Lawrence Primary Calgary

Photograph

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Canadian Soaring Archive

Laurence a.k.a. Silverwing primary: Caption on back reads "The Laurence designed and built by NORMAN BRUCE used in the Medicine Hat and Calgary Gliding Clubs and in the Canadian Gliding Tour 1935'
Laurence a.k.a. Silverwing primary

Caption on back reads "The Laurence designed and built by NORMAN BRUCE used in the Medicine Hat and Calgary Gliding Clubs and in the Canadian Gliding Tour 1935'

Name/Title

Lawrence Primary Calgary

Entry/Object ID

2026-03-038

Description

The Laurence glider was designed and built by Norman Bruce. It was named in honour of Bruce's brother Laurence, who was killed in a gliding accident in April 1933. It was also called the Sliverwing. This glider went through several evolutions - first construction in 1933 in Medicine Hat - re-erection in Calgary May 1934 - summer 1934 the Lawrence wings were mated with an available "Northrup" fuselage - summer 1934 construction of a streamlined pod Numerous sources provide contradictory information on the specifics of the phases for this glider, while agreeing on the general trajectory above. May 1935, the glider, then called either the "Lawrence" or the "Lawrence-Northrup", was used by the "Canadian Glider Boosters" on tour until total destruction in a windstorm July 1, in Carman, Manitoba, ending the tour.