a state banquetMcCurdy was disappointed, but in 1920 a new with 7,000 guests. In recognition, McCurdy wasfederal government established the Canadian air given $18,000 in prize money. He received it inforce, which became the RCAF on 1 April, 1924. an envelope from the president during the stateMcCurdy’s dream that Canada have its own dinner, with the presidential seal affixed at theforce, which he originally proposed in 1909, back. J.A.D. did not open the letter until hefinally became a reality. reached the privacy of his hotel room. When he

Gerald said that McCurdy was considered to broke the seal, he found nothing but a fewbe the best flier of the AEA and even of the newspaper clippings. He had, nonetheless, madeworld in 1910 and 1911. Thinking about some the longest flight over water at that time --- moreexhibition flying to make some money and hone than 90 miles, a world record. his flying schools, he and his brother and In an aside, Gerald noted that in order tobusiness manager, Lucien, went to the U.S. The obtain an aero certificate in 1915, an aspiringventure was a sensational success as thousands of pilot had to make two distant flights consisting ofpeople flocked to see J.A.D. fly in various cities. at least five kilometres each in a closed circuit,As the temperature fell, he and Lucien moved without touching the land or water. These flightsfurther south towards warmer climes until were done in figure eights, and at least eighteventually reaching Florida. One day, J.A.D. figure eights had to be made. The aviator alsodecided to fly the 90 or so miles to Havana, had to make an altitude flight of at least 328 feet,Cuba, from Key West, Fla. He set off at 8:34 and to descend from that height with the motora.m. on 30 January, 1911, to a light breeze, with cut off. The landing had to be clean, and thesix American destroyers evenly spaced between aviator had to come to rest within 164 feet of aFlorida and Cuba. He used the smokestacks as a designated point. For these tests, he had to bemeans of navigation, also a means of rescue from alone. the shark-infested waters should he come down. Prime Minister Mackenzie King appointedHelped by black smoke from the warships, he McCurdy Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia inflew over the first destroyer at an altitude of 500 1947. As the king’s representative, McCurdyfeet at 9:15 a.m. He overtook two more of the relished the new position, serving his provinceescorts, all steaming at their top speed of 30 from where so much of his worldwide fameknots. Getting up to 1,000 feet, he became the came. He met people from every station in life,

Flypast V. 44 No. 2 6

and invariably treated each individual exactly the the replica was being constructed, he wentsame. On one of Gerald’s visits to Government unannounced to the AEA hangar. The highlightHouse, J.A.D. asked how he was getting along in of the visit was looking at the Silver Dart, feelingboarding school. Gerald replied that sometimes it and being allowed to sit in the “cockpit.”it was difficult to live with people in close Gerald stood with his jaw ajar, staring in awequarters, seven days a week. J.A.D. told him it until the head engineer thoughtfully broke thewas always a challenge to interact with one’s silence and began to give him a rundown on whatfellow human beings, but one should always try he and his group had achieved in more thanto keep the following quotation in mind: “There 6,000 hours of meticulous labour over a period ofis nothing noble in being superior to someone five years. As Gerald was preparing to leave, theelse. True nobility lies in being superior to your engineer asked him if he would like to work onformer self.” the Silver Dart. When Gerald emphasized that

McCurdy’s talent for the common touch, he didn’t have any mechanical skills, thedespite his official position, endeared him to the engineer assured him that he would be shown thethousands who came to know him. To a young ropes. On arriving home, Gerald’s wife, Amanda,boy like Gerald, he was a magnificent figure in was intrigued to learn of his new “job offer” andhis official uniform. He truly was Gerald’s hero. aware of Gerald’s limitations, politely enquiredIn 1951, he entertained Princess Elizabeth and “Isn’t this plane meant to fly?” Gerald startedPrince Philip at a State Dinner in Government working on the replica, and was gently guidedHouse. Afterwards, Gerald asked J.A.D. what through the complex task of putting wood, wire,his impressions were of the young Princess. He steel rods, grommets, bolts and nuts, all togetherreplied that he thought her “altogether lovely and to build a flyableclever, but just a little bit frightened.” When aircraft. He relished every minute of being there,Gerald asked him if he anything to tell her, he realizing what a privilege it was to be able tosaid: “I told her to stay just the way she was, and work on the Silver Dart. not to try too hard to grow great or serious. If One of the many concepts McCurdy taught hisshe could do that, I told her, she would make a grandson was that a life of giving would bringwonderful sovereign some day.” As his fame more fulfillment than a life of taking. Geraldspread, McCurdy rarely mentioned his numerous thought about this message as he toiled on hisaccomplishments and worldwide awards. He aeroplane. Many of the Welland group donatedalways turned a conversation towards the other their tools and their money in addition to theirperson. Modest and humble, he quoted time. Those whom Gerald had the honour ofConfucius to Gerald: “Humility is the solid meeting and working alongside rekindled in himfoundation of all virtues.” When, in 1959, the the sentiments expressed by Winston Churchill:Queen appointed him an Honorary Air “We make a living by what we get, but we makeCommodore, Gerald’s family had to pry this a life by what we give.” It was fitting in thiswonderful news out of him. The only other Centennial of Flight year that the Air Forceperson, at the time, sharing the same distinction Association of Canada presented one of its topwas Sir Winston Churchill. trophies, the J.A.D. McCurdy Award, to the

