The AEA Silver Dart became the first powered aircraft to fly in Canada when it took off at Baddeck, Nova Scotia on February 23, 1909, piloted by Canadian aviation pioneer John Alexander Douglas McCurdy. It was designed and built by Alexander Graham Bell and members of the Aerial Experimental Association (A.E.A.). Constructed out of steel tubing, wood, bamboo, friction tape, wire, rubberized fabric, and doped linen, it had no brakes and was very difficult to manoeuvre. Its name was inspired by the silver-looking rubberized fabric used to cover the aircraft.
1. Wikipedia entry - AEA Silver Dart.
2. National Air Force Museum of Canada