Alexander Graham
Bell
national historic site of canada
Alexander Graham and Mabel Bell’s
Aerial Experiment Association 1907-1909
“I believe it will be possible in a very few years for a person to take
his dinner in New York at 7 or 8 o’clock in the evening and eat his
breakfast in Ireland or England the following morning.” Alexander Graham Bell 1896
Formation of the Association:
In July, 1907, Mrs. Bell proposed that her husband, Dr.
Alexander Graham Bell, form an association, the Aerial Experiment
Association (AEA). with four young men who have the skills to
move forward his experimental work with powered flight. She would
provide the financing for the duration of one year by the sale of
Twin Oaks, a property she owned near Washington DC. The property
was valued at $20,000. She provided another $10,000 in September
1908 giving the AEA six months more time.
On October 1, 1907, the AEA was officially formed and signed
in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Its purpose was to construct a practical
aerodrome or flying machine driven through the air by its own
power and carrying a man. Dr. Bell was chairman, Lt Thomas
Selfridge was secretary, J. A. Douglas McCurdy was treasurer,
Glenn Curtiss was director of experiments and F.W. (Casey)
Baldwin was chief engineer. The four young men received salaries
and the balance of the financing was used on the experiments.
The Work of the Aerial Experiment Association:
One of the first projects of the AEA was launching a giant
kite called the Cygnet made up of 3393 tetrahedral cells which
were covered with red silk. On December 6, 1907, with Thomas
Selfridge inside, the Cygnet flew to a height of 51 metres over
Baddeck Bay flying steadily for 7 minutes.
In late December with winter setting in, the AEA moved their
headquarters to Hammondsport, New York, where they began flying
Chanute-Herring type gliders.
Their first airplane, Red Wing, was named for the red silk
used to cover the wings and Thomas Selfridge was in charge of
design. A major innovation employed was bow stringed trusses
developed by Casey Baldwin. On March 12, 1908, the Red Wing’s
first flight was 97 metres with Casey Baldwin as aviator. This
was the first powered flight by a Canadian.
White Wing was named for the white cotton nainsook which
covered the wings and Casey Baldwin was in charge of design. It
had a lighter laminated propellor, triangular ailerons at the
wings tips to control lateral movement, and a steerable tricycle
undercarriage. On May 18, 1908 it flew 85 metres with Casey
Baldwin as aviator. On May 19th, with Thomas Selfridge as aviator,
the first flight was made by a member of the United States army.
June Bug was named by Dr. Bell for its resemblance to June
beetles. Glenn Curtiss was in charge of design. The wings were
removable and the tail section folded up for ease of storage and
transport. On July 4, 1908, the AEA was awarded the Scientific
American Cup for the June Bug’s flight of 1553 metres, the first
flight over 1 kilometre. It also was the first airplane to
navigate a complete turn and on August 29th JAD McCurdy flew it 3
kilometres in a figure eight, another aviation first.
Sadly, Lt. Thomas Selfridge dies from head injuries
sustained as a passenger in the crash of a Wright brother’s
airplane in September 1908 becoming aviation’s first fatality.
Silver Dart , JAD McCurdy’s design, was named for the silver
appearance of the rubber and graphite balloon silk used to cover
the wings. On February 23, 1909, over the frozen Baddeck Bay with
McCurdy as aviator, the Silver Dart made the first controlled
powered flight in Canada.
After experiments with Cygnet II, a 3690 tetrahedral kite,
the AEA held its last meeting at Beinn Bhreagh on March 31st,
1909, noting high appreciation for Mrs. Bell’s support and
dedication.