FRANK H. ELLIS -1979

 

EB Meeting, 1958 Pittsburgh, PA EB Chirp

 

Frank at the controls of the West Wind, first successful airplane built in Alberta, Canada.

One of his recent scale models, a Burgess-Wright hydroplane first waterborne aircraft to fly in Canada.

 

Canada's Pioneers      An EB historian has been at work in Canada. The December 1939 issue of Canadian Aviation publishes little-known facts about Canadian pilot training in the "Last Great War," by Frank H. Ellis. This he follows with "Early Echoes" in the March 1940 issue.      He mentions our own "Fritz" Ericson and the manufacture of "Canucks" (Curtiss JNs) in his yarn. And then publishes illustrations of scale models of the first six airplanes in Canada's history---the Red Wing, flown by "Casey" Baldwin at Lake Keuka, 1908; McCurdy's Silver Dart of 1909, the first airplane to be flown in Canada; a tractor biplane designed, built and flown in Vancouver (1910-11) by William Templeton, William McMullen and Winston Templeton; a Curtiss pusher purchased by EB William Stark, of Vancouver, and flow by him 1912-15; the two-seater, dual-controlled pusher biplane designed, built and flown by William A. Straith in Winnipeg prior to the last war and a single-seater Curtiss-type pusher contstructed and flown by EB Author Frank H. Ellis and Thomas G. Blakely in Calgary, Alverta, 1914-15.   A CANADIAN HISTORY      And then there is the detailed story "Pioneer Flying in British Columbia," again by Ellis, published at considerable length in the British Columbia Historical Quarterly for October, 1939      Here is the full tale of every Early Bird who ever flew in British Columbia (1910-1914--- Charles K. Hamilton (with his Aerial Clipper), J. C. Mars (with his airship), ALys McKey, William Stark, John M. Bryant, William McMullen, William Templeton, Winston Templeton, C. F. Walsh, P. O. Parmalee, Clifford Turpin, James V. Martin, Glenn L. Martin and Weldon B. Cooke.      With this start, one presumes he can depend on Author Ellis to complete the history of the pioneers of Canadian aeronautics.      After that, there's the United States to be covered. Authors, arise! from CHIRP - JULY 1940- DEARBORN MICH. - NUMBER 27 courtesy of Steve Remington - CollectAir

 

EB's Here and There Canadian EB Frank Ellis has been highly active in aviation affairs over the past year. Among other things, he has built 18 pioneer plane models for Canadair Limited who have established an air museum at their huge plant at Montreal. He also made two models of the Silver Dart which are being displayed all over Canada in conjunction with T.C.A.'s. Twelve other models of pioneer Canadian airplanes were featured in R.C.A.F. exhibits, while a model of the "West Wind". built and flown by Ellis in 1914, was presented to the Calgary Flying Club. This was the first plane to fly in Calgary. Frank is chairman of the British Columbia Parachute and Sky Diving Club, and as author of "In Canadian Skies" and "Canada's Flying Heritage," he is frequently called upon to speak on the early days of flying. From The Early Birds of Aviation CHIRP, January, 1960, Number 62

 

CANADA'S FIRST COMMERCIAL AIR FLIGHT, 1920 The Great War Veterans Association and Auxilary organized the first commercial air flight which was made to The Pas from Winnipeg by F.E. Ellis and H. Dougall. It was commissioned by Frank J. Stanley who was the passenger and arrived at The Pas on October 17. Practically the whole population of the town turned out to see the aeroplane. Frank Ellis was one of the greatest early aviators having built and flown his own plane in 1914.

 

CANADA'S FLYING HERITAGE by Frank H. Ellis University of Toronto Press 1980. You can review his book by clicking on: Frank H. Ellis

 

RECOMMENDED READING

CANADA'S FLYING HERITAGE   by Frank Ellis   Product Details Paperback: 398 pages; 10.9 x 8 x 0.9 inches Publisher: University of Toronto Press; [2d ed.] edition (June 1, 1980) List Price: $21.29 Used Price: $4.37 ISBN-10: 0802064175 ISBN-13: 978-0802064172

Description: This book not only records the significant events of Canadian aviation but also pays tribute to the 'forgotten flyers who flew by guess and by God or with calculating caution - for the sheer love of flying - in the early days.' 'Pioneers of the Air' recounts the first tentative experiments with that overgrown monster, the flying machine - at this stage, the glider. Next come the Barnstormers, the first professional airmen, trying desperately to wrest a living from the air, pioneering in the field of practical flying as little more than vaudeville performers. These were the days of daring aero-acrobatics and tense and crowded air-meets. The First World War saw a tremendous advance in technical manoeuvres and in pilot skill; the first aviation school was established in Toronto, where the War Birds learned to fly. An unparallelled boom in aviation followed the war. Public interest had been aroused by the celebrated achievement of Canada's Air Force, and many young men, the restlessness of the war still in them, were obsessed by the itch to fly again. The Dollar-a-Minute days marked the beginning of passenger travel and a steady increase in experimental flying, to bear its practical fruit in days to come. The next chapter is one of heroic enterprise - the conquest of the Atlantic and the spanning of the Continent. No less epic is the history of the bush pilots who tamed the Canadian North. We must be grateful to Mr. Ellis for rescuing from obscurity this important chapter in our history.

 

Frank H. Ellis died in 1979 From The Early Birds of Aviation Roster of Members, 1996

 

Editor's Note: If you have any more information on this Early Bird, please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper   Back