|
Vol. 2, No.
3 MARCH 2009
|
| Welcome
to Bits and Pieces,
EAA's e-newsletter and monthly information digest for
builders and fliers
in Canada.
We encourage you to forward your copy to your
aviation friends and invite them to subscribe.
 The
Baddeck story dominates this month's issue of Bits and
Pieces. Activities at Baddeck, Nova Scotia February
20-23 celebrated our country's entrance into the
aviation age courtesy of J.A. Douglas McCurdy's flight
in the Silver Dart on February 23, 1909.
Ann Cooper has written widely about Mabel Hubbard Bell,
wife of Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, and the financial
force behind the Aerial Experiment Association. Ann
submitted an article excerpted from her book The
First Lady of Canadian Aviation.
Other topics discussed
this week include:
- On February 27, the
new EAA Canadian Council met with EAA staff at
Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This coincided with the 7th EAA
Leadership Academy held that weekend.
- EAA Canadian Council
member Mike Bourget has submitted a delightful
article on his Aluminum Mistress, a Nanchang
CJ-6.
- A new feature for Bits
and Pieces: EAA's Archived Canadian History,
providing a look back at our early roots.
- COPA is up and running
with its own version of Young Eagles, called "COPA
for Kids."
- Remember: EAA SportAir
Workshops are coming to High River, AB - May 2-3,
2009.
- Aircraft Spruce and
Specialty has acquired SkySports International.
- Jack Dueck, Editor |
 |
| THE
SILVER DART AND BADDECK: THEN AND NOW! |
| The
historic event took place at Baddeck, Nova Scotia on
February 23, 1909; J.A. Douglas McCurdy flew the first
heavier-than-air aircraft off the ice of Bras d'Or Lakes
to officially launch Canada into the aviation age. This
flight was a part of the ongoing experimentation and
development by the Aerial Experiment Association, (AEA)
under the guidance of Dr. Alexander Graham Bell. Read more |
 |
|
| THE
FIRST LADY OF CANADIAN AVIATION, MABEL HUBBARD BELL |
| John
Alexander "Douglas" McCurdy, born in Baddeck,
Nova Scotia in 1886, lost his mother in 1888.
Fortunately, his father, editor of the Baddeck
newspaper, was secretary, assistant, and photographer to
the famed Scottish inventor, Alexander Graham Bell.
McCurdy was raised as part of the Bell family and
Alexander and Mabel Bell financed his education-an
engineering degree received in 1906 from the University
of Toronto. Read
more
|
 |
| EAA'S
CANADIAN COUNCIL MEETS AT OSHKOSH |
| The
new EAA Canadian Council held its first meeting on
February 27 at EAA Headquarters in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The members began with a get acquainted session with
each other and the EAA staff, and then got into a
daylong agenda.
The theme of the agenda
was 'EAA in Canada' and members discussed the history,
current membership, the issues, and plans for the future
- all to better serve the Canadian EAA membership.
Read
more
|
 |
|
| MY ALUMINUM MISTRESS |
| November
2008: I have just put away C-FXMI (my Nanchang CJ6) for
the winter, and I tallied up the flying hours from my
first flight in late April to early November. It looks
like XMI and I burned 130 hours of avgas together. Not
bad for a first year.
This is the story of the
first nine month's love affair with my "aluminum
mistress." I had been interested in all things
"Red Star aircraft" for quite some time, but I
had never had an opportunity to fly in one, or even get
close to one for that matter. Read
more |
 |
|
|
EAA'S CANADIAN HISTORY
ARCHIVE
|
|
EAA members can access any
issue of their organization's past magazines. I thought it
would be interesting to re-acquaint ourselves with EAA's
early support and help for Canadians. The following
excerpt from Founder Paul Poberezny appeared in the
January 1956 issue of The Experimenter. It seems like the
same concern of standardization between our two countries
has always existed. Enjoy! Read
more
|
|
WORKING TOGETHER ON YOUTH
INTRODUCTORY FLIGHTS
Joint Statement Issued by EAA and COPA
|
|
The Canadian Owners and Pilots
Association and the Experimental Aircraft Association
understand the importance of promoting aviation to the
general public, especially young people. For many years an
agreement between the two organizations existed allowing
COPA members to fly young people as part of the EAA Young
Eagles program. Read
more
|
|
|
|
AIRCRAFT SPRUCE ACQUIRES
SKYSPORTS INTERNATIONAL
|
| Aircraft
Spruce & Specialty Co, a leading supplier of
experimental and certificated aircraft parts since 1965,
has acquired SkySports International of Linden,
Michigan. SkySports, which produces its own line of
single and dual fuel systems and fuel probes, was
founded by Marshall MacFarlane in 1979. SkySports also
carries a complete line of products such as instruments,
radios, GPS, strobes, Comtronics helmet/intercom
systems, winter instruments, and hardware for the
ultralight market. All SkySports products are now
available from the Aircraft Spruce West and East
warehouses. For more information, contact Aircraft
Spruce at 877-4SPRUCE or visit www.aircraftspruce.com. |
 |
|
| LEARN
HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN AIRPLANE AT EAA SPORTAIR WORKSHOPS |
| EAA's
two-day structured SportAir Workshops are designed to
help you build and maintain your amateur-built aircraft.
You will receive an incredible amount of knowledge and
the confidence to proceed with your project. Courses are
comprehensive, and course sizes are limited so that
students can receive individual instruction and help.
All course materials, tools, and workbooks are included.
Four workshops will be held on May 2-3 in High River,
AB.
|
 |
|
COURSES: Sheet
Metal Basics, Composite, Electrical Systems, Wiring and
Avionics, Annual Inspections for Amateur-Built Aircraft
COURSE FEE: $300
for EAA members/$350 for non-members
LOCATION: High
River Regional Airport - 50 km south of Calgary, AB
For more information, or
to register, e-mail EAA SportAir Workshops at cgyrv@yahoo.com. |
|
|
