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Silverdart flies in Baddeck NS today, sunday

Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:56 am

The Silverdart replica flew to day on the ice of Baddeck Bay, today 100 years minus 1 day, heavy snow is forcasted for tomorrow in area so was done a day early, also Hawk1 flew by as well, in its Golden Hawks paint job

Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:51 am

Excellent. Would love to see pics/video if you have any links. Wonder why the aviation pioneers chose the dead of winter for so many of their most momentous test flights.

August

silverdart link

Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:56 am

Here is the link.http://www.cbc.ca/clips/mov/murphy2-dart-090222.mov. They probadly flew off the ice because it made a unlimited landing area.

Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:39 pm

Here's another video of the Silver Dart replicas flight at Baddeck, Great to see!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYXRflJg ... re=related

Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:20 am

I was there. I had seen the forecast and realized that everything would be moved a day forward. So my father and I went a day early.

It was superb! Being out on the ice and watching the thing get airborne (they had to make several modifications right there on the lake) was a memory that will last forever.

There was tremendous spirit in the crowd, a great feeling of community. Not all were pilots, but a lot were, of course. I kept seeing faces I recognized, from many different streams of Canadian aviation. It was hugely down-home, small-town and friendly.

And successful! Bjarni did a tremendous job of getting that thing aloft. It was windy and there were control and C of G issues. From what I could see, and I watched closely, that canard was nearly full-up the whole time. I don't think he got enough credit. That machine took a lot of coaxing to get airborne. And when, on the second try, he raised it up to 15 ft or so and flew down the lake, there was a giant, spontaneous roar out of the crowd! I hollered at the top of my lungs, along with everyone else.

And I was the first member of the crowd to shake his hand after he climbed out.

The Golden Hawk looked stunning of course. My brother was flying it, and I recognized from the way he was rolling into and out of the passes that he was just ITCHING to do more than yank and bank. He says that combination of the big Mk 6 wing, plus the Orenda engine, makes it a superb machine. Huge performance and very few vices. They're going to have a GREAT airshow year.

I don't have the photos -- they're on my Dad's camera. Here's one from the media...

Dave

Image

And this one from the Hawk One blog

Image

Sun Mar 08, 2009 3:59 pm

I saw the flight on the news, quite impressive.

And these links below was the same weather we had the day before in Ottawa. Just awesome. Centennial wings over the capital celebration. first link is about the event and second one are some pics of the airplanes arriving at the museum for the briefing and leaving for the parade over the capital. We flew over Rideau canal which was crowded with skaters spectators. Was a real fun ride. I was the tail bird of the fast group. But the first 6 pictures are from my bird when I arrived at the airport.

http://www.flightworks.ca/page?s=148&lang=en-CA

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill_fawce ... 195142899/

Alain

Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:58 am

That's a snazzy-looking Bellanca, Alain! Truly superb against a clear winter sky.

Also interesting to see the 2 An-2s. I've only seen the one at ralleys around Ottawa.

Looks like a very good day!

Dave

Mon Mar 09, 2009 6:59 pm

Thanks Dave, come and chat if you see me at the classic rally or elsewhere. If we have time we'll squeeze in and go for a ride.

Alain.
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