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Canada Aviation Museum celebrates Silver Dart Day

Feb. 11, 2009, Ottawa – On Sun., Feb. 22, 2009, the Museum will commemorate one of the most significant events in the history of Canadian Aviation with a day of celebration. 

One hundred years ago, on February 23, 1909, J.A.D. McCurdy, a member of the Aerial Experiment Association (A.E.A.), rose from the ice in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, aboard the Silver Dart, achieving the first controlled powered flight in Canada.

The day’s program will feature a variety of workshop activities, including make-and-take crafts for different ages, wing construction demonstrations with the Experimental Aircraft Association and guided tours. Visitors will get the chance to have their photo taken sitting in the Museum’s newly crafted Silver Dart half-scale cockpit. Making its debut at the Museum, the Stetson Flyers’ remote control version of this significant aircraft will be flown on the Museum grounds.

Special Guests

Alexander Graham Bell and his wife Mabel Bell, founders of the A.E.A. will be on site for all the excitement. All day.

Frieda Wishinsky, author of children’s book "Flying High", will meet her fans and read passages of her book on the historical flight of the Silver Dart. 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.

Professional storyteller Bruce Carmody will become Casey Baldwin for the day to tell the story of the Silver Dart.

English: 11:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. – French: 10: 30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

The Ottawa Cape Breton Session invites visitors to bring their own instruments to join in an open jam session of traditional Celtic music. To find out more, visit the Museum website. 11:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

Sarah Burnell, "Young Performer of the Year” at the 2006 Canadian Folk Music Awards, will perform beautiful Celtic ballads with her band from her two albums. 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The Canada Aviation Museum is Canadas finest aviation museum with an internationally renowned aeronautical collection.  The Museum, a component of the Canada Science and Technology Museum Corporation, is located at the intersection of Aviation and Rockcliffe Parkways, just 10 minutes from Parliament Hill.  Daily hours are 10 am. to 5 p.m.  Admission is $6 adults; $5 for students and seniors; and $3 for children 4-15; free for children under 4.  A family pass is $14. Free parking.

General Information                                          613 993-2010 or 1 800 463-2038
Web Site                                                 www.aviation.technomuses.ca