Order of Icarus


The Order of Icarus is the highest aviation award next to the Trans-Canada Trophy that is awarded to Canadian aviators who have made a lasting contribution to manned flight. The order ceased existence in 1981.

Creation

The Order was developed as part of the 1967 centennial year for Canada, as aviation's role in the development of the country came into scrutiny. The honours then awarded for aviation proved to be inadequate, as no other award other than the McKee Trophy existed at the time. Several noteworthy aviators decided that this void needed to be filled. And as a result, the Order of Icarus was founded which honoured those persons still living at the time whose airborne skills had resulted in outstanding benefits to manned flight in Canada.
After a lengthy search through various mythologies, the early members settled on the Greek story of Icarus. According to myth, Icarus' father Daedalus, under an unjust sentence of death by King Minos of Crete, created wings of feather and wax with which he and his son could fly to freedom. When an exhilarated Icarus flew too high, the heat of the sun destroyed his wings, melting the wax that held the feathers together. Icarus fell and died in the Icarian Sea, the "first airman casualty".

Grades

Companion is the only grade within the Order, except for the three persons governing the affairs of the Order, who are known as Senior Companions.

Insignia

The Order's insignia depicts a gilt sunburst around a white enameled figure representing Icarus. The sunburst also figures the cardinal points of the compass. The figure's wings are folded and mismatched to remind Companions of the Order of "airborne imperfections". Circling the figure, representing a single binding cause, is a knight's belt which displays, in gold letters, the motto "Despite Adversity". The golden loop which suspends the insignia is adorned with a maple leaf in honor of the Canadian origin of the Order. The neck ribbon has a broad white center stripe which represents flight's purity before the golden sun. The two blue lines which split this stripe suggest "the companionship of airmen in adversity". The broad band is a blue indicative of unexplored space, while the black bars outlying are reminders of mortality.

Eligibility and appointment

The basic tenets of the Order are:
The following is a list of the Companions of the Order of Icarus and the year invested.
1967
1969
1973
1974
1975
1977
1978
1981