As a member of the AEA 2005 group, based AEA 2005 group. in Welland, Gerald said he can only imagine the Gerald, together with Amanda and Emma,joy and pride of those who designed the original attended the Centennial of Flight celebrations atSilver Dart. When Gerald learned last year that Baddeck in February when Bjarni, piloting the

Flypast V. 44 No. 27

replica, duplicated the 1909 flight of the Silver feelings in short order.”Dart over the same expanse of ice. “What a Gerald concluded by quoting Leonardo dabreathtaking moment it was to see the Silver Vinci: “There shall be wings! If theDart majestically take to the skies,” Gerald accomplishment be not for me, ’tis for somerecalled. “It was if time had stood still.” When other. The spirit cannot die and man, who shallsomeone asked Gerald what his grandfather know all, and shall have wings, shall indeed bewould do if he were still with us today, Gerald as a god.” As Gerald said, J.A.D. McCurdy, onanswered that he would probably say in the his epic Silver Dart flight, unleashed the powernicest possible way, “Move over Mr. of man to thrill, shock, elevate and set CanadiansTryggvason. I’d like to fly her now.” free from the pull of gravity. “He put his hand

Gerald repeated his grandfather’s description on the arc of history and bent it towards theof that historic moment on Feb. 23, 1909. “The milestone of Canadian aviation. Canada nowwhole scene is still very vivid to me. It was a awaits its turn to make its mark in the 21stbrilliant day in more ways than one. The sun was century.” Our thanks to Gerald for hisglaring down on the ice of Lake Bras d’Or, authorative, moving and personal account. Inwhich is near Baddeck. The town had turned out appreciation, Howard presented Gerald with ain a festive mood, done up in mufflers and heavy cheque for $2,500 towards the Silver Dart replicafur hats. The town by the way consisted largely project from the Toronto Chapter to be deliveredof very doubtful Scotsmen. Most of them were to the AEA 2005 Inc. mounted on skates --- the kind you strap on your ***feet. They didn’t say much --- just came to wait Howard then introduced Bjarni Tryggvason.and see. The aeroplane, or aerodrome as it was Born in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1945, Bjarnicalled those days, which I had christened the attained a degree in Engineering Physics from theSilver Dart, was surrounded by people. During University of BC in 1972. He did postgraduatethe early afternoon, it was wheeled into place. work in engineering, specialized in appliedThe propeller was cranked, and with a cough, the mathematics and fluid dynamics at the Universitymotor snorted into life. I climbed into the pilot’s of Western Ontario. He has three honoraryseat. With an extra snort from the motor I was degrees: a Doctor of Science from UWO (1988),scooted off, down the ice. Behind came a crowd a PHD from the University of Iceland (2000) andof small boys and men on their skates, most of a Dr. of Eng. from the University of Victoriathem still doubtful that I would fly. With a lurch (2005). and a mighty strain of wires, we were in the air. Selected as one of the six original CanadianIt was amusing to look back and watch the astronauts in 1983, Bjarni flew as Payloadskaters. They seemed to be going in every Specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery ondirection, bumping into each other in their Mission STS-85 in August, 1997, spending 12excitement at seeing a man actually fly. In taking days in space. His primary role was to test theoff, I had to clear one old Scot so doubtful that I Microgravity Vibration Isolation Mount (MIM),would fly that he had started across the ice with and to perform fluid science experimentshis horse and sleigh. I think they both had the designed to examine sensitivity to spacecraftdaylights scared out of them. I travelled vibrations. He was principal investigator for thethree-quarters of a mile, at a height of about 30 MIM-1 that flew on the Russian Mir spacefeet, before coming down to the surface of the station (1996-1998), for the MIM-2 on his flightice. I will say the doubting ones overcame their on the space shuttle, and he initiated

