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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1941-02-27, Page 7THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1941 THE SEAFORTH NEWS PAGE SEVEN What d'ye say -let's try it out—just once! ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST PLANE FLIGHT IN EMPIRE Thirty-two years ago Sunday ---on February 23. 1909—John A. D. Mc- Curdy made the tirst airplane flight over the soil of the British Empire, Today John McCurdy is supervisor of purchasing and assistant director- general of the Ah'craft Production branch of the Depurtneent or Muni- tions and Supply at Ottawa. There he works shoulder to shoulder with Ralph P. Bell. dynautic director-gen- eral of Aircraft. Production. applying the accumulated knowledge of al- most forty gem's in aviation to the all-important task of giving wings to the thousands of eager young Cana- dian and Empire airmen who soon will pit their skill and courage agalust the enemy, Perhaps none of the 147 persons who witnessed that historic flight of McCurdy's flimsy- "Silver Dart,' over Bras d'Or Lake at Baddeck, N.S., on that chill February day, realized the full significance of it. No one, per- haps, had a vision of great airliners spanning the oceans on missions of peace, or of monster bombers hurling fire and death upon the earth. Little did they realize that the frail contri- vance of wood and cotton and bits of metal that circled above their heads would he the forerunner of fleets of the air more numerous than the fleets of the sea. John McCurdy can be considered as Canada's pioneer ah' pilot. While F.W. "Casey" Baldwin, McCurdy's college chutit and colleague. made several airplane hops before Mc- Curdy made his first venture into the ahs iMleCufdy was the first Canadian to complete a controlled flight. He ranked also as the ninth Hutu in the world to fly a heavier than air nut. chin e. Born in Baddeck. august 2, 1986, McCurdy was the son of Arthur W. McC'nrdy, editor and publisher of The Weekly Cape Breton island Re- porter. which later became The Syd- ney Record. His grandfather, Hon. David McCurdy, had been a member of the Nova Scotia legislature and Upper House for more than forty years. When John McCurdy was but a child, Alexander Graham Bell, noted inventor of the telephone, established his home and laboratory in the isolat- ed little village of Baddeck. Given financial independence for life by tete invention of the telephone, Bell was not content to rest upon his laurels. He became interested in the science of flight and commenced a series of The World's News Seen Through THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR An international Daily Newspaper is Truthful—Constructive—Unbiased—Free from Sensational. ism — Editorials Are Timely and Instructive and Its Daily Features, Together with the Weekly Magazine Section. Make the Monitor an Ideal Newspaper for the Home. The Christian Science Publishing Society One, Norway Street, Boston, Massachusetts Price 912.00, Yearly, or $ L00 a Month. Saturday Issue, including Magazine Section, 92.60 a Year Introductory Offer. 6 Issues 25 Cents Name Address SAMPLE COPY ON REQUEST Duplicate oYIthly t�Aate m e Affil We can save you money on Bill and Charge Forms, standard sizes to St Ledgers, white or colors. It will pay you to see our samples. Also best quality Metal Hinged Sec- tional Post Binders and Index The Seaforth News Po -HONE 84 experiments with kites. Fearing the ridicule of natives, who might be as- tounded to see a grown man flying kites on the mountainside, Dr. Bell enlisted the assistance of young Me - Curdy. Thus it was that John Mc- Curdy "got iu on the ground floor" in the most important developments in aviation up to that time. While young McCurdy was study- ing mechanical engineering at Univ- ersity of Toronto, from which he graduated in 1901, he spent his vaca- tions in the Bell laboratory and as- sisted the inventor in his study of propellers and kites, In 1903 Dr. Bell witnessed Langley's ill-fated attempt to fly an airplane at Washington, D. C. While Langley's experiment's fail- ed dismally, Dr. Bell was so impress- ed by the possibilities that he re- turned tq Baddeck with a determina- tion to build a man -carrying kite fitted with a motor. After graduating from university in 1906, McCurdy took with him to Baddeck his close friend, "Casey" Baldwin, a grandson of Hon. Robert Baldwin, premier of Canada before Confederation, and one of the found- ers of the Dominion. Baldwin had shown considerable