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Ingenium Canada Aviation and Space Museum

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Curtiss HS-2L La Vigilance

Hours and Location

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday to Monday
Address
11 Aviation Parkway, Ottawa, ON
Admission
Browse all Visitor Information for Canada Aviation and Space Museum
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Curtiss HS-2L La Vigilance

Curtiss HS-2L La Vigilance aircraft

Highlights:

  • Designed in 1917 as a coastal patrol flying boat for the U.S. Navy during the First World War
  • Served as Canada’s first bush plane after the war, and was the main aircraft used for bush flying in Canada until 1927
  • Pioneered bush flying in Canada: it could take off and land on remote lakes and rivers, providing access to Canada’s northern landscapes
  • Achieved many "firsts," including first forestry patrol, 1919; first aerial timber survey, 1919; and first regular airmail service, 1924
  • First flight was in 1917

Image Gallery:

CASM-1491

CASM-1491

CASM-1474

CASM-1474

CASM-12242

CASM-12242

History:

The HS-2L was the final version of a series of patrol flying boats developed in the last two years of First World War. The United States Navy flew HS-2Ls on anti-submarine patrols from bases in Nova Scotia. At the end of the war twelve HS-2Ls were donated to Canada, and many others were purchased as war surplus.

The HS-2L was Canada’s first bush aircraft and was the predominant Canadian bush plane until 1926 or 1927. Operators of the HS-2L established the traditions of Canadian bush flying.

HS-2L aircraft flew the first forestry patrols, made the first aerial timber survey in 1919, staked the first mining claim using an aircraft in 1920, and in 1924 was used to establish the first scheduled air service and the first regular air mail service in Canada.

Current Location:

Bush flying Exhibition, Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Provenance:

Salvage by the Museum

This is the only complete HS-2L in the world. It is a reconstruction of G-CAAC La Vigilance, which belonged to Laurentide Air Service Limited, the world’s first bush- flying company. The original La Vigilance was the company’s first aircraft; it was built in 1918 and made the first bush flight in Canada in 1919. That same year, Stuart Graham, Canada’s first professional bush pilot and a member of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame, began his civilian career in La Vigilance, and his wife, Madge Graham, became the first Canadian woman to participate in flight when she accompanied him between Nova Scotia and Quebec.

On September 2, 1922 La Vigilance crashed into Foss Lake, Ontario, where it remained until 1967, when Donald Campbell of Kapuskasing reported the location of the wreck at the bottom of the lake. The hull, along with metal parts and fittings from the aircraft, was retrieved by the Museum during a salvage operation between 1968 and 1969. The original hull was preserved separately and is displayed next to the reconstructed aircraft, which was built using parts from three different HS-2Ls. Restoration of this HS-2L lasted from 1970 until 1986, making it the largest and longest restoration project the Museum has undertaken.

Technical Information:

Wing Span 22.6 m (74 ft 19/32 in)
Length 11.9 m (39 ft)
Height 5.7 m (18 ft 9 1/4 in)
Weight, Empty 1,950 kg (4,300 lb)
Weight, Gross 2,918 kg (6,432 lb)
Cruising Speed 105 km/h (65 mph)
Max Speed 137 km/h (85 mph)
Rate of Climb 550 m (1,800 ft) / 10 min
Service Ceiling 2,800 m (9,200 ft)
Range 830 km (517 mi)
Power Plant one Liberty, 360 hp, V-12 engine

Curtiss HS-2L La Vigilance plan

AVIATION
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Artifact No.
1975.0754
Manufacturer
Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
Manufacturer Location
United States
Manufacture Date
1918
Acquisition Date
1968
Registration Number
G-CAAC
  • View all the collection highlights at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum
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About Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Located on a former military air base just five kilometers from the Prime Minister’s residence at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum focuses on aviation in Canada within an international context – from its beginnings in 1909 to today.
Read more about the museum

Contact Us

Canada Aviation and Space Museum
11 Aviation Parkway
Ottawa ON K1K 2X5
Canada

613-991-3044
1-866-442-4416
contact@IngeniumCanada.org
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  • Plan Your Visit
    • Browse All Visitor Information
    • Buy Tickets
    • Admission
    • Hours
    • Location and Directions
    • Accessibility
    • Health and Safety
    • About the Museum
  • What's On at the Museum
    • Events
    • Exhibitions
    • Flights and Simulations
    • Spaces and Studios
  • Bookings and Rentals
    • School Programs
    • Summer Camps
    • Venue Rentals
    • Travelling Exhibitions
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Group Visits
  • Educational Programs
    • School Programs
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Program Location
      • At the Museum
      • At your School
      • Online
      • Browse all Educational Programs
    • Popular Links
      • 3D Educational Resources
      • Digital Learning Kits
      • Games and Apps
      • Online Resources for Science at Home
      • Try This Out
  • Collection and Research
    • Research Institute
    • Research Projects
    • Collection Resources
      • Ingenium Collection
      • Collection Highlights
      • Conservation and Collection Services
    • Library and Archives
      • Library and Archives Services
      • Library Catalogue
      • Digital Archives
    • Open Access
      • Ingenium APIs
      • Open Data
      • Open Documents
  • Projects and Initiatives
    • Ingenium Channel
    • The Legacy Series
    • Let's Talk Energy