Flypast V. 44 No. 2 8

development of the Microgravity Vibration Dart and including video of the replica in flightIsolation Subsystem (MVIS) incorporated into this year. Aviation technology has developed atthe European Space Agency (ESA) Fluid Science an incredible pace, considering that only aboutLaboratory (FSL), currently on board the 70 years elapsed between the Silver Dart and theInternational Space Station (ISS) in the ESA first flight of the shuttle in 1981. During hisColumbus laboratory module. He completed space shuttle flight in 1997, Bjarni went aroundmission specialist training at the Johnson Space the world 189 times. Astronauts get all of theCenter in Houston for both the space shuttle and attention, but many people are involved, startingthe ISS from 1998 to 2000. He was awarded the with the mission control people in Houston whoNASA space flight medal (1997) and the Order really drive the project. The shuttle, about theof the Falcon from Iceland. size of a Boeing 737, has a gross weight of

Bjarni retired from the Canadian Space 250,000 pounds on takeoff and lands at weightsAgency in 2008. He is currently a visiting of up to 220,000 pounds. On the launch pad,professor at UWO, in the Department of with two solid rocket boosters and fuel tank, theMechanical and Materials engineering. His shuttle vehicle weighs more than four millioncurrent research is in three main areas: vibration pounds. That’s equivalent to the weight of moreisolation technology for the ISS, the effect of than 700 Harvards, at a gross weight of 6,000spacecraft vibrations of behavior of fluids in the pounds each, or 3 ½ fully loaded Airbus A380sfree-fall environment, and the spin characteristics at 1.3 million pounds each. Rather than a pilotof aircraft. He has lectured at several universities and co-pilot, the shuttle is flown by thein dynamics, aerodynamics and applied commander and the pilot. The commander getsmathematics. He currently lectures a senior just one and a half minutes of stick time to landcourse in Flight Dynamics and another in space the shuttle. The pilot, on the right hand side, issystem design. He has authored or co-authored not allowed to touch the controls but ismore than 40 research papers, and holds several responsible for all of the important switches andpatents. He is the founder and president of instruments. As Bjarni said with a smile, heQDAC Inc., a company specializing in high needs to be aware of only two rules: “1. Noresolution electronic systems. Bjarni is also an malfunction is so bad that he can’t make itAirline Transport rated pilot with 5000 hours of worse; 2. He is only switch away from disaster.”flight time, has flown numerous aircraft A shuttle launch is amazing, whether from theincluding Canadian Forces Tutor and the NASA vantage point of spectators or inside the cabin.T-38 jets, and is Chief Operations Officer with Each of the shuttle’s engines generate 500,000the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association, in pounds of thrust (compared to 56,000 pounds forTillsonburg, where he enjoys flying the Harvard. each engine on a Boeing 747), and the even more Bjarni conducted wind tunnel testing and powerful rockets on each side generate 2½analytical modeling for the AEA 2005 Silver million pounds of thrust each. They go fromDart replica. On 6 February, 2009, he piloted the zero thrust to full thrust in 0.2 seconds! “It getsreplica on six test flights at Hamilton your attention when you’re inside,” Bjarni saidInternational Airport and flew the anniversary with an understatement. The accelerationflight, on 22 February, 2008 at Baddeck. increases and just two minutes into a flight, the

Bjarni presented a slide slow, entitled High shuttle mission is 26 miles high, 50 miles overand Fast, Low and Slow, illustrating the stark the ocean, travelling at about 3 ½ thousand milescontrast between the space shuttle and the Silver per hour. At that point the boosters are kicked

