Canada calling! Yesterday a replica, built in Niagara over the past four years, of the 1909 AEA Silver Dart biplane was flown off frozen Bras-d’Or Lake at Baddeck, Nova Scotia, with former CSA astronaut Bjarni Tryggvason at the controls. The original Silver Dart flew from the same spot on 23 Feb 1909 with its builder John MacCurdy piloting; it was the first successful powered flight in Canada. The latter-day replica made its first test flight from Hamilton airport two weeks ago and was on display at Canadian Warplane Heritage for several days at the time…even in comparison with the World War II “iron” at CWH, the contrast in technology, over less than forty years, was astonishing. Eventually I’ll get a shot of the replica on here…
S.
By: K225 - 25th February 2009 at 13:00
This video on You Tube shows the actual flight, looks great. Its fantastic that thye went and ahead and did on Sunday, especially for the organizers who have worked so hard to put on this event. Alas as usual mother nature doesn’t always cooperate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYXRflJgJGg&feature=related
By: contrailjj - 25th February 2009 at 03:54
and a full sheet of the commemorative stamps released on the 23rd (I ‘cleaned out’ the local postal outlet of their stock :p)
By: contrailjj - 25th February 2009 at 03:32
this was the test flight on Feb 22 at Baddeck… unfortunately they were not able to fly her on the 23rd due to weather, etc…
the replica Silver Dart is being donated to the Bell Museum at Baddeck (which is getting funding for an addition) – a worthy home for a project of such significance.
By: Steve T - 24th February 2009 at 23:37
Here we are…three angles on the frail-looking Silver Dart replica, seen at CWH a couple weeks ago the day after its first test flight.
S.
Sign In
February 24, 2009 at 3:01 am
&slug=silver_dart_090222){kind=link}