PLANE TALK
CANADIAN AVIATION: THE FIRST 106 YEARS
BY ROGER BEEBE
OUR AVIATION HISTORY IS SHORT BY MOST STANDARDS, A LITTLE OVER 106 YEARS. LET’S TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT HOW AVIATION DEVELOPED OVER THE 106 YEARS IN CANADA SINCE THE FIRST FLIGHT IN 1909. THIS ARTICLE RELATES TO CANADIAN HISTORY AND MAY NOT RESONATE WITH OUR AMERICAN FRIENDS AND OTHER POPULATIONS WHO READ D.O.M. BUT THE STORIES ARE SIMILAR. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS TO UNDERSTAND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THE ORIGINS OF THE CURRENT AIRCRAFT AND REGULATORY SYSTEMS.
THE BEGINNING The development of the light internal combustion engine with enough power to allow a reasonable chance of success in powering aircraft captured the imagination of scientists and technicians in many countries. Work being carried out in Europe, the U.S. and Brazil was monitored in Canada. The first successful Canadian powered flight was at Baddeck, Nova Scotia, in 1909. Aviation technical developmental work was carried out by a surprising
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variety of individuals across Canada. Farmers on the prairies constructed early engines, some basic helicopter work was carried out on the lower mainland of BC, and many people worked on flight problems in Quebec and Ontario. Work was also conducted in the Maritimes, the site of Canada’s first powered flight. Nearly everything had to be invented or adapted from other technical fields — power sources, controls, instruments and certainly how to make it all work, including developing basic flying skills.
THE FIRST WORLD WAR YEARS Around the world, national militaries were extremely interested in the potential of aviation. In Canada, military flight training began in Toronto and military aviation trades training was set up at Camp Borden, Ontario. During WWI, the Curtis Company of Toronto assembled aircraft designed in the U.S. for Canadian use.
Camp Borden was also the training center for pilots and mechanics in Canada’s war effort.
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