[j3_av8r]

As many of you are aware, this Monday Feb 23rd will be the 100th aniversary of powered flight in Canada. I understand that Baddeck NS is planning an event that will hopefully include a re-enactment of the flight by a full size replica just completed in Welland ON. See http://www.silverdartreplica.com/index.html for updates.

For those of you in southern Ontario, I am coordinating an indoor fun fly in Guelph on the the anniversary (Monday Feb 23rd) from noon til 3. I am hoping to get 20+ flyers at $15 each to cover the rental cost of the indoor soccer dome. Let me know if you can make it! There will be pilot prizes!

As part of the event I am hoping to also re-enact the first flight. I presently have a 24.5" span Silver Dart under construction based upon the Trillium Balsa display model (http://trilliumbalsa.com/silverdart2.html). A HobbyZone Vapor RX/ESC/Servo brick will control it. With a bit of luck it will come in around 1.5 oz. Gotta love the new micro R/C products available.

I will leave you with this thought from Alexander Graham Bell who was part of the team that developed the Silver Dart...

"This may seem to be a small matter at the present moment, but, when flying machines have become common, and aerial locomotion a well-organized and established mode of transit, the origin of the art in Canada will become a matter of great historical interest..."

[Ken Currell]

Good info.

Wish I could be at Baddeck when it happens.

[j3_av8r]

Originally Posted by Ken Currell

Good info.

Wish I could be at Baddeck when it happens.

Once upon a time, I was planning to build a large Silver Dart model and head out to Nova Scotia for the celebration but then reality set in. A local indoor fun fly with guarenteed perfect (and warm) weather seems much more practical!

[ronnieo]

To celebrate the 100th year of powered fight, Windsor Airport is having a full size airshow with Static RC on August 15-16th and featuring the Snowbirds, Harvards, F18s and a special guest...the renovated "Hawk One" F86 Golden Hawk jet which is travelling around Canada all summer.
Haven't seen a "Golden Hawk" since I was 10 years old when they visited Windsor... the sound and zooming just over the treetops near our house then still brings back scary memories to this day...that was 44 years ago. The new planes wouldn't dare go that low due to regs now.

[j3_av8r]

My Silver Dart is done! And with 24 hours to spare. Now I can properly celebrate the centennial. I am quite happy with how it turned out considering I was ready to walk away from it at times. I have never built anything this light and finicky. Final AUW is 1.4 oz which translates to a wing loading of just under 2 oz/ft^2.

It has done some test "glides" jogging across the basement and it seems to be stable. Too bad I can't test fly before the event tomorrow. Nothing like a little more nerves to make things go well.

Happy Centennial of Flight!

[Mark Smtih]

Originally Posted by j3_av8r

My Silver Dart is done! And with 24 hours to spare. Now I can properly celebrate the centennial. I am quite happy with how it turned out considering I was ready to walk away from it at times. I have never built anything this light and finicky. Final AUW is 1.4 oz which translates to a wing loading of just under 2 oz/ft^2.

It has done some test "glides" jogging across the basement and it seems to be stable. Too bad I can't test fly before the event tomorrow. Nothing like a little more nerves to make things go well.

Happy Centennial of Flight!

Hi Andy, very nice looking model. I just started building a (static) Trillium Silver Dart (my first scratch build). I'd be interested to hear how yours flew? Also, would love to ask you questions from time to time if you don't mind. Thanks -- Mark

[j3_av8r]

Hi Mark,

I just noticed your post. If you look at this thread, I describe some of the details on my Silver Dart.

https://www.rccanada.ca/rccforum/showthread.php?t=84944

I have been having fun with my model. Besides being at several fun flies, its "world" tour has included being displayed with the replica that flew in Baddeck, sitting on Alexander Graham Bell's desk at his homestead in Brantford ON and sitting at its birthplace in Hammondsport, New York. I will post some pictures when I get the chance.

Next stop , Baddeck next summer hopefully. And then I will retire it.


Let me know if you need further details (PM me?). Good luck with your build!

Andy