At the beginning of the last century, the dream of making flight a reality seemed elusive to some, but, thanks to the enterprising efforts of many different people we now enjoy living this dream. In Canada, first flight took place over the ice of Baddeck Bay, Nova Scotia, when pilot J.A.D. McCurdy lifted off in the «Silver Dart» on February 23rd, 1909. On February 23rd, 2009, Canada Post began issuing a special stamp to commemorate this achievement.
The first fixed-wing aircraft to fly in Canada, the Silver Dart was designed and built with the assistance of Alexander Graham Bell. Its first flights were tested in New York, and then it was dismantled and brought to Bell’s residence in Nova Scotia for its inaugural flight. More than 100 witnessed the flight on that winter day, and Canada took its place in aviation history.
It later crashed in Petawawa, Ontario, but its engine can still be viewed at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa, as well as a full-size model of the plane at the National Museum of Aviation.
Just as a matter of accuracy. the Silver Dart crashed in Petawawa, Not Peterborough in August 1909