The Curtiss HS-2L

Used by the military during World War I, the Curtiss HS-2L later became an important bush aircraft in Canada. The country's first bush flying operation began in June 1919 when survey flights were conducted from Lac-à-la-Tortue, Quebec. The first Canadian civil Curtiss HS-2L, named La Vigilance, was delivered there by pilot Stuart Graham, actingnavigator Madge Graham, and engeneer Walter Kahre who had flown from the former United States Naval Air Station at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. They covered 1,038 kilometers in three days, which was the longest cross-country flight made in Canada up to that time.

The overall success of the operation led to the creation of the Laurentide Air Service in 1922 and inspired several companies to enter the field of commercial aviation, offering services that consisted mostly of aerial mapping. forest surveillance, as well as transportation of fire-fighting personnel and equipement, followed later by air mail delivery.

The desing on the reverse of the coin, by Canadian artist John Mardon, depicts a Curtiss HS-2L landing on a northern Ontario lake. The cameo portrays pilot Stuart Graham who is recognized by aviation historians as the nation's first peacetime professionnal pilot and the world's first bush pilot. He was named a Member of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 1973.

This coin is thenineth issue of Aviation collection and contains 20 coins that have been released between 1990 and 1999.

AVIATION - CURTISS HS-2L - 1994 CANADIAN COINS 09 is categorised COINS AND PAPER MONEY / 08- ROYAL CANADIAN MINT / 17- MEANS OF TRANSPORT and sold by l'Imaginaire, a store and specialised website.