Curtiss Aviation School, Lakeview
Image Credit: Toronto Public Library Digital Archive
The Curtiss Flying School opened on May 10, 1915, and attracted students from across Canada passionate about learning to fly and fighting in Europe.
The training included initial instruction on Curtiss F flying boats based at Hanlan’s Point on Toronto Island and advanced training and solo flying in Curtiss JN-3s on wheels at the company airfield in Long Branch. Students paid their own tuition which was $400 (equivalent to $9,060 in 2021) for 400 minutes of training by American instructors. This was considered sufficient time for a novice pilot to pass the requirements for an internationally recognized pilots’ licence.
Once a pilot had their license, the students would travel to Ottawa to enrol in the RNAS which then paid for their passage to the UK where they would also receive a reimbursement for their training. Later, the Royal Flying Corp (RFC) tried to lure the flying school’s students with similar incentives.
During its two years of operation (including a pause during the winter) the school graduated 129 pilots and 35 died for their country overseas. Many other young Canadians took their flight training in the US before traveling to the UK.
During 1915-1916, the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Co. established Canada’s first aircraft factory, first flying school, first airport at Long Branch and seaplane base in Toronto harbour.
– Kenneth Swartz
Today, students from Centennial College, Toronto Metropolitan University, Queens University, McMaster University, York University and the University of Toronto are working together on collaborative DAIR projects, developing skills and helping to build an even stronger aerospace industry for Ontario and Canada.