promise as a budding engineer and was .invited to become an associate of Dr. Bell and McCurdy, Later, the 'United States War Department assigned Lieut. Thomas Selfridge, a keen student of aeronautics, to observe Dr. Bell's ex- periments and to assist hint. In the summer of 1907, Dr., Bell invited Glen R. Curtiss, who had attained brilliant success in the design and manufac- ture of motorcycle engines, to join the group. O11 October 1, 1907, these five fnrmied the Aerial Experiment Asso- ciation, Mrs. Bell, who was keenly interested in their work, handed to the association a check for $20,000 to lint -ewe their venture. The purpose of the group was simply to "get a num iu the air." Ih'. Bell acted as chairman. Curtiss as director of ex- periments. Baldwin as chief engin- eer. McCurdy as treasurer, and Self- ridge as secretary. Ut the early winter of 1907 the ex- perimeniers realized part of their ambition. They succeeded in getting a man in the air. A huge tetrahedral Mite, "The Cygnet," was built. Mount- ed upon a Rat boat, it was towed be- hind a steamer over the waters or Baddeck Bay. .Finally sufficient_speed was attained and the kite "took off", flying along a few feet above the surface of the water for a distance of some yards. Hanging through an op- ening in the lower surface of the kite was. Tommy Selfridge, first member of the group to "fly." A few weeks later the five experi- menters mbved to Hammondsport, NY a few miles from Buffalo, and established their headquarters in Curtiss' motorcycle factory. For sev- eral weeks they experimented with gliders on the hillsides around Ham- mondsport and these adventurous tests led to the development of a tail to maintain horizontal balance in the 24 -foot box kites which they us- ed as gliders. Meantime the group worked upon construction of their first airplane, incorporating the results of their drat experiments to date. It was made of spruce in the form of an oversized kite, and tate wings were covered with fine red silk. A horiz- ontal rudder was added to the front of the plane to correspond with the tail. Curtiss had built a motor, actu- ally a com)vination of several motor- cycle engines, which was mounted in the approximate centre. A propeller made of steel tubing and sheet metal was attached. The machine was christened the "Red Wing" because of its red silk wing -covering. On March 12, 1908, the "Red Wing" took the air for the first time with "Casey" Baldwin as pilot.- It took off from the ice of Lake Iieuka, near Hammondsport, and flew 319 feet in a straight line about ten feet above the surface of the lake. Five' days later a second flight was attempted. but the "Red Wing" tipped over on its side and was smashed beyond re- pair. The accident proved the necessity of some means of controlling lateral balance, horizontal stability having already been achieved by the addi- tion of the tail and front rudders. The group finally solved the prob- lem by adding hinged "little wings" to the tips of the wings. 'These were so arranged that the pilot could ad- just their angle simultaneously. One small wing dipped down and the other up, providing the slight com- pensation of wing surface necessary to restore balance in the plane. The "little wings" were the first ailerons, the basic principle of which made possible the whole future of flying machines. Two months later the experiment- ers had completed the "White Wing," so named becaulie its wings were covered with white nainsook. lit was fitted with ailerons, but in other respects was much like the "Red Whirr Up to this time Baldwin had made both flights, although Selfridge, Cur- tiss and McCurdy were equally- fame ilier with operation of the planes. It fell to Baldwin's lot, too, to be the first to leave the ground in the "White Wing." On May 18, 1908, he covered a distance of about 93 yards at an altitude of ten feet. Next day. Selfridge made a short flight. A little later Curtiss set a world record by flying the "White Wing" 339 yards. It took him 19 seconds, so he flew at the rate of 37 miles an hour. McCurdy made his first flight in the "White Wing" on the following day. He Sew 183 yards at a height of about twenty feet, but a puff of wind caught and overturned the machine as 1t came in for a landing. The "White Wing" somersaulted and - was badly wrecked but McCurdy was thrown clear and escaped injury. On the evening of June 25, 1908, Curtiss flew the "June Bug" 1,140 yards in 60 secouds. On July 4, 1908, before hundreds of spectators at Hammondsport Curtiss flew