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The year 2009 marked the 100th Anniversary of the first powered, heavier than air, controlled flight in Canada by J.A.D. McCurdy in the Silver Dart. On a frozen lake in Badeck, Nova Scotia, a team of aviation pioneers known as the Aerial Experiment Association led by Alexander Graham Bell, gathered to test an aeroplane that could carry the weight of a motor and a man. The date was February 23, 1909. Piloted by John Alexander Douglas McCurdy, the 'Silver Dart' aircraft successfully lifted off and was flown for an entire 3/4 of a mile over the surface of Bras d'Or Lake. The first powered heavier than air flight in Canada had just taken place. The Canadian Centennial of Flight Project was envisioned as a way to provide support to Canadians who want to make the 100th Anniversary of the first flight in Canada an opportunity to celebrate not only this historical event, but also Canadian accomplishments in civilian and military aviation in the decades since then, at home and abroad. To commemorate the 100th Anniversary of powered flight in Canada, the Centennial Heritage Flight was formed with three aircraft and performed at air shows across Canada. The Century Hornet received a special color scheme to commemorate the 100th Anniversary. Hawk One is a Sabre Mk 5 belonging to Vintage Wings of Canada and painted to represent an aircraft flown by the Golden Hawks. The Golden Hawks were formed on March 1, 1959 as the RCAF's contribution to the Golden Anniversary of flight in Canada. The CT-114 is painted to represent The Golden Centennaires, an aerobatic team created in 1967 to celebrate the Canadian Centennial but also the 50th Anniversary of military aviation in Canada. Click on the thumbnails to view a larger image.
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