The early years of flight were a time of extraordinary change as
the invention of powered flight made its existence known to the
world. The earliest aircraft resembled
kites with motors. In order to fly, the inventors had to find out how to
raise their craft off the ground and land again, effectively control the
power to fly, and be able to turn. All these developments took
effort and experimentation.
Canadian inventors like Alexander Graham Bell and Wallace
Rupert Turnbull studied flight and brought many crucial
improvements to the aircraft. The Wright brothers used some of
their early work when they demonstrated the first power flight
in 1903.
The Aerial Experiment Association was founded in 1907 in
Canada to bring more important developments in the science of
flight. The Association was responsible for demonstrating
controlled power flight for the first time in 1907 in Canada.
Once the possibility of flight was demonstrated, many
enthusiasts attained aircraft from the inventors, or built their
own machines and taught themselves how to fly. They travelled
across Canada demonstrating their abilities to amazed crowds at summer fairs.
Throughout this period, flight was carried out by homemade
aircraft or simple biplanes that would be considered ultra-light
today. They were purchased from one of the few manufacturers of
the time. These small aircraft remained unpredictable and
dangerous.
Early Canadian Experiments
When the Wright Brothers completed their historic flight at
Kitty Hawk in 1903, the achievement was a culmination of the
experimental work of many aviation pioneers around the world. Canadians claimed many important developments in the science of
flight that assisted the Wright Brothers. The work of Canadians
continued to be central as flight evolved after 1903.
Alexander Graham Bell
A central figure in the development of flight was
Alexander
Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone. His research led to
the publication of the paper, "Kites with Radial Wings" in the
National Academy of Science magazine. The Wright Brothers
used this publication in the development of their flying
machine.
Wallace Rupert Turnbull
Once power flight demonstrated it was possible for an
aircraft to carry a man into the sky, fly a distance and then
land, developments were needed to control flight. Canadians
played important roles in discovering how flight could be
sustained for longer periods with stability, and in developing
controls for flight angles, turning, and landing. One of the
first Canadians to contribute to the science of flight was
Wallace Rupert Turnbull. He built a wind tunnel at Rothesay near
Saint John, New Brunswick, where he tested aerofoil and wing
angles to develop theories on flight. The results of his
observations were published in the
Physical Review in March 1907, under the title
"Research on the Forms and Stability of Aeroplanes."
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