Page 18 - August2017

When it flew for the first time, “he had no trouble it into what Jermyn called “in a full museum version” with
controlling it; it was amazingly stable … he never flew it very the Lycoming engine replaced with the replica engine.
high when it was at Hamilton; he kept it about 10 feet – The Silver Dart has not flown since its visit to Baddeck –
maximum.” Jermyn and his wife followed in a truck, and Jermyn's OK with that.
videotaping the historic flight. Based on the speed of the “I’m happy; I don’t want it to be broken after we spent
truck, his best guess is that the Silver Dart became airborne five years building it.” It was to travel to nonflying
at between 40 and 42 km/h and flew at 50 kmh. Because of displays, but only short distances. Transporting it from
the use of slightly larger diameter and heavier bamboo plus southern Ontario to Baddeck and back cost about
heavier fabric and other additions, the replica with the pilot $23,000; taking it to Abbotsford in the summer of 2009
aboard weighed about 1,150 pounds, compared with 860 would have been in the range of $40,000.
for the original.”
In the spring of 2010, it was scheduled to go on display at
the Canadian Air & Space Museum (formerly the Toronto
Aerospace Museum), where it will stay for three or four
years until construction of a new wing at the Bell
Museum at Baddeck is completed. Although much of the
design and engineering work “was done on scraps of
paper”, some has been stored and a book about the
project is being written by Ted Beaudoin
“Quite a legacy for our grandkids,” Jermyn told the
conference. “And one I’m pleased to be associated with.”
In mid-February, the replica was placed in a pair of
transport trucks and taken to Baddeck Bay on Cape Breton.
A large tent-hangar, complete with plywood floor, heater
and lights -- had been built by the Baddeck organizing
committee, which had also arranged for clearing a runway
(3,000 feet long and 75 feet wide) on the surface of the
famous bay. There was a minor problem with the
nosewheel, but this was fixed within two hours. The final
touch: a wartime RCAF veteran loaned Tryggvason a heavy
leather jacket lined with sheepskin.

Moreover, the weather was good -- warmer, in fact, than in
Hamilton.” It turned out that the 22nd was the only day About Hang Gliding and Paragliding
when we could have flown ... I think Alexander Graham Bell Hang gliding and paragliding are two sports that provide
was looking out for us because every day when we needed
unparalleled freedom and recreation. Hang gliding and
to do something, we got good weather!” Local interest was paragliding are the most accessible and affordable ways
intense. The hangar was about four kilometres from
Baddeck “and cars were lined up all the way to town and a for people to achieve man’s oldest dream — flying with
the birds.
kilometre past.”
After this flight, the Silver Dart was disassembled and sent To learn more about hang gliding and paragliding, check
out the FAQs or John Penfold’s excellent Discover Hang
to Greenwood Nova Scotia for a couple of non-flying shows Gliding and Paragliding site.
in April and May. It returned by road to Ontario in June
The article on hang gliding in Wikipedia, the free
where it was to make a series of non-flying appearances at encyclopedia also has good information.
air shows and open houses throughout the summer.
There is also useful information on paragliding as well.