Canada’s first airmail delivery
[attach]2181[/attach]According to Jane Pitfield’s 1999 book Leaside, Canada’s first airmail delivery flight from Montreal to the Leaside airfield carried more than just letters.
Pifield’s research showed that pilot instructor Brian Peck made the June 24, 1918 flight carrying several cases of scotch. The flight took place at time when Ontario had introduced Prohibition, so Peck reportedly smuggled in the cases for one of his friends at the Leaside Airport.
Pitfield wrote that the plane wasn’t suited for such heavy cargo, and Peck had fly at 12 metres above ground. He flew under telegraph wire and consumed more fuel than expected.
The flight began in Montreal at 10:30 a.m. and finished in Leaside at 4:55 p.m. that afternoon.
