Victoria in Capital, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)

The First Flight

B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), December 20, 2017

1. The First Flight Marker

Inscription. From this field on Sept. 8, 1910, a pioneering aircraft made its first flight. The Gibson Twin plane, entirely designed, built and flown by William W. Gibson, a Victoria resident, became the first all-Canadian aircraft. This site, then known as Lansdowne Field, served many aviation organizations as Victoria’s first airport from 1928 to 1931.

Erected 2017 by Province of British Columbia.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical date for this entry is September 8, 1910.

Location. 48° 26.758′ N, 123° 19.779′ W. Marker is in Victoria, British Columbia, in Capital. Marker is at the intersection of Lansdowne Road and Carman Street, on the right when traveling east on Lansdowne Road. Marker is in the Lansdowne Middle School athletic field. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1765 Lansdowne Rd, Victoria BC V8P 1A7, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. "Summerdyne" (approx. 2.4 kilometers away); Oak Bay Grocery (approx. 2.4 kilometers away); Robert Dunsmuir (approx. 2.8 kilometers away); Craigdarroch (approx. 2.8 kilometers away); The People and the Lieutenant Governor (approx. 3.1 kilometers away); Rockland Cairn (approx.

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3.1 kilometers away); The Role of the Lieutenant Governor (approx. 3.1 kilometers away); Congregation Emanu-El (approx. 3.1 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Victoria.

Also see . . .
1. W.W.(William Wallace) Gibson. Short biography of the pioneering Canadian aviator. (British Columbia Aviation Hall of Fame) (Submitted on February 18, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. The Balgonie Birdman (YouTube). Animated 1991 short depicts Gibson's quest for human flight. (Directed by Brian Duchscherer; uploaded by National Film Board) (Submitted on February 18, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

The Gibson Twin Plane image. Click for full size.

William Wallace Gibson via Saanich Archives 1985-010-002 (Public domain), 1908

2. The Gibson Twin Plane

Credits. This page was last revised on February 18, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 319 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on February 18, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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