HIS 2215F/G: The History of Aviation in Canada

This course explores the idea of aviation from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day. The dream of flight is an old one and when men began to experiment with machines they were greeted both as visionaries and as cranks. For those who supported these experiments flying machines represented humanity’s technological achievement as well as the hope that science might bring the world together in peace. But the early promise of flight would be shattered by war as airplanes were shown to be efficient weapons, as well. The early promise of flying re-emerged following the Second World War as aviation became much more accessible to travellers who could afford it. And yet during the postwar years the Great Powers continued to use air power to demonstrate their military and cultural superiority. At the same time, deregulation of the skies meant that air travel would become much more accessible to the masses, transforming it into a rather prosaic means of transportation that has lost some of its former lustre. By the end of the twentieth century flying had come to be regarded by many people as something simply to be endured. The notion of flight as a modern and even romantic means of transportation has evaporated. This course traces this evolution, focussing on the key developments and personalities in the history of aviation and the key role that government and business has played in the history of aviation.

Required Texts

Laurence Goldstein, The Flying Machine and Modern Literature (Indiana 1986)

Evaluation

Midterm           30%

Essay               40%

Final Exam      30%

 

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