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Ingenium Canada Aviation and Space Museum

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McDowall Monoplane

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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McDowall Monoplane

McDowall Monoplane

Highlights:

  • Oldest surviving Canadian-built aircraft
  • Designed and built by Robert McDowall, an aviation enthusiast, land surveyor and civil engineer from Ontario
  • Inspired by McDowall's first sighting of airplanes, during a 1910 visit to England and France
  • Similar in general design to a Blériot XI (which McDowall would have seen in France)
  • Built in a machine shop between 1912 and 1915
  • Could not – technically – fly, although it could perform short "hops"
  • First flight was in 1915 (attempts)

Image Gallery:

CASM-4436

CASM-6932

CASM-11982

History:

In the early days of flying it was not unusual for aviation enthusiasts to design, build, and fly their own airplanes. The McDowall Monoplane was built in a carriage shop between 1912 and 1915, but made only a few short hops and was then stored. Two school boys attempted alterations in 1916-17. After 1920 a new owner removed the wings and fitted skis to use it as an ice scooter near Durham, Ontario. It was resold in 1954 and again stored.

Due to the builder’s lack of airplane design experience, the aircraft was tail-heavy and had no provision for lateral control. This failing was recognized by the school boys who in 1917 cut pieces out of the wings in an attempt to install ailerons. The boys also tried to improve the performance of the used three-cylinder, air-cooled Anzani engine, but the aircraft never flew again.

Many Canadians produced their own airplanes before the onset of the First World War. Pioneering aviator Robert McDowall of Owen Sound, Ontario was inspired to build this aircraft after seeing heavier-than-air flying machines for the first time during a visit to England and France in spring 1910. He designed and built this aircraft in a carriage shop between 1912 and 1915. After several unsuccessful flying attempts, McDowall put his aircraft into storage.

In 1916 or 1917, two schoolboys attempted to improve upon McDowall's design by making alterations to the airplane's engine and wings. Despite these changes, the aircraft never flew. Around 1920, Edward Pratt of Durham, Ontario bought the monoplane and used it as an ice scooter, selling it in 1954 to Keith Hopkinson of Goderich, Ontario, who hung it from the rafters of his hangar.

In 1967, the Museum purchased the aircraft from the Hopkinson estate and it was displayed for several years at the Canada Science and Technology Museum. Between 1984 and 1986, the Museum restored the monoplane to its original condition, as constructed by McDowall.

Current Location:

Pioneer Era Exhibition, Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Provenance:

Purchase

Technical Information:

Wing Span 8.4 m (27 ft 6 in)
Length 6.6 m (21 ft 6 in)
Height 2.3 m (7 ft 5 in)
Weight, Empty Unknown
Weight, Gross Unknown
Cruising Speed Unknown
Max Speed Unknown
Rate of Climb N/A
Service Ceiling N/A
Range N/A
Power Plant one Anzani, 25 hp, fan-type engine

McDowall Monoplane

AVIATION
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Artifact No.
1967.0673
Manufacturer
Home-built
Manufacturer Location
Owen Sound, Ontario
Manufacture Date
1915
Acquisition Date
1967
  • View all the collection highlights at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum
  • View other collection highlights related to Aviation

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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
    • Health and Safety
    • Hours
    • Admission
    • Location and Directions
    • Accessibility
    • Browse All Visitor Information
    • Buy Tickets
    • Online Resources for Science at Home
    • 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
    • Birthday Parties
  • 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