This Oshkosh was particularly fun because it was the 100th anniversary of the first flight in Canada. Why would I care? Ironically, I have closer connection to the 1st Canadian flight than the 1st American one (to which I have no connection).

   The pilot of the first aircraft to fly in Canada, J. A. Douglas McCurdy, was a friend of my grandfather. He even stayed over when he was in the area, which happened to be Baddeck, Nova Scotia. When I was a kid, I was getting settled into the guest bed, and my grandfather told me the last man to sleep in that bed had been J. A. D. McCurdy. So, I have strange distinction of being able to claim I shared a bed with J.A.D. McCurdy (though not at the same time).

   J.A. Douglas McCurdy and my grandfather probably met through my great grandfather. My great-grandfather was lieutenant governor of Ontario, and the same time J.A.D. McCurdy was lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia. During WWII, my great grandfather was also president of Federal Aircraft Ltd., which built a variety of airplanes including the Lancaster and Mosquito bombers, so he may have met J. A. D. McCurdy through that connection as well.

   Just as enthusiasts constructed replicas of the Wright Flyer for the 2003 anniversary of Kittyhawk, builders in Canada constructed replicas of the Silver Dart for 2009. Knowing that a replica would be at Oshkosh, I brought a copy of an autographed photo of J. A. D. McCurdy with me. Mr. Ed Lubitz, one of the builders was kind enough to let me sit in the replica for a few photos.

 
  Mr. Lubitz, was also kind enough to let me sign the VIP logbook signed by people such as former astronaut Gene Cernan. Pretty Cool! Now I just have to wait for Oshkosh 3009 to do it again.

Where To Now?