the "June Bug" over a measured mile to win the Scientific American Trophy which had been offered for the first airplane Sight of one mile in a straight line, It was the first °ITlcial test of an airplane in North America and there were only two other planes, Farman's and Delagrange's, which had flown farther in public, although the Wright brothers undoubtedly had made longer flights in private. Daring the late summer of 1908, tragedy struck at the little group. Lieut. Selfridge was assigned by the United States War Department to observe formal tests of the Wright brothers' plane at Washington. He was 0 passenger in a machine piloted by Orville Wright when it went into a stall at an altitude of about eighty feet and crashed. Selfridge was kill- ed. the first man in history to meet death in an airplane accident. Wright was injured seriously. Although the death of Selfridge dampened their enthusiasm, his colleagues went ahead with construc- tion of their fourth and last airplane, McCurdy's "Silver Dart." Mc(7urdy. designed the machine. incorporating all the best features ab the three - earlier airplanes, but making it longer and narrower. 1t was trade to carry two men. Meantime. McCurdy made countless flights in the "Jima Bug" and became the most skilful flier of the group. He achieved the distinction of being the first pilot to make a figure eight in the air. At least a dozen test flights were made in the Silver Dart before the experi- menters moved back to Baddeck, in the winter of 1908.09. On February 23, 1909, McCurdy took off from Baddeck Bay for the first flight over the soil of the Britisi Empire, He flew approximately three-quarters or a mile at an alti tattle of about 80 feet. la his second trial he flew almost four and one half miles to set a new record. Having accomplished their avow- ed purpose of "getting a Ilan into the - air, the Aerial Experiment As- sociation was dissolved on March 31. 1909. Dr. Bell and Baldwin turned to other experiments. McCurdy and Curtiss turned to barnstorming. In the summer of 1909 McCurdy demon- strated the "Silver Dart" and an- other airplane for Canadian Govern- ment officials at Petawawa. The flights were successful, but both planes were damaged in landing on the rough, rutted grouud and the Government representatives were not favorably impressed by the possibil- ities of airplane -army co-operation. McCurdy barnstormed all over North America. He was the star at- traction at the first air meet held in Canada, at Valois, Quebec, in 1910. Later la the sante year he went to New York to conduct aerial experi- mknts, which included the sending or the first wh'eless message from au airplane. It was received in the office of the New York World. In March, 1911, iu Florida, he piloted the plane front which were sent and received the first wireless messages in two- way communication. This experiment was the forerunner of the plane -to - ground conunnnicatlon and the radio beam so important in modern avia- t10n. New Way To Address Soldier Mail Postmaster - Geheral Mulock an- nounces that, owing to the r'ec'ently authorized thane.. in the title of the military forces of Canada. the desig- nation "Canadian Army" will nuw be used instead - of "Canadian Active Service Force c C.A.S,F. t." Mail Inc soldier's on active service should 11011' lie addressed as follows: Mall for Delivery Overseas The designation "C.A.S.F., tee Base Post Office, Canada," is to be omitted and the words "Canadian Army Over- seas" substituted therefor. as fol. lows: Regimental No.. rank and name Name and details of unit ti -e.. Com- pany or Section, Squadron. Bat- tery, Holding Unit, etc.) Name or Regiment or Branch of Service Canadian Armly Overseas. For example: 21,52937, Pte. John Blank. "B" Company, Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, Gel lighter feeler., mare delirious. !lever with MAGIC Canadian Army Overseas Note—If a soldier is overseas the word "Overseas" must appear in the address, but no place name. Mail for Delivery in Canada. The usual complete particuiare— regimental number, rank and name and detaile of unit and name of rags invent or branch of service, and, in addition, the Post Office name of the place in Canada where the soldier is stationed—must be given. For example: G-123455, Gar. John Jones, 15th Heavy Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, Saint John, N -B, Note—If a soldier is in Canada, the hanve of the place at which h.t is stationed must appear in the add - rests. Until such time as the new meth- od ethod of addressing becomes generally known. mail bearing the designation "C.A.S.F." will be despatched to des- tinations, but the public should im- mediately adopt the new method when addressing letters, parcels and other mail to members of the Cana- dian Army. either overseas or sta,s. timed is Canada. As the old farmer stood. a7 his garden gate a travelling aaesniau in wireless llltlied up his ear. "Good ntnrnine% sir'" hs i==.gen • ly;i htly. "t'an 1 it,teres t y .', it: a ta>11 caa"t 'ear yer." • "Are yosi llITe. '.a; .aI:3 .