Silver Dart Monument

Petawawa (CFB), Ontario
Type
Other

The Silver Dart, a monument in CFB Petawawa, is in memory of the first military demonstration of powered aircraft flight in Canada that was given at Camp Petawawa on 2 August 1909 by J.A.D. McCurdy and F.W. Baldwin in the Silver Dart. Both pilots, former members of the 2nd Field Company, Toronto and Engineers of No 8 Engineer Services and Works Company, acted as the ‘ground crew.’

Today, an access gate separating the domestic area from the military part of the Base is called McCurdy Gate to further remember one of the pilots. (Also refer to memorial number 35070-039)

Inscription


FIRST MILITARY TEST FLIGHTS
LES PREMIERS VOLS
D’ESSAI MILITAIRES

The first military demonstration of aircraft flight in Canada
was given at Petawawa Camp in August 1909, by
J.A.D. McCurdy and F.W. Baldwin, with the assistance of
the Royal Canadian Engineers. On the morning of 2 August,
they made three successful flights in the Silver Dart. This
aircraft was destroyed in landing after the fourth flight.
Further flights were made in the Deddeck No. 1 on 12 and
13 August. The tests ended on 13 August, after this aircraft was damaged.

La première démonstration militaire de vols d’avion au Canada
fut donnée au camp Petawawa, en août 1909, par
J.A.D. McCurdy et F.W. Baldwin, avec l’aide des Royal
Canadian Engineers. Le 2 août au matin, ils réussirent trois
vols a bord du Silver Dart. Cet avion s’ecrass à l’atterrissage
après le quatrième vol. On effectua d’autres vols à bord du
Baddeck n 1 les 12 et 13 août. L’expérience prit fin le 13,
lorsque ce dernier appareil fut endommagé.

Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada
Commission des lieux et monuments hisoriques du Canada

Government of Canada – Gouvernement du Canada

Visitor information

Location
Silver Dart Monument

needs further research
Petawawa (CFB)
Ontario
GPS Coordinates
Lat. 45.9076347
Long. -77.2879409
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