Flypast V. 44 No. 29

off. Eight and a half minutes later, the shuttle isAmerican, first discovered wing warping as ain orbit, at 17 and a half thousand mph, about means of control. He also was killed in a glider800 miles over the ocean. “It’s a very, very fast of his own design in 1911. The Wright brothers,ride up there,” Bjarni said. As for fuel although they were bicycle mechanics and notconsumption, the A380 has about 600,000 engineers, built on the progress of the pioneers.pounds of fuel --- about 50 per cent of the gross Lilienthal lost his life in a design with a stabilizerweight of the aircraft --- and it burns 14 pounds at the back, prompting the Wrights to seek betterper second. In comparison, the shuttle has 3.8 control and stability with forward elevators aheadmillion pounds of fuel and burns at a rate of of the main wing in a canard biplane21,000 pounds per second at the launch pad. In configuration. They did many glider tests andterms of energy, the shuttle’s consumption is built their own wind tunnel. The famous Wrightequivalent to 510,000 Harvards cruising at 140 Flyer made three more flights on that historicknots. The views of Earth from the cabin are December day, but it landed hard on the fourthabsolutely spectacular. The International Space and was further damaged when it was caught byStation, though a challenge to complete, has a violent gust of wind. By 1908, the Wrights hadproven successful and will be in operation for a much more stable aircraft that could climb toanother 15 or 20 years. About the size of a 100 feet and stay aloft for more than an hour at afootball field, it weighs about one million pounds time. Flight, however, remained risky. Thomas--- roughly between a 747 and an A380. One of Selfridge, of the AEA, flying as a passenger withBjarni’s fellow Canadian astronauts, Bob Thirsk, Orville Wright, died in the crash of the Wrightwho has been aboard the space station since the Military Flyer on 17 September, 1908. A hugeend of May, recently phoned Bjarni for a effort was made in the U.S. in 2003 to replicatechit-chat just as he was getting on the highway in the first flight of the Wright Flyer, with windTillsonburg. tunnel tests and more, but the effort failed in part

Changing gears, Bjarni recalled the progress because of poor weather at Kill Devil Hills. made in flight that led to the Wright brothers Bjarni traced the rapid success of the originalmaking the first controlled, powered and AEA after its formation in 1907. The AEAsustained heavier-than-air flight at Kill Devil started with the Red Wing, enjoyed more successHills, NC, near Kitty Hawk, on 17 December, with the White Wing, and continued to improve1903. In the early 1800s, aviation pioneers began with the June Bug, first flown in July 1908. Theto make the correct calculations about cambered AEA tried to make a float plane out of the Junewings, vertical stabilizers, and so on. Sir George Bug, but it didn’t get airborne. It eventually sankCayley, a Yorkshire English nobleman, identified at the dock. The Silver Dart first flew inthe basic forces of flight: lift, drag and thrust. In December, 1908 at Hammondsport, NY, and was1853, he put his coachman in a glider which then sent to Baddeck for its historic first flight insubsequently soared over a valley. Alphonse Canada in 1909. It was also a canardPenard of France made the first powered aircraft configuration. --- a little rubber band-powered design. Otto A group of Canadians who had travelled toLilienthal, a German engineer, developed South Carolina to see the unsuccessful Americanunderstanding of the airfoil. He wrote a book on effort to replicate the Wright brothers flight werebird flight as the basis for aviation and developed inspired to try something similar with a replicagliders before he died tragically in a glider Silver Dart, and that led to the AEA 2005. Bjarniaccident in 1896. J.J. Montgomery, an described the meticulous efforts to improve on

Flypast V. 44 No. 2 10

Speakers Bjarni Tryggvason (left) and Gerald HaddonCredit; Neil McGavock

the original Silver Dart, building on a century of landing in gusty winds during its anniversaryknowledge. The replica uses mostly the same flight on Feb. 23, 1959, at Baddeck.materials as the original but has several changes, For his part, Bjarni made detailedincluding a Lycoming engine in place of the mathematical calculations to ensure that theoriginal, and cantankerous, Curtiss V-8 that replica would have a balanced, safe flight. Theprobably put out no more than 35- or 40-hp. AEA 2005 invested about 6,000 man-hours ofBjarni was especially impressed to have a soft work to complete the replica .Bjarni describedpadded seat for the pilot! The replica was the scene on 6 February of this year, the day itassembled at Ed Russell’s hangar in Niagara first flew on Hamilton. About 70 news mediaFalls, Ont., using copies of original plans personnel covered the action. Bjarni did a couplearchived at the Canada Aviation Museum in of taxi trials in front of the Canadian WarplaneOttawa. The museum is home to another Heritage Museum, returned for lunch, completedairworthy replica that was built by RCAF minor modifications on the ramp, then preparedvolunteers and flown in 1959 on the 50th for the first flight on Runway 24. “That wasanniversary of the original flight. The Silver probably the most lonely moment,” he recalled.Dart II, as it was known, piloted by W/C Paul “We had all of these people looking at us. It wasHartman, made 10 flights. It made a heavy different than the shuttle, where you just sit there