•> •usic.A the =a.. ..tat. 1.1 "Speak 510. man' elVoui'ai yen ilii'. 1' =p-te 3.21 new wireless iito,iei:" cr'eameb the salesman. \o. thank d. the man, -We got a 'armunyutn." Fom' utiles fartltsr on he came to a cottage, and knocked at the door. "Pardon are. madam," he began, ''f have here----" "Not interested!" snapped the woman, "Besides. I 'eard you fate first time." A man was giving some advice. to his son. At the end of a rather stern lecture, he said: "Now, my boy, you understand perfectly what I mean?" "Yes," replied the boy, "what it boils down to is this: If I do well it's because of heredity, and if I fall, it's my own taut." Sixty Years of Progress SixtY years of faithful and valu- able service to Canada form the background for the sixtieth anniversay of the Canadian Paci- fic Railway Company in mid- February. On February 15, 1881, the Gov- ernment of Sir John A. Macdonald granted a charter for the building by a private company of a railway to the Pacific Coast. Two days later, the Canadian Pacific Rail- way Company was organized on an official basis and a glorious new era of Canada's history had begun., The Canada of 2881 was an in- fant country, its sparsely settled portions separated from each other by dense wilderness. Con- federation itself was in danger be- cause of lack of communication between provinces. Railway con- nection with British Columbia had been promised but in ten years the work accomplished had been negligible. The story of the building of the transcontinental line can be sum- med up in the statement that it was completed in half the time - called for in the charter, with a pitifully small subsidy consider- ing what had . been granted in other places, and in face of the most bitter of political opposition. Time and again the whole project, including every cent of the build- ers' personal fortunes. seemed lost. The growth of the Canadian Pacific Railway and of •Canada represents sixty years of mutual co-operation, each aiding in and benefiting from the other's strength and prosperity. In 1881, Canada was a country with 4,324,810 population, posses- sing total export trade of $83,944,- 701 and import trade of 090,488,- 329. Its field crops were worth $155,277,427, its dairying $22,743,- 939, and its manufactures $309,- 675,068. In the last year of re- cord, Canada's estimated popula- tion was 11,315,000, exports total- led $1478,954,000 and imports 01,- 081,950,000. Field trope were worth 0651 228,0.00, dairying $217,- 716,029 and manufactures 03,337,- 681,366. 3,337;681,366. The Canadian Pacific Railway's growth in the same period has been equally amazing. There was practically nothing in 1881. Now the company has 17,169 miles of rail lines in Canada, 55 ocean, coastal and lake steamships, hotels with a total of 5,294 rooms as well as summer lodges, 1,787 locomo stock.. Its property and equip - mens represent an investment of more than one billion dollars. Other facts of interest concern- ing the world's greatest transpor- tation system are that it operated 370,000 circuit miles of telegraph line last year and carries 120,000 passengers across the Atlantic in a normal year. In 1940 the Cana- dian Pacific rail services carried nearly eight million passengers a total of mere than 924 million passenger miles, in addition to transporting approximately 37 million tons of freight represent- ing more than sixteen Millen ton miles. During last year the com- pany paid out in taxes more than nine million dollars and, since in- corporation, a total of approxim- ately 172 million dollars: The gross earnings in 1940 totalled $170,964,000, every dollar of which represented a unit of service to the ,Dominion and the )lmpire. The illustrations above art symbolic of 60 years of :progresfs and show an early stage coach which was more romantic than comfortable; the arrival of the first trauscontinontal train at the Pacific Coast on July 4, 1886, an,i the modern transcontinental trait, fives and 82,714 pieces of rolling "The Dominion,"