On 23 February 1909, John McCurdy took the Silver Dart into the air from the surface of Lake Bras d'Or, near Baddeck, Nova Scotia. It was the first flight of a powered, heavier than air, machine, by a British subject anywhere in the British Empire.

In Manitoba, creative builders were hard at work, trying to replicate the feat. WJ Robertson designed the Aero Car Canada, and displayed it at the Happyland Fairgrounds on 9 August 1909, but, as far as can be determined, it never flew. The first aeroplane flight in Manitoba was by an American, Eugene Ely, in a Curtiss pusher biplane, on 15 July 1910.

Canadians have a proud aviation heritage, which we will mark this year, our centennial of flight. The Manitoba Centennial Flight Committee is co-ordinating centennial events. For more information, please contact Vic Gerden.