Monday, March 18, 2019

Silver Dart

Here we have another look at the Silver Dart replica, with information on panels beneath it. Technical specifications on an aircraft are a common sight in the museum.


This happens to be the engine of the original Silver Dart. A 40 hp engine, it ended up fitted onto a small boat in Nova Scotia, which sank. Because of its historical significance, it was salvaged and now has its home here.


Ancient ideas of taking to the air, as well as ideas of early flight, dominate an area off to the side of the Silver Dart. One of the artifacts is this model, a tetrahedal kite invented and constructed by Alexander Graham Bell.


This is another model. Early experiments in flight included the lighter than air balloons. This is a model of the balloon designed by the Montgolfier brothers in France, demonstrated for King Louis XVI in Paris in 1783.

46 comments:

  1. Those were brave people with the balloons.
    When (sadly "when" not "if") a plane crashes (not sure,, whole Europe, just Germany) the left-overs come to Research Airport Braunschweig.
    Always gives me the creeps.

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  2. Air balloons are also fascinating...

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  3. Do you know that Romania has many pioneers in aviation?
    Traian Vuia, Aurel Vlaicu & Henri Coandă
    In particular Henri Coanda invented the reaction engine
    Very interesting everything ...

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  4. ...this sure looks like an interesting museum.

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  5. That engine has had quite the history.

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  6. This mueum is really done well. There used to be a couple of bush planes kids could sit in with veteran pilots there to explain their workings - great favourites with the kids.

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  7. What an interesting museum. It would be a great place to hand out on a cold, snowy day!

    Janis
    GDP

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  8. It is not that long ago really. Look how far we have come!

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  9. I love planes ... cool a hot air balloon ... neat-O!! so colorful! ( :

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  10. Hello, nice exhibit. I like the kite and balloon. Enjoy your day, have a happy week ahead.

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  11. This is another place I would like to visit.

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  12. That is a really interesting kite. :-)

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  13. wonderful displays...flight is so great...getting a different perspective on our little lives. I think balloons are beautiful but I wouldn't ride in one.

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  14. Wonderful mueseum. Flying has always been fascinating for mankind. I only flew once, about 25 years ago in a glider.

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  15. Great displays and love the beautiful baloon.

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  16. Getting to powered flight was a long and very interesting journey. They tried many things and along the way learned many different things.

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  17. Such an interesting museum William, enjoying exploring with you. How beautiful the colour and design on the air balloons ✨

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  18. Wonderful historical post and photos ~

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  19. I had no idea that Bell was playing around with kites!

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  20. @Iris: early experimentation took great risks.

    @Italiafinlandia: that's quite true.

    @Joan: it was quite a process.

    @Ella: the process of flight came from people all over the world, including a Jesuit priest of all things.

    @Tom: it really is.

    @Francisco: thanks!

    @Anvilcloud: it does!

    @David: it's likely that one of the bush planes I was looking at would be one of them. There was a set of chairs near one and a lecture time for earlier than I was at that spot- no doubt a pilot would be the person giving the talk about it. And there are guided tours that come through the museum regularly. Also there's the museum storage wing that would probably have other bush planes.

    @Janis: it is quite a museum.

    @Marie: that they are.

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  21. @Sandi: a little more than a century.

    @Beth: and there's lots more of it.

    @Eileen: it's quite a place to see.

    @Catarina: you'd enjoy it.

    @DJan: quite different from the standard kite.

    @Barbara: I haven't had a chance to ride in one.

    @Jan: it's been some years since I've been in a plane.

    @Sami: it is colourful.

    @Red: quite true.

    @Grace: I agree.

    @Carol: thanks!

    @Sharon: Bell was quite inventive.

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  22. What a great museum with fascinating exhibitions!

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  23. Interesting displays, a lovely museum.

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  24. Great displays for a museum. Tweeted

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  25. I couldn't help but smile when I read someone had the forsight to dredge up the engine. :-)

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  26. @Tamago: it is a wonderful museum.

    @Bill: that I agree with.

    @Mari: thank you.

    @RedPat: I do too.

    @Revrunner: and so much the better.

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  27. This is an interesting exhibit. I don't mind flying, but cannot imagine going up in a balloon.

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  28. Humans have always been fascinated by flight. I'm glad it's been available in my lifetime. (I didn't know that A. G. Bell had tinkered with flight, too. Interesting.)

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  29. I do like your photographs of the model of the balloon designed by the Montgolfier brothers.

    All the best Jan

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  30. The balloon must have been quite astounding when it first appeared in the air:)

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  31. Air museums are so interesting! This Silver Dart is a new one to me. And the air balloon is so colorful. This reminds me of the air museum outside London. There's an entire hangar devoted to WWI era aircraft. The early models of planes hold a special fascination.

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  32. I especially love the model of the balloon!

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  33. I'm not sure if I'd fly by a balloon.

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