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and be quiet. All of those guys on the ground at report on Mike will be in a future Flypast. Wemission control make it all happen. With the are also especially saddened at the passing of ourSilver Dart, you’re by yourself.” Much toeveryone’s relief, and jubilation, the replica madenear-perfect level flight, just a few feet off theground. Two chase vehicles accompanied thereplica while a CTV News Jet Ranger flewoverhead. In all, six test flights were made thatday, followed by a couple more the next day ingusty conditions.

People came from far and wide to see thereplica when it reached Baddeck. The flight on22 February proved to be a great success.Initially, the AEA crew had problems withgetting the replica airborne. Three bolts hadfallen out of the nosewheel and the one that wasleft couldn’t take the stress. Fortunately, the crewhad a replacement nosewheel. The CanadianForces kept the crowd entertained with the HawkOne Sabre, the Centennial Heritage Flight CF-18,and other aircraft while the faulty nosewheel wasreplaced. Conditions were perfect as the replicatook to the sky quite nicely, achieving a height of30 feet or more. Bjarni made about five flights tothe delight and relief of the crowd and thevolunteers who made it happen. A flight on theactual anniversary of Feb. 23 was cancelled bypoor weather, but the centennial celebrationswere unforgettable. “It was a fabulousexperience,” Bjarni said, paying tribute to theremarkable success of the AEA 2005 team.

Howard expressed thanks to our exceptionalpair of speakers on behalf of the audience. BobWinson presented each of our speakers withsilver-wrapped gifts and a Silver Dart pin inappreciation as a memorable evening concluded.

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Chapter News – September 2009Folded Wings

We have been informed of the passing of chaptermembers Lillian Noakes (CAHS #3942), andW.J. “Mike” Lewis (CAHS #4011). A full

webmaster, Alan Greenwood on September 9th.Alan was in the midst of developing a localwebsite for the chapter and had it 60% completeat the time of his passing.

Buffalo Aero Club ReviewA thorough review of the Buffalo club’s conceptof operations is being undertaken by Chapter 1st.Vice-President Dr. George Topple. Two of theclub’s procedures have already beenimplemented by the chapter. The organizationalstructure and charter of the Buffalo club is ofparticular interest to Toronto Chapter despite thedifference in approach to governmentrequirements.

New parking lotA brand new parking lot has been built at the eastside of the museum. You may access it by a rightturn immediately after crossing the railwaytracks, then proceeding between the buildingsfollowed by a left turn Wheel chair accessibilityis also available by request to the museum officeand or gift shop from this new lot.

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By Taxi: Take the TTC Subway to the DownsviewStation and take a taxi from there. It will cost around$8 one way, but it is by far the most convenientoption for tourists, because the cab will take youright to our front door, whereas the TTC -unfortunately - doesn't! By Car: From the 401 East or West, exit at KeeleStreet North. Turn right on Sheppard Ave, and followSheppard the entrance to Downsview Park. Turnright into the park (onto John Drury Road) until youreach Carl Hall Road. Turn left at Carl Hall andcontinue east over the railway tracks to the Museum,which is on your right hand side.By TTC: From the Downsview TTC station take the108 Downsview, the 86 Sheppard West, Westboundor the 84 Sheppard West, Westbound bus and ask thedriver to let you off at the Downsview Park entrance(it is well past the DRDC and Idomo buildings).Walk into the park entrance and follow John DruryRoad until you reach Carl Hall Road. Turn left atCarl Hall Road and continue east over the railwaytracks to the Museum, which is on your right handside. Approximate walking distance is 0.7 km.

CAHS National Website : www.cahs.caMeetings and news from all the chapters, journal back issues, and more!Toronto Chapter Meetings - 2nd Saturday of the month 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm.Toronto Aerospace Museum, 65 Carl Hall RoadTAM is in the former deHaviland building in Downsview ParkNear Downsview TTC Station

All Welcome