The Silver Dart was the first powered machine to fly in Canada, and the first flight of a British subject anywhere in the Empire. Designed and built by J.A.D. McCurdy with support from Alexander Graham Bell, the Dart had a 14.9 m wingspan and a weight of 390 kg (pilot included). The maiden flight was at Baddeck Bay NS. After the plane was pulled by horsedrawn sleigh on Feb 23, the silver-winged craft rose on its second attempt after travelling about 30 m, flying at an elevation from 3 to 9 m at roughly 65 km/hr for 0.8 km. The Silver Dart flew more than 200 times before being damaged beyond repair upon landing in the soft sand of Petawawa, ON during military trials in early Aug 1909. Source: [The Canadian Encyclopedia](http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0007399)