Another story of Mennonite aeronautic innovation has recently been discovered in a donation to the Mennonite Heritage Archives. In 1931, three Steinbach three men took the initiative to design and build an airplane in the automotive garage where they worked.
Who knew the Mennonite Heritage Archives has more than just Mennonite history in English and German? After spending a few weeks at the archives, I have begun to learn there is no telling what you might find preserved in the Heritage Centre vault.
Most people are surprised to learn a group of Mennonite peace-loving conscientious objectors (CO) were unwittingly involved in an experimental military project codenamed Habakkuk to build the largest warship ever made.
Although the Wright brothers have a name that is famous around the world for their successful invention and creation of the first airplane, the Kitty Hawk, they were not the only aeronautic innovators of their time. Most Canadian and Mennonite people would be surprised to learn that in 1907 a small group of men in the Mennonite colony of Chortitza, Ukraine developed, created, and successfully flew what is likely the very first glider and airplane in Russia!
This blog entry contains the conclusion to the story of how Samuel McRoberts’ photograph collection made its way to the Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives.