Baldwin, Frederick Walker (Casey)

PEng 
0T6 Mechanical, Electrical Diploma 
Inducted 1977 

Frederick Walker “Casey” Baldwin (1882-1948) took a keen interest in early aviation that led him to become the first Canadian to fly a heavier than air machine—the Red Wing—for a flight of 319 ft. over frozen Lake Tanka, New York on Mar. 12, 1908.

Casey became Chief Engineer of the Aerial Experiment Association at Baddeck, Nova Scotia. The Association, which included Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, J. A. D. McCurdy, Glenn Curtis and Thomas Selfridge, made noteworthy contributions towards the achievement of mechanical flight. He converted many of Bell’s ideas and working devices with his down-to-earth approach.

Casey was an all-round athlete at the University of Toronto where he played cricket, baseball and football. In 1905, one of the greatest University of Toronto football teams, captained by Casey, won the Dominion Championship by defeating the Ottawa Rough Riders 11-9 on a ruse by Casey during the dying minutes of the game.

Achievements    

  • From the Aerial Experiment Association came the Dawn of Canadian Aviation
  • Contributed greatly to the development of the HD-4 Hydrofoil, the fastest craft afloat in 1919 (70